Want your friends to think you hired a pro?
Take a look at this list of no-nos to see if you are guilty of any!
This is the number one thing I notice when I walk into a room. A lot of homeowners will place a too small piece of artwork on too big of a wall. I often see a single framed piece of artwork over the sofa. It is usually too small for the scale of the sofa, which looks very lonely and sad. Let’s make that sofa feel more loved!
THE FIX: Bigger is almost ALWAYS better! Buy an oversized print for over the sofa, it makes a great dramatic statement. Take a look at sites such as art.com or allposters.com for inexpensive prints, and frame them yourself. This also works great in a foyer or over a bed.
THE FIX: Haven’t found a piece of art you love? Try a “gallery style” groupings of frames or artwork. This gives you a lot of flexibility and you can easily swap new pieces throughout time. To avoid looking chaotic, stick to the same color scheme and add white mattes.
THE FIX: Repetition. Create an overall pattern using multiples. Nine is a number that works well! L-O-V-E those large white mattes!
THE FIX: Tear out those dome lights! Yes, they are already there. And they light up the space. But…this is one of the simplest ways to customize your room. One way to do this is to play with scale: an oversized fixture over a dining room table or foyer adds drama to a space. I love shadesoflight.com and ballarddesigns.com. So get out those step ladders and let’s upgrade!
THE FIX: If you are a DIY-er, spray paint can be your new best friend. Most brass chandeliers can be given new life with a coat of matte black spray paint. But I also loved this idea found in Amy Butler’s home. She spray painted an inexpensive Ikea fixture gold for a grown up look. It is the focal point of the whole room.
THE FIX: Yes, I know its easy to buy it all at once. But when you buy an entire matching set of furniture, it tends to look a bit…stale. Mixing and matching makes the room more unique, and thus more custom. In the Dining room: Add upholstered chairs to the head and foot of the table. A fun twist would be to put the monograms of mom and dad on those chairs! Another way is to get a stained table and painted chairs. If your home is a little more casual, mix it up with brightly colored chairs or a bench. This one has the painted chairs AND unique head chairs AND unique oversized light. BE STILL MY HEART!
THE FIX: In your living room: If your couch matches-your-chairs-which-matches-your-pillows-which-matches-your-ottoman…you get it. It looks more like you live in a furniture store and less a home. Break up the set and move the pieces to another room. Then add in a few new pieces. Feel free to mix old with new. High end with low end. Painted with stained. Mix it up with different fabrics. A good rule of thumb is to mix a large pattern, a small pattern, and a solid together.
THE FIX: Toss the pillows that came with the sofa. Throw pillows are an instant “fun boost” to your room! Here is a place to add your personality and a pop of color. Go crazy and buy a set of “summer” pillows and “winter” pillows. Yes, your husband will most likely roll his eyes at this idea, BUT its an easy way to help those winter blues if you live in the Midwest like I do!
Those are the first 3 mistakes to avoid. Hold your breath…I’ll finish the list in the next post. ‘Til then!
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