Decorating Mistakes Everyone Makes In Their Living Room

Mistake #1: Selecting or Keeping the Wrong Sofa - A great living room starts with a great sofa. You have good taste, but already have a sofa that you want to work with and don't want to replace it because it’s just a place to sit. A good sofa is key to comfort, but it's also central to how a room feels and looks. Getting the sofa right is to pay attention to seat height (a low seat is hard to get in and out of) and to draw a furniture floor plan before purchasing. Buying on impulse is great for accessories and side tables, but never for a sofa, as it can be a very costly mistake. Pay particular attention to the quality of the fabric and the timelessness of the shape.

Mistake #2: Falling Into the Showroom Look - Another mistake that plagues living rooms everywhere, is the showroom feel. In other words, a room that looks like it's all been purchased from the same store. It's important to mix new and vintage elements in order to create an interesting, eclectic, and individualized room. To avoid feeling like you're in a store, remember to leave adequate room in the budget for lighting, textiles, and accessories after large items are selected. The small pieces are what add personality.

Mistake #3: Buying a Rug That's Too Small - The American consumer has been suffering for too long from 'small rug' syndrome. Large rugs can be expensive and can feel like such a scary commitment, but it's one of the most important aspects of a room. Living rooms almost always need at least an 8-by-10-foot (if not a 9-by-12-foot) rug. Unless you have a tiny living room, stay away from anything under 6-by-9-feet. A 4-by-6-foot rug might be fine next to a bed, in a kitchen, or in an entrance, but it will not work in your living room.

Mistake #4: Poorly Planning Your Layout - While it may be tempting to push a sofa against a wall facing the TV and call it a day, there is more involved in planning a great living room layout. It's important to consider and create conversation groupings. It's also very important to consider views from your major seating. In a room with a fireplace, it’s important to figure out how to make the TV and fireplace work together. Remember swivel chairs can be your answer, and Dad some do recline!

Mistake #5: Hanging Art Incorrectly - Art hung the wrong way on a wall is like a character in a movie wearing a really bad wig, it's just hard not to see it. While some think that art should be hung at eye level, remember this doesn't apply in every case. Art should be at eye level, but not if your ceilings are really low, not if you are really tall and think about the height of the furniture the art is to hang over.

Mistake #6: Making It Too Precious to Live In - While the days of unused sitting rooms and plastic-wrapped furniture are long gone, pay special attention to making your living room fit the conveniences of everyday living. Select textiles and rugs that can take the wear and tear of everyday living. There are some great outdoor fabrics that cats, dogs and kids cannot destroy. It's important to select rugs that will wear well. Make sure that there's adequate storage in the living room to contain all of the items that we like to have around: toys, magazines, remotes.

Mistake #7: Not Mixing Periods and Styles - People often feel boxed in and limited by the architecture of their home and select furniture based on the home's time period. Remember you can mix new and vintage elements, but pay attention to furniture size and heights as traditional furniture needs to play well with your more modern pieces.