What’s one of the main reasons people don’t start a decorating project? A: they don’t want to make a costly mistake! They’re not sure what paint color to use, how to blend furniture pieces, will they even fit correctly. I’m going to help give you a boost of confidence to design your dream space. Today I’m sharing 4 design mistakes you can avoid that will help get you started in the right direction.
Met Your Match
Mistake 1: Buying a pre-styled furniture set. While it may seem like a good (and easy) idea, you don’t want to settle for a “matching set” of furniture. Bedroom suites, matchy sofa and love seat combos are not very appealing. Yes, it’s an easy way to achieve a coordinated style, but it still falls under the designer no-no category.
Solution: Start with the largest piece in the room, let’s say the sofa. Now that you have that chosen, look to a different manufacturer for a piece that coordinates but doesn’t match perfectly. We’re not going for the showroom floor look, you want more of your personality brought into the space. One way to help achieve this cohesive look is to pick up on certain details like colors, materials, design style. This will help you feel more confident in building a well designed space.
Don’t Use That Tone with Me
Mistake 2: Choosing paint first. I can’t stress this enough…but paint, while yes, is a big part of the design, should not be the first thing you choose. This playroom is the perfect example – we could have used several coordinating paint colors, but this cool grey we chose is the perfect background for each of the individual pieces to pop and play well together.
Solution: Wait until you get most of the pieces chosen before committing to a paint color. Then choose a background color that compliments the over all look and feel of the design. [side note: nobody wants to spend an extra weekend repainting a bad color choice!]
Your Eyes are Playing Tricks On You
Mistake 3: Not measuring your space before purchasing! It happens often, you shop your favorite retailer, get that perfect sofa delivered, only to find out it’s too large for your space. Disappointment sets in. It’s not easy to judge the size of furniture when you’re looking at it on a showroom floor.
Solution: Don’t let your eyes play tricks on you. Take measurements before you begin your search. If you know what measurements you’re shopping for, it will make the entire experience much easier….and your inner “designer” is going to be happy.
Your True Colors
Mistake 4: Never making a bold choice. Being fearful of an adventurous decision can often lead to a boring and unsatisfying space. And as mentioned, no one wants to waste an entire weekend trying to “fix” a mistake. In contrast, this dining room is a great example, we used a bold wallpaper to accent the ceiling and it really helps bring to a room to life.
Solution: Take a risk every now and then. But rest assured, if you go dramatic, layer in light and neutral pieces that help balance out the design, therefore not leaving you overwhelmed with your choices.
Go get’em – Cheers!