Amateur and professional designers alike fall victim to the occasional decorating mistake. From getting a little too excited about every latest fad (to the point where your home decor feels like an ever evolving trend report) to investing in a too-small area rug to stay on-budget, we’ve all been there.

Fortunately, there are a few designer-approved tips you can follow when decorating your home to avoid these common pitfalls — like the four-to-six-inch curtain rule or the rug size guide. Being mindful of these simple tricks of the trade can help you create a truly elevated, memorable space.

But first, a disclaimer: as with anything, rules are meant to be broken – particularly when it comes to creating a space that’s personal and unique. As you read on for the common decorating mistakes designers find a bit cringy (and what to do instead), treat it as friendly advice versus hard-and-fast rules. And ultimately, as always, design the home that you love (we’re pretty into that idea).

1. Over-decorating

There’s an understandable temptation, especially in small spaces, to keep all the furniture and decor you’ve ever owned, and to decorate every nook and cranny. This can result in an overdone space that feels too cramped and cluttered that’s in desperate need of some negative space. Instead, it’s best to edit, pare back, and practice restraint when styling. Most importantly, saying goodbye (or storing) to some furniture and knick-knacks will ultimately result in a space that feels calmer, cozier, and more inviting.

2. Conversely, under-decorating

There’s a time for rebranding scant furniture and bare walls as “minimalism,” and that time is college. Successful minimalism is actually incredibly hard to achieve — you want your space to feel calming and understated, not unfinished and stark. Make sure you have enough furniture to adequately fill up the floor plan (even poufs and nesting tables can do the trick) and remember: going minimalist doesn’t mean cutting out decor. Save budget for the finishing touches, like books, vases, florals, candles, textiles, and beyond.

3. Lining the walls with furniture

A common design mistake we see often is placing all of the furniture along the walls, leaving the center of the room bare and empty. While it might seem counterintuitive, floating some of the furniture off the walls (particularly pieces like sofas and accent chairs) will actually give the illusion of a larger, more layered, space. 

4. Overstyling shelves

Shelving is not an open invitation to display every decorative knick-knack to your name, especially in a communal space like a living room. Instead, practice restraint when styling your shelves, and group similar objects together. For example, go with busy books on one shelf, and a simple art print and bowl on another. When in doubt, stick to a curated color palette to tie the look together, and don’t be afraid to go full-on minimal on one shelf for overall balance.

5. Going all-in on one design style

Contrast is critical when trying to create a well appointed, visually arresting space. When a space feels like too much of any one thing — whether it’s all farmhouse, all classic, or all mid-century modern — it can feel boring. Contrast doesn’t just refer to mixing styles, but juxtaposing different colors, shapes, sizes, textures, patterns, finishes, eras, and more. For example, pairing a vintage-inspired round table with a luxe hide rug and a modern, geometric chandelier — the thoughtful mixing and matching makes it sing.

6. Going catalog cookie-cutter

If everything in your home came from the same brand and feels lifted straight out of a catalog, that’s a designer no-no. The most interesting spaces include a curation of different elements —purchased, inherited, discovered, and thrifted. Weave in pieces from different brands, artifacts found locally and while traveling, and special elements that are personal to you, like an heirloom ginger jar from your grandmother or vintage sketches you found on a favorite trip. (Shameless plug: if you need help sourcing from different places and blending in your history, we know some Havenly designers who can help!)

7. Overhead lighting only

Relying only on overhead lighting can create a harsh and sterile atmosphere. A designer rule of thumb is layering in at least two to four additional lighting sources in every space, especially in living rooms, where you’ll be both lounging and hosting. Mix table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces to create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

8. Skimping on height

A nitty-gritty styling mistake that’s incredibly common? Forgetting to play with height, whether you’re styling a media unit, bookshelf, or a simple corner. Always add tall objects like statement plants, pedestal tables, oversized vases, floor lamps, and artwork to break up visual monotony and draw the eye up. On a piece of furniture or floating shelf, tall objects on one side, like candle holders, florals, and vases can balance out low stacks of books on the other, for example. Always add tall elements to create a space that feels dynamic and unique.

9. Hanging artwork too high (or too low)

We often find that artwork is hung too high (or sometimes too low), especially when positioned over a piece of furniture, like a sofa or sideboard. The common tendency is to leave a large amount of space between the artwork and the furniture, which makes the piece look like it’s floating, rather than a part of a cohesive vignette. Fortunately, there’s an easy rule of thumb for this: art should typically hang at eye level (of course, there are exceptions to every rule). When in doubt, mind the gap.

