17 Getting the scale wrong
Most people buy sofas that are too large, and rugs and other furnishings that are too small for the rooms they're in. Playing with the scale of furnishings is an art; a large armoire in a small room isn't necessarily a bad thing -- if you create balance with a dark wall colour, large framed art and rich carpets. A sofa should fit on the short or long wall of a room; make sure if you place it along the short wall that you still have room for end tables on each side.
18 Collecting too much stuff
We hoard, collect and often have too many things that don't belong, so learning to edit a room is a huge lesson. The easiest way to do it is to dress a room completely and then take away 30 per cent of the accessories, such as candles, picture frames and knickknacks. That will leave room to add items as the decor develops over time.
19 Second-guessing your professional
Why would you spend money to hire a contractor, designer or architect and then allow the final decisions to be made by your friends and family? Professionals come to your project with an unbiased, workable plan; your friends and family don't.
20 Choosing the wrong colour hue
People often know what colour they want but don't pick the proper hue (lightness or darkness). A good rule of thumb: Lighter on the top, darker on the bottom. Floors are usually a darker, deeper hue than the walls; ceilings are lighter than the walls.
21 Hanging oversize family portraits in main living spaces
Save all those large framed wedding, school and family photographs for the upstairs hallway, home office and den.
23 Positioning furniture along the edges of a room
We keep moving it in, and you keep lining it up! Try dividing a long, narrow room by using the two-thirds/one-third rule: make two-thirds of your room the main seating area, and one-third a space for a desk, reading chair or piano. Don't be afraid to show the back of a chair or sofa by using the piece to divide the room.
24 Buying a chandelier that's too small
For every foot of the width of the room, multiply that number by two for the diameter -- in inches -- of the chandelier that will work in that particular room. For example, if the width of your room is 12 feet, then your chandelier should be 24 inches in diameter (12' x 2 = 24").
25 Choosing trendy-colour fabrics for long-term furnishings
Custom sofas, chairs, headboards and draperies should last many years. Opting for a trendy-colour fabric like lime green will quickly make these pieces look (and feel) outdated. Instead, choose colours that are a shade lighter or darker than your wall colour, so furnishings work well together and maintain their timeless appeal.
Image courtesy of Crate and Barrel
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4 Comments
This is my number one complaint when I visit homes. Hanging artwork too high doesn't allow one to see the work comfortably and gives one a sore neck when having to look up to see it! We all have enough stresses in life which contirbute to a sore and aching neck muscles. Looking at art should not add to this strain. MW
I agree that most people tend to hang their framed items too high. However, I notice that even in your great magazine I seldom hear much about acquiring art for your home. It's odd to me that people will spend lots of money on furnishings (I see loads of cheap stuff at the curb) and kitchens, etc but hang lacklustre things on their walls or nothing at all. I seldom see artwork on the walls in photos of custom homes or featured homes in real estate papers. They seem so uninteresting and expensive. People need to look at their walls and find good local art and pay well for it. Artists are still under-valued and under-utilized. I know of an established, working artist who will custom paint for clients to suit their decor and/or tastes. It appears the average homeowner has never developed their own taste in art, only paint on the walls. A good designer's consultation should include what to put on the walls. Let's add some character to our homes.
I agree that the hanging of art too high is a common error. Fortunately, on a visit to Amsterdam I got a lesson in how to hang art in the bedroom. The piece, (a repro of a Rembrandt) was at eye level when I was lying in bed on my side, which made perfect sense since that's where I would most likely be looking at it. Siince I"m not very tall, my tall friends have to bend a lttle when looking at some of the pieces at my house, but that's OK, I"m the one there most of the time. The other issue is what is hung on walls as art. Unfortunately, people are afraid of showing their own innate good taste by hanging "safe" art i.e. non-controversial (and usually bland) prints or copies of known masters. When people come to my house, they are visitng me - not the house and if they don't like what's on the walls, then too bad. I tend to buy only original art and believe me it's NOT as highly priced as current reports of art auctions would have you believe. It's important to learn about what you like and don't like first - by going to galleries and looking at art books. Then, with an idea of the type of art style you prefer, go to end of the year student shows at colleges of art, public shows like the one in Toronto at the beginning of the summer (outdoors at the city hall), and yes, even galleries. Look in the bins of unframed art when you find an artist whose work you like. Buy works that "talk" to you - that's the only way I can describe why or how I choose the pieces that I do. If you buy those works that you relate to, you'll never regret their purchase, even though your taste may change over time. Buy original art and help our artists! One last caveat, stay away from photo-reproductions touted as original, signed "prints". They are NOT bonafide prints, but can be compared to an excellent photocopy done completely by machine with no input of the artist beyond (perhaps) a pencilled signature and number. They are also a great disservice to the many great print-makers that Canada has.
We have beautiful hardwood in our small livingroom, hall and diningroom. If the furniture legs are on an area rug the hardwood is almost completely covered. We have chosen 2 simple lovseats (slightly wider than standard)and a contemporary slipper chair (all in neutral colours). We placed a coffee table on a slightly larger Persian carpet. We purchased the carpet in Iran in the 1970s and have used the colours for accessory pieces. We think the effect works -- we can see the hardwood and can enjoy the rug (the only patterened piece in the room).