5 Major Decorating Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid

HomeAdvisor warns against making the serious decorating faux pas.

When decorating your home, it’s imperative to be careful about what you add or subtract. While there are some good design ideas, there are also bad ones. Here are some of the decorating mistakes to avoid when you’re changing up a room or redesigning your home as a whole:

#1 Don’t limit tile to kitchen or bathrooms.

Tile is most commonly found in the kitchen and bathroom, and it can create interesting visual appeal when featured as a backsplash. But tile doesn’t have to be limited to use in two rooms. You may consider tile flooring if you have pets, for example, as tile flooring is easier to clean than carpeting. Tile is also a great outdoor design feature, whether you use it to lay flooring or to create compelling garden accents.

#2 Don’t limit kitchen design.

Your kitchen should reflect your tastes, especially if you plan to live in your house for a long time. Think beyond all-white and all-black design and get creative with open shelving, hanging pots and pans, and a mix of colors and materials. If you have the budget, consider completely remodeling your kitchen to create the kitchen you really want.

#3 Don’t hang art too high.

Hanging art too high can make it harder to appreciate. Hang art at eye level, where most people will be able to see and enjoy it. Do, however, take care to hang it out of reach of pets and children.

#4 Don’t go crazy with paint colors.

It’s great to include a few different colors in your home’s color scheme, but be careful not to include too many. If you decide to turn your home into a rainbow, chances are you’ll have to get a painter to repaint the entire house when it comes time to sell. Try to stick with two or three colors on your walls, especially in the main areas of the house.

#5 Don’t follow trends.

Trends are subjective. Even when reputable magazines and websites define a trend as “in,” there’s always a chance that potential buyers won’t like it. If you think you may sell soon, choose something simple and easy to maintain. Modern kitchens, for example, are universally appealing because they’re up to date and easy to customize, and they won’t cost much to maintain over the long haul.

Andrea Davis is the editor at HomeAdvisor, which connects homeowners with home improvement professionals in their area for free. Connect with Andrea on Google+

Lindsay Listanski

Lindsay is the the Director of Media Engagement for Coldwell Banker Real Estate and manages the brand’s media and social media department. She is also a licensed real estate professional. In 2017 & 2018, she was named a top 20 social influencer in the real estate industry in the annual Swanepoel 200 power rankings.

Lindsay lives in Livingston, NJ with her college sweetheart and now husband Joe and rwelcomed another Joe into her life as she became a mom in June 2016.