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Design Choices That Can Make Your Home Uncomfortable

Decor enthusiasts do their best to make their home look cozy and inviting. However, a few key mistakes can make a home feel uncomfortable. From overdoing the throw pillows to clashing patterns, many things can go wrong. To avoid a decor disaster, we share the most common design choices that will make your home feel uncomfortable. After reading through these, you will understand which crucial mistakes to avoid.  

Cluttered shelves

Although shelves are an affordable storage solution, they can look tacky. Even if you do your best to keep them tidy, shelving will usually look cluttered. Closed cabinets can help to conceal any clutter when you need additional storage options. 

Go minimal with open shelving and introduce enclosed storage options (from Unsplash)

Choose patterns carefully

Unless you are a professional designer or know what you are doing, we recommend you stay away from mixing patterns. The space can quickly look overwhelming if you don’t mix and match appropriately. Instead, play it safe and add one print at a time. 

Add one bold pattern at a time for tastefully decorated space (from Unsplash)

Lighting

The proper lighting will contribute to a well-designed and functional space. Make sure to include task lighting in every corner of your home so that you can easily control the amount of light.

Provide proper lighting for every corner of your home (from Unsplash)

Throws

While those cozy throws will comfort you while enjoying your favorite book, make sure to use them moderately. Opt for fewer pieces and make sure they fit your color scheme for a cohesive look. If you add too many accent pillows and blankets, your home will look messy.

Go minimal with throw pillows (from Unsplash)

Uncomfortable furniture

When shopping for furniture, never compromise on comfort. While that Chesterfield sofa looks luxurious and fits your style, it might not feel comfortable when sitting. And the last thing you want is your family members and guests to feel uncomfortable. 

Prefer comfort over good looks (from Unsplash)

Bad smells

An unpleasant odor will make your home feel off. Things like smoking indoors, not emptying the cat litter box, and cooking can produce bad smells in the house. The situation can get even worse when the upholstery has absorbed those foul odors. And no, those artificial scents in the form of air fresheners and scented candles won’t mask the offending odor. Make sure to do a deep cleaning and avoid the practices that make your home smell terrible. In addition, air out your home more frequently.

A well-ventilated space is odor-free (from Unsplash)

Lack of personal touches

Your home will feel somehow sterile if you don’t add personal touches. Don’t go too matchy with it, and pick accent pieces that reflect your personality. 

Make sure not to go overboard with bold accents. Otherwise, your home will end up looking cluttered and busy. Give your statement pieces room to breathe and let them stand out. Professional designers call this negative space, meaning that you should provide ample room around bold objects to make them the focal point. 

Add personal touches for uniqueness (from Unsplash)

Large furniture

When choosing furniture, always be mindful of proportions. Oversized pieces will take too much floor space, interrupting the traffic flow. When furnishing a small room, opt for tall pieces to take advantage of the vertical space. 

Be mindful of proportions when choosing furniture (from Unsplash)
Large spaces require larger furnishing pieces (from Unsplash)
The desk’s size perfectly complements the small wall (from Unsplash)

Kristina Shestakova

Kristina is a home decor enthusiast that loves to share practical tips. With more than 5 years in the interior design content writing niche, she has lots to share. She is obsessed with Pinterest, looking for the most creative ideas for your inspiration. Hopefully, this will motivate you to create the home you always wanted.

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