10. Additionally, skimping on art size

When selecting artwork for your home, we say go big or go home. While we love an unexpected, asymmetric art moment where a small, single piece hangs off-center above a bed or fireplace mantel, pulling this off takes an expert eye (more on that here). Generally speaking, too-small artwork can appear as if it’s floating on a large, blank wall — you want to fill up the space and make the artwork feel intentional, not unfinished. This can be achieved with one or two oversized paintings, like in the above dining room, or a robust gallery wall.

11. Buying a too-small rug

We get it — it’s so tempting to save money and opt for a smaller rug, but in our opinion, this is not the area to skimp. When rugs are too small for a space, the room automatically feels unfinished and bare. It’s better to shop at a more wallet-friendly brand and purchase a rug that’s the appropriate size for your room and your layout, rather than investing in a smaller (but high-end) piece. The go-to designer rule is to make sure at least the front legs of all your furniture sit easily on the rug.

12. Buying matchy-matchy furniture

To avoid that furniture superstore vibe, steer clear of matching coffee and accent table sets, or a matching bed-dresser-nightstand combo. Rather, create contrast (remember that tip?) with your furniture by mixing textures, tones, and silhouettes. Furniture can sometimes feel like a mixed bag of squares and rectangles if not carefully considered —mix in rounded accent chairs, sculptural coffee and side tables, or circular poufs to keep the room feeling balanced and bespoke. 

13. Skipping (or cropping) curtains

One of the most common decor mistakes we see involves curtains, or lack thereof. From passing on them altogether to opting for buying a too-short pair to save a bit of money, window treatments leave plenty of room for error. But curtains are like mascara for a designer — they make a space feel put together and complete. Our rule of thumb is to always go high and wide:  hang the curtain rod four to six inches above the window frame, and extend it outwards so that the curtains are just dusting the sides of the frame. That way, you’re not blocking any precious light. Second, curtains should touch the floor — no ankle crops here. Floor length curtains help create more visual height (particularly in a small space), and draw the eye upward.

14. Cliche art

In general, we recommend avoiding generic printed quotes, particularly on wood blocks, that read “Live, Laugh, Love” or “Keep Calm…” You get it. Instead, fill your home with art that holds some meaning to you — whether purchased while traveling, discovered at a local flea market, passed down from a loved one, or simply a scene that makes you feel something. Of course, if the aforementioned word art does that for you, then by all means, go for it! (And we mean that.)

15. All neutrals & no warmth

Yes, there’s something serene and sophisticated about a neutral space, but an all-white palette can easily feel flat and unimaginative. If you like the timeless tranquility of neutrals, make sure to add much-needed warmth through contrasting shades of sand, beige, camel, and the like. And check out our designer-recommended (and loved) neutral palettes here.

16. Decorating with faux flowers

You know the ones we’re talking about — the very stiff and artificial plastic florals commonly found at Hobby Lobby. While there are a lot of elegant and realistic options on the market these days, as designers, we are typically inclined to pass. Bringing in fresh flowers has always been a surefire way to connect a space to the natural world, so consider sticking to the real deal. That said, if longevity is your goal, then consider dried stems for a Modern Cottage-inspired aesthetic. Afloral has so many delicate and intriguing options!

17. Only adding one accent color

Avoid leaning into one dominant color pop when decorating your space, like buying teal pillows, curtains, and artwork. When designers consider palettes, they artfully weave together a variety of hues. Mixing warm and cool tones, or even multiple shades of a single color, creates a more balanced and intriguing space.

18. Keeping run-down & dated furniture

Don’t get us wrong — college-era furniture definitely comes in handy once you graduate and start decorating your first space. We all need to start somewhere, both financially and design-wise. But it’s more about knowing when to retire pieces like futons, bean bag chairs, movie posters, and the like. Once you’re financially able, consider upgrading the futon to a more sophisticated daybed, swapping out the posters for artwork that inspires you, and investing in a proper dresser. It’s amazing how switching out a few old pieces can immediately breath new life into a space.

19. Skimping on the details

We know all too well how easy it is to lose steam at the end of a design project and shirk the finishing touches — whether from an energy perspective, budget perspective, or both. Always reserve a little cash and elbow grease to style your coffee table, media unit, floating shelves, sofa, and beyond — these finishing touches are what give a home personality, character, and charm!

20. Playing it safe

At the end of the day, well-designed spaces — the ones that make you think, Wow, now that’s a home — often involve a little bit of risk-taking. Whether it’s the addition of bold colors or patterns, a statement piece of furniture (we’re into curves these days), or tackling a new paint trend, our best advice is to never take design too seriously. Have fun, play around, try something new. The risk is often worth the reward.

Need a second opinion on your home’s design? Our designers are standing by — get started with our style quiz!