Common Decorating Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even the most beautiful homes can feel “off” when a few key design principles are missing. The good news? Most decorating mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for. Here are the most common issues I see — and how to avoid them.

1. Choosing Paint Before Everything Else

Paint should be one of the last decisions you make, not the first.

Your furniture, flooring, and lighting all affect how a color reads. Choose your finishes first, then select a paint color that supports the space.

2. Hanging Art Too High

This is one of the most common mistakes.

Art should feel connected to the furniture below it — not floating away. A good rule of thumb: hang art so the center is around eye level.

3. Using Rugs That Are Too Small

A small rug makes a room feel disjointed.

Your rug should anchor the space — ideally with at least the front legs of your furniture sitting on it.

4. Poor Lighting (or Only One Light Source)

Lighting is everything.

Every room needs a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Relying on a single overhead light makes a room feel flat and harsh.

5. Pushing All the Furniture Against the Walls

Floating furniture creates intimacy, flow, and balance.

When everything is pushed to the edges, the room loses its warmth and structure.

6. Ignoring Scale and Proportion

A tiny lamp on a huge table or a massive sofa in a small room throws off the entire space.

Scale matters — a lot.

7. Too Many Small Accessories

A collection of tiny decor pieces can make a room feel cluttered.

Choose fewer, larger, more intentional pieces for a cleaner, more elevated look.

Final Thoughts

Good design isn’t about perfection — it’s about intention. When you understand the principles behind scale, balance, lighting, and flow, your home instantly feels more polished and cohesive.

If you’re in Boise, Eagle, Meridian, or McCall and want a home that feels beautifully pulled together, I’d love to help.