8 Mistakes We Make in Living Room Design
1. Buying cool furniture and not using it.
We can all appreciate a sleek glass table or a really cool looking couch or chair, but the purpose of those pieces of furniture is to use them. You can’t just buy them and look at them. You have to make sure you’ll feel comfortable in them and that they fit your style and your home.
2. Stacking all furniture along the walls.
When we’re talking about a closet, then sure, it belongs next to the wall. But when it comes to couches, armchairs and tables – don’t do it unless you live in a very small space. Putting your sofa away from the wall and closer to the center of the room instantly makes the space look bigger and cozier.
3. Having only one source of light.
Relying only on overhead lighting is a common mistake. It might look alright in the morning or in the middle of the day, when there’s sunlight, but in the evening this type of lighting can make a room look grim. Lighting is very important, it creates ambience and a cozy atmosphere. Make sure you have some lights on the walls and buy a couple of standing lights for good measure.
4. Displaying too much memorabilia.
It’s perfectly fine to have a few pictures on the mantelpiece and a couple of things you brought home from a vacation, but there’s no need to put all of the crap you brought home from abroad on display. No one wants to see it and it’ll just end up gathering dust in the end.
5. Not having enough seating.
Minimalism is great, but you have to be realistic when it comes to seating. You can’t expect all your guests to fit on one sofa. Get a couple of chairs, or invest into furniture pieces that are multifunctional, like a coffee table that can double as a bench. Think about how many people can fit at your dining table – that’s probably how many seats you need in the living room.
6. Not having throw pillows.
If you want your living room to look cozy you can never have too many throw pillows. They are basically magic when it comes to adding a splash of color and character and they instantly make the couch look more cozy and inviting. Plus, depending on their size, they might come in handy when you have lots of guests, you can just throw them on the floor and sit on them.
7. Having curtains that are too short.
If you want your room to look balanced you need curtains that will touch the floor. Curtain length might not be on your list of priorities when decorating your living room, but it should be. Curtains that are too short will make the room look smaller, awkward and very unbalanced.
8. Hanging pictures at the wrong height.
If you have paintings you want to hang or perhaps just a couple of family photos you want to display on your wall, it’s important to hang them at the right height. You don’t want for them to be too high up on the wall or too low, aim for eye-level, which is around 60 inches from the floor to the center of the painting or photo.