There are 5 decorating mistakes people are making and the only bad thing about knowing about them is that once you see them you can’t unsee them.

You go through Pinterest, buy decor magazines, clip out your favorite images and start putting together your room using these items as inspiration. But something feels off with the room you create.

Something is missing and you can’t quite put your finger on it.

You see, these mistakes are in the details of the room. They can throw your room off.

Keep on reading and you will see what are the most common mistakes I see and I’ll tell you how you can fix them

FIVE DECORATING MISTAKES AND HOW YOU CAN FIX THEM

These mistakes are really common, but it doesn’t boil down to just reading about them. Use this as a guide, find the mistake in your home and look for the fix.

Trust me when I say that decorating is all in the details! You will see the huge difference fixing these common mistakes will make in how your home feels.

It’s one small step towards having the beautiful space you deserve.

MISTAKE #1 – EVERYTHING HAS TO MATCH

This is a big one!

Not all of your colors have to match.

Not all of your woods have to match.

Not all of your finishes have to match.

Not only they don’t have to match, they SHOULDN’T match!

Where can you start to fix this mistake?

Make sure you include different colors, textures, finishes and sizes in your space.

Start small add contrast with pillows, put a throw, add decorative elements in different finishes.

Making these small changes brings your space to life, it gives your space character.

MISTAKE #2 – GOING SAFE WITH WHITE

There is a right way and a wrong way to do a white on white room.

The white sofa, with the white walls, and the white carpet probably isn’t the right choice for your home. And by playing it safe with choosing everything white you are actually creating a space that lacks character and that isn’t livable.

I’m all about guiding you in creating a home that is beautiful, but that is livable.

Where can you start to fix this?

I would start with adding color to your space, but you’re not going to go out and buy new furniture. It’s going to be simple, look for some color to add to your walls.

You can paint your room, or a wall in a nice subtle color if you’re afraid of color.

And it’s going to make a huge different.

Another option is to add art to your space or change out the rug so that it adds character. Add plants, they add color and life to your space.

What can you add to your space to add some color?

MISTAKE #3 – SIZE OF YOUR RUGS

Having area rugs in your space is important because they anchor the furniture in a room.

Let me say that one more time: they are meant to anchor the furniture in a room.

When we have a rug that only covers the space under the coffee table it’s only anchoring the coffee table, not the living room.

A rug should at least touch all the furniture that is around it.

I personally like the rug to go under the furniture pieces around it, at least a couple of inches.

How do you fix this?

Measure your space, measure the real size of area rug you need.

Area rugs come in a variety of sizes, ranging from two-feet by three-feet up to 10-feet by 14-feet. Five-by-eight is probably the most common size. But for most of my spaces (like a living room) I end up needing an 8 by 10 feet rug.

Once you have the right size of rug you should start looking at options, make sure the one you choose adds character and complements the room.

MISTAKE #4 – COPYING PINTEREST

This is a big no-no!

No two rooms are created equal, not even if the house plan is the same.

Why? Because your lifestyle is the main factor you need to take into consideration when decorating your home.

Simply taking a room you like on Pinterest and using it to copycat a space is no way to decorate.

The room will look nice, yes. BUT it won’t be yours.

Use Pinterest the right way: save ideas you like and make those ideas work for you and your lifestyle.

Pinterest is meant to be a source of inspiration not your copycat decorator.

MISTAKE #5 – FORGETTING WHAT YOU NEED

The first thing you need to take into consideration when decorating a room is what you need the space for. What you need to be able to get from the space.

Then, and only then, should you think about what you want your space to look like.

Wants and Needs are two completely different things.

If a space doesn’t actually give you what you need then you are simply wasting time and money in something for someone else.

You will find that when a space doesn’t give you what you need from it you simply don’t use it.

How to fix this? Even if your space is already decorated see if you are getting what you need out of it. And let’s figure a way to incorporate your actual needs into your space.

Remember that a space needs to be a reflection of you and your lifestyle. Real homes can be beautiful and livable at the same time.

You can use my Decorating Workbook to go through this list and use the worksheets to create your plan to fixing these five decorating mistakes

Now that you know the most common decorating mistakes I see, let me know which ones you’ve made and most importantly which one you are going to tackle first!

Remember to comment below or share your ideas or questions on our Facebook Group!