6 decorating errors that make your home look messy

It should be noted that the way we beautify our homes, much as the way we view art is completely personal. What is visually appealing to one might not strike a chord with another — and that is fine, but there are a few rules of thumb to be taken into deliberation when striving to improve the look, feel and flow of your home. As compiled from freshome.com and Reader’s Digest magazine, here’s a list of techniques to get your abode looking dapper.

Your wall art looks random

A haphazardly placed or poorly sized piece of artwork can make an entire room look chaotic. “It’s important to pick pieces that are to scale with the wall that you’re putting them on,” says Marissa Sauer, interior designer and founder of Design MACS. “A piece that is too small could look a bit random. And a piece that’s too big can make the room look small and cluttered.” Sauer recommends that each piece of artwork relate spatially to something else in the room. For example, if you have a five-foot sofa, choose a four-foot painting. “The art has got to connect to something,” she adds. 

You chose high-maintenance furniture

If spraying down every surface in your nest is the last thing on your do-to list, kindly steer clear of high-maintenance pieces. That being said, also remember that shopping for and decorating our place is, of course, an expensive adventure, but you never want to skip corners and skimp on quality. Don’t buy the cheaper couch simply because it is cheaper. The money you save now won’t matter a difference when you have to replace the couch in five years because the material has not held up or the frame is weakening and about to give. Always buy the best that you can afford and if it means saving up for it, do. But also keep in mind: dust will be more apparent on expensive dark-stained wood furniture. Be mindful of the pieces in your home that get messiest the fastest, and clean them first. 

Take measure

When it comes to furniture, size always matters. While furniture that is too small can throw off the scale of the room and seem silly, you also want to measure your space to make sure that there is room for everything so that there is room for traffic to flow freely around the space. Furthermore, if you are moving in to a new home or are thinking about ordering new furniture you will want to be certain it will all fit. Imagine ordering a new dining table, only to have it not fit through a doorway or stairwell. When measuring a space don’t forget to think about height! 

You forgot to consider exposed cords

Nothing says chaos like a bunch of exposed cords and power strips — and sadly, most of us haven’t bothered to conceal them! Identify all of your home’s problem spots and look into creative ways to disguise the mess. For example, your computer’s power strip can be hung in a basket underneath the desk. Other strips can be hidden inside drawers and behind cleverly placed decorations. 

More is not merrier

There is no need to exhibit all your belongings in one space. This can give your room a congested and cluttered look which can have a very distracting and effect and one that is not at all restful and relaxing. If you have collections, place them throughout the home and group them together, like with like. If your space does start to become cluttered, pack some items away and rotate them in at a later time. This can help keep your space fresh. When styling objects on tables and shelves, keep everything grouped in threes (or other odd numbers like five and seven) and make sure there’s a clear focal point and lots of white space, advises Sauer. To keep things interesting, group objects of varying heights, and if your table is a square, position them on a 45-degree angle. 

Back away from the walls

Many people have a tendency to mechanically and instinctively place their furniture up against walls. Couches should be brought in slightly if a room is smaller, and more if a room is larger. The goal is to create an intimate space where people can gather, while allowing for smooth flow. Above the dining room table and chairs are in the centre of the room and the two chairs to the front of the room are brought away from the windows, just slightly to establish a feeling of intimacy, warmth and inclusion.

Umnia Shahid

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2016.

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