Decorating Junkies- Top 10 Decorating Mistakes

Good Morning-
I wanted to start the morning off with what I think are the top 10 mistakes in decorating. There are really too many to sum up in one posting or for that matter 100 posting, but here we go.

TOP 10 MISTAKES IN DECORATING

1)Toliet Rugs- Hate to see them down!!! They should all be replaced with a pretty area rug or a gorgeous textured rug that feels great to walk across. Never skimp on the little details.

2)Fear of Color-In one fan deck from your local paint store, there are over 3000 colors to choose from. Being bold and choosing one is better than a house full of White/Beige that feels like you walked into a color void. Painting is the cheapest way to transform any room(as long as you paint it yourself) and makes the biggest bang for your buck.

3)Outdated accessories-We all get attached to stuff! That doesn't mean it has to stay around FOREVER. Every store you walk into now, from Target, Walmart and even the grocery store, has home accessories. Don't get tied into a rut in decorating because your old accessories don't go with a new look.

4)Tacky couch covers-There has yet been made, a readymade slipcover that looks good. Custom slipcovers/reupholstered furniture is the only way to change the look of an existing piece. If recovering isn't an option, the piece isn't 8-way, hand tied, kiln dried or hardwood frame then replace it with the best you can afford.

5)Pushed back furniture-Every piece of furniture in the room has been pushed to the back wall and everyone has to shout to have a conversation. This is the way most of us arrange our furniture. If the sofa can fit a small sofa table behind it that gives some storage or a place for reading lamps, pull it off the wall. The chairs should be between 5-6 ft. from the sofa. The can be angeled off the wall and not shoved back against it. This creates a cozy space instead of a stark place to hang out.

6)Fake Flowers-Not all of us can keep a plant alive. But that doesn't mean that fresh cut flowers, an "almost" indestructible, house plant or one of the beautiful, silk tropical trees can give your home a inviting look. Don't use any if they don't as least look real. There are too many options on the market that fool the eye, so again, buy the best you can afford.

7)Improper Lighting-I hate to use my over head light. The only time I have this on is when we have lost the TV remote and my husband has started to hyper ventilate. There are 3 types of lighting, overhead or ambient(see previous comment), task lighting and accent lighting. Kitchens need a lot of light. We spend time in there cooking, cleaning, entertaining, homework, bill paying, etc; Overhead lighting should not be the only source of lighting. Under cabinet lighting for task lighting and beautiful sconces on the wall for accent lighting, will go far in creating a cozy, inviting kitchen for everyone to hang out in.

8)Everything Matches-Most of us would not be caught in public with a matchy-matchy outfit. The bag matching the shoe that matches the jacket, that matches the...@%$%^&! YECK!!!! Take 3 colors and mix it up then add another 2 for spice. This goes for pattern as well. Big floral print, medium width stripe and little polka dots will carry you far in the decorating scheme.

9)Following fads-What is hot today may go down in flames tomorrow. Don't build a room around one fad. Live with a style you love and let the fads come in, as a little bling. Don't go crazy with one style. The worst thing that happened in decorating was the "Country Fad". We all went crazy with stained furniture, God help me, Mauve and Blue, knick-knacks on every imaginable space known to man. And because of this, some people are still stuck in that rut and think they have to change the whole house before making ANY change. A daunting and overwheming task for anyone.

10)Keeping something you hate. For me this would be my husband BIG SCREEN TV. Of course, this would probably cause a divorce or at the very least a whole heap of trouble. So think smaller, the recliner from his bachelor days, the bedroom suit that came from your parents or the kitchen table that has 5 different styles and none of them are pretty. Budget in one of those to be replaced and you will love yourself for it.

I am sure there are 100's of other mistakes but I don't want to overwhelm anyone and create chaos. Happy decorating and I look forward to hearing from you soon.