Oh! Don't Do That! What NOT to do When Decorating

I usually take the "what to do approach" in everything I do.  Focus on the positive, let the negative quietly slip away.  But today, let's have a little fun, and talk about the funny things NOT TO DO when decorating.

1.  Don't Paint Every Room in Your Home a Loud, Bright Color

photo:yteng-mnmlife.blogspot.com

Painting every room a bright, "fun" color became popular with diy home decorating television.  Everyone wanted to decorate their homes like they saw on TV.  I am not against bold color in the home.  For so many people bright color energizes them!  Don't be afraid of color.  I think what ends up happening though is that amateur decorators get carried away trying to include every color they love into their homes.  They love green, so their bedroom gets a coat of bright grass green!  And what goes better with grass than a bright blue sky, so the trim or hall way is sky blue.  Then, they saw an elegant red dining room, and they paint that next.  You can see that this is already a mess, but many people fall into this trap.  Once you've started, it can be hard to stop!  Bathroom: Pink!  Livingroom: Golden Yellow!  Yikes! 

Okay, there are some easy rules to follow, for anyone wanting to add color to their homes
-Use different values of the same color (darker in some rooms, lighter in others)
-Make sure all of the paint colors throughout the house look good together (Even if the rooms aren't next to each other)
-Use one neutral paint color throughout the entire house, and pop in your bright shades with accents like pillows etc.
-Pick grayed-down versions of colors you love (less shocking, more sophisticated)

Several years ago when I was shopping for a "Fixer Uper" I went into houses that needed a lot of TLC.  Many of these houses had the "Every Room a Different Color" Syndrome!  If I was afraid of catching it, that experience cured me for good!

2.  Don't Display Every Tchotchke You (or your grandma) Ever Collected

photo:google images

If there was one "Don't" I am guilty of, this is it.  I do love stuff!  I like collecting, and styling tables, bookshelves, countertops... I have friends with homes that are very minimal, and I really admire that.  I have a few things I like to keep on display:  Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Glass Bottles, Baskets, Books.  Aughhh!!  I am the first to admit all of this stuff looks like Clutter!!  Maybe this is pretty clutter, but too much stuff for your space looks cramped and disorganized.

There is help out there (even for me):
-Focus on 1 or 2 small collections
-Make sure the amount of "stuff" you have is in proportion to the size of your living space
-Keep only what is functional and you really use, Edit, Edit, Edit!


photo: google images

 





A beautiful, organized, spare home is so much more wonderful to enjoy spending time in, than being surrounded by "junk".  I know I don't want to end up living is a space like this:


photo:cnn.com

3. Don't Create "Theme" Rooms

photo:lindapaul.com

You just got back from a fabulous trip to Italy.  Italian Kitchen!  Grapes, faux columns, Chianti bottles... Don't do that!  Or you love the islands and the beach.  Everyone knows this one.  Shells, shells and more shells, grass skirts, palm trees, hibiscus print.  It seems that whenever anyone comes back from a vacation, they want to recreate that place somewhere in their home.  I'm all for using a trip as inspiration, just not so literally. 

photo:themerooms.blogspot.com

I know rooms like this are really popular among the diy-ers and I in no way want to inhibit your creativity.  You can definitely have your Italian or beach inspired room, while still keeping it elegant and sophisticated.  You will be reminded of your great vacation, without it screaming "I just got back from Italy (or the beach, or Japan or whatever)!

-Use the colors of a place rather than iconic imagery to design your room
-Go as authentic as you can.  In Italy and the Islands, all of the materials are pure, nothing faux
-Try to replicate the relaxed feeling you had on vacation rather than "painting a picture" of a place

There are more "Don'ts" that I could include, obviously.  But really this is only for fun.  And that is what decorating your home should be: Fun!  Your interiors shouldn't be taken too seriously, it's all just stuff.  But that being said, the space you live in can enhance your life in so many ways when it is a place you enjoy!

Are you ready to create the space of your dreams?  Log on to http://www.designtheroomyoulove.com and enter your email address.  You will receive tips, tools and trainings directly from me, showing you step by step how to Design the Room You Love!

SR
    

Tip of the Day: Using Something BIG in a Small Room

So many people have small rooms in their homes.  Did you know that these rooms can become your favorite room?  Interior Designers love small rooms, because they can be cozy and magical.  These same Designers also know the secrets to making these small rooms such special spaces.



photo: homepouch.com

If you use a BIG piece of furniture like a clock, mirror, or chair it can make the room!  It seems counter intuitive, that something big would make the room look smaller, but actually, big pieces can fool the eye into believing the space is larger than it is.  In this photo to the left, the room has a contemporary look that is clean and uncluttered.  The lanterns hanging from the ceiling are over scale, making the ceiling look higher.




photo: aclawrence.com

A big statement also adds drama and focus.   Filling a small room with bunches of small things all crammed in creates a look of confusion.  The eye doesn't know what to focus on, and the room can feel even more cramped and cluttered.  The mirrors in this room are huge, but add a ton of drama!  They stand in for art work on the wall, and even frame the space as art. 



If you have a small room in your home that you want to turn into a room you love try adding a big element.  This one change could change your whole room!