Everyone wants a nicely decorated home, but there is no point in investing in nice decor if the home always looks messy.
Clutter, whether temporary or permanent, makes a home feel unsettled instead of peaceful.
Here are a few decorating mistakes that make a home look messy.
A Spot for Items Used Daily
photo courtesy of congerdesign pixabay.com/photos/clutter-youth-rooms-messy-a-mess-560701/There needs to be an area set aside for everyday items to keep a home from looking messy.
You can designate a decorative box, a storage ottoman, a pretty basket, or other decorative item to combat clutter.
Where does the mail go once it enters the house? Does it go in a pretty basket to be sorted?
Do backpacks, purses, keys, and other items have a home, perhaps in an attractive cabinet?
Is there a designated spot for toys? Consider giving the toys a home in a cute toy box, or setting a rule that they are only allowed upstairs.
Too Many Accessories
Another decorative mistake why a room looks messy is the overuse of accessories.
Fewer larger pieces tend to look more expensive and less messy than a collection of smaller pieces.
If you wish to display a collection of smaller pieces, group them together so they have more impact. You can put them all on one shelf in a cabinet, display them all on the back of a piano, or cluster them on a decorative tray.
Easel Picture Frames
Many people love displaying photos of their family throughout their home.
A collection of photos on one wall typically looks nice, as long as the picture frames coordinate with each other and they are spaced appropriately.
Some people tend to clutter their home with easel picture frames on every surface, which is a mistake because it looks messy.
Consider sorting through your photos and only displaying your most cherished memories.
You do not need to display your children's school photos from every single year of school.
Typically, easel picture frames look best when they are on no more than one piece of furniture/ledge/surface per room.
One way to make photos look more artistic is to print them in black and white so the colors do not detract from the room's decor.
Another way to make your photo display more interesting is to only display candid photos instead of posed photos.
Old Technology
Technology has helped reduce clutter because it has become so small.
Do you still need your CD collection, or can you convert the songs to digital?
When was the last time you watched a VHS or DVD?
Is the fax machine still necessary, or can you clear that spot on your desk?
Do you really want to keep the massive stereo speakers?
Consider recycling the old technology to make more space in your home.
Keep vintage technology that is decorative (such as a victrola) since it can create a nice decorative display.
New Technology
Technology is not always the prettiest to see, so try to hide it whenever possible.
Try to hide alarm panels, TV or stereo components, and any other unattractive electrical device.
For electrical and data cords, wire management #ad is a must!
Remote controls should be out of sight, perhaps in a decorative basket or box.
You can even invest in a TV that looks like framed art #ad.
Too Much Furniture
If your room is difficult to navigate without running into a piece of furniture, then consider removing a piece or two to avoid the mistake of the room feeling messy.
You can move some pieces around to different rooms or sell pieces that do not fit in your home.
A furniture set does not always have to stay together.
Remember - sometimes less is more.
Random Artwork
Artwork should be thoughtfully considered when decorating a room.
Many people buy artwork that is too small, which is a mistake.
One large piece of art typically looks better than several smaller pieces.
Art should typically be hung where the center of the art is approximately 5 foot off the ground, however it might need to be hung a bit higher if hung over a bed or on top of a piece of furniture.
Refrigerator Magnets
Avoid hanging items on your refrigerator because it looks messy.
Consider adding a bulletin board or dry erase board to the inside of your kitchen cabinets instead.
If you absolutely must hang something on the fridge, hang it on the least visible side only, not the front.
Unattractive Books
Many people love books, but paper back books, binders, textbooks, basic photo albums, and other unattractive books should not be on display because they look messy.
Hide unattractive books in decorative baskets, cabinets, or other hidden storage.
Too Many Pillows
If someone has to remove a pillow from your sofa in order to sit down, then you have too many pillows.
Excessive amounts of pillows tends to look messy and is a decorative mistake.
That includes bed pillows. You must have a designated space to put your decorative pillows when you get into bed at night.
If the pillows end up on the floor, then you either need fewer pillows or a spot to put your pillows, such as on a chair or inside a storage ottoman.
Lack of Empty Space
When people look around your home, there should be some empty space for their eye to rest.
Is there some areas of blank wall, or is nearly every bit of wall covered with some decoration?
The same goes for the surfaces of furniture.
Are all of the horizontal surfaces covered with accessories, or does is there room for someone to set a glass of water or book?
Typically no more than 2/3 of a surface should be covered with accessories. Ideally, no more than 1/3 should be covered (this excludes bookcases and decorative cabinets).
Not Enough Light
A dark room tends to feel more cluttered, even if it is not, so make sure you have plenty of light.
You can add lamps, open the blinds, or change your light bulbs to a brighter bulb to remedy the mistake.
Everything Down Low
A room that feels bigger also feels less messy.
In order to make a smaller room feel bigger, consider bringing items up higher on the wall.
You can add wall cabinets for upper storage.
Also consider hanging your curtains up higher on the wall and wider than the window to give the appearance of larger windows and a taller ceiling.
