When it comes to decorating any room in a house, I’d like to think of it this way: it’s a white canvas waiting to become a work of art. By planning, choosing, and placing the right elements in a proper location, our rooms can be transformed into a great composition. However, in this process, there might be some things that we do (or are currently doing) that don’t benefit our goal. That’s why I decided to share with you 10 common decorating mistakes and how to avoid them.

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from me, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

#1. Designing without a plan

This is like beginning the construction process of a house without having a blueprint. It’s impossible and the outcome might be terrible. So my first recommendation for you would be to have a Design Plan. Set a goal, figure out what you want to do, what’s the expected outcome, establish a budget, look for inspiration and ask for an expert’s help. Having a design plan will help you make the best and most accurate decisions for your space.



This is how I like to start a design plan. Do some research for inspiration, look for the right elements, create a mood board to have a preview, and see how I feel about it.

Take a look at this one I made for my client, it’s a calming living room, using neutral colors that bring a relaxing mood to the environment.

#2. Hanging drapes too low

I like to see curtains as the lipstick of decorating, they give a feeling of completion to a room. Given their relevance, it’s important when hanging them, to do it high and wide and not too low. This means: the curtain rod should extend 2 to 6 inches wider than the window casing on both sides and the length of the curtain should break on the floor. My advice here is to always measure! Every room is different and you need to make sure to select the best option.

Take a look at the example below. Drapes placed properly give a final touch to this bedroom, and a sophisticated look.

#3. Not testing paint colors before buying

I get it. That paint color looks amazing in the magazine, right? Why wouldn’t it have the same effect at home? But the reality is a different one. You don’t want to invest your money and effort in a room just to find out the results are not as expected. My advice here is to grab a few samples of the paint colors you’re interested in, try each one individually on a white foam board, and tape it to your walls. It’s important to take a moment and answer these questions:

• How do you feel?
• Does it match the other elements in the room?
• Is this the exact result you had in mind?

If you don’t know where to start, I can help you here by choosing the best colors that will highlight your room and match your vision.

#4 Rugs are too small

Another common decorating mistake is the size of the rug. Sometimes we choose one that’s too small. You want to make sure your furniture rests on the rug. The size of the rug should be large enough that it contains every piece of furniture (or at least the front feet), plus have some space left around them.

Have a look at this living room, it looks symmetrical and cohesive. That’s the purpose of a rug to complement and highlight your space.

#5 Not having any plants

I always recommend my clients add some life to every space. Including some greenery will highlight the room, and give an extra touch of energy to it. The golden rule here is less is more, we don’t want to overwhelm the rest of the elements, just combine and add as a finishing touch. Below you will find a perfect example of how to use plants the proper way.

This doesn’t end here…

So far we’ve described several decorating mistakes in interior design. But there’s more to come. In my next blog post, I’ll cover 5 additional mistakes and the proper way to correct them. I’ll be sharing tips and experiences to make the most out of your space! Stay Tuned.

pin it here!