25 decorating traps we don't want you to fall into

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The Stables, Gourdon, Aberdeenshire, Roundhouse Architecture Ltd Roundhouse Architecture Ltd Classic windows & doors
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Wouldn't it be marvellous if we were all totally faultless? Well, how we decorate our homes can be, thanks to the tips and tricks that we've gleaned from professional interior designers

From keeping plenty of traffic space in your living room through to hiding away all your cables and keeping your home furnishing schemes simple, we think we've covered all bases here, so come take a look and see if you agree!

1. Never use fake flowers to decorate as they attract dust. Go for the real deal

2. Don't fall into the trap of overflowing your bed with too many pillows

3. Overloading on accessories is a sure-fire way to make your space cluttered instead of cosy

4. Don't fear colour, it actually looks great

5. Your windows shouldn't be ignored! They need framing and dressing up

6. Don't relegate furniture to the edges of rooms. Experiment with layouts

7. Hard to clean and care for sofas are a bad choice, unless you also invest in covers

8. Don't mount your pictures too high. They should sit so the centres meet your eye line

HAM Screen Prints, HAM HAM Other spaces Pictures & paintings

9. Take the time to choose bright, sparkling lighting that will complement and not cool a room

10. Rugs should always be anchored by at least some furniture legs, not left abandoned in the centre of a room

11. There is a difference between eclectic and over the top use of colours and patterns. Simple can be better!

12. Don't overlook the importance of proportional furniture or you will shrink your rooms

Natural Hide Rocking Chair puji Living room Sofas & armchairs

13. Keep fashionable purchases to small accessories, not large pieces of furniture

14. Don't buy matching sets of everything or your home will look like a brand catalogue

15. Uncomfortable dining chairs are an absolute no-no! The food should be the talking point, not everyone's sore backs

16. Don't embrace too much formality. Remember that you have to live in and use this space

17. Don't be afraid to throw away gifts and accessories that you no longer like. Your taste is your own, so choose your own embellishments

keeping things you hate

18. You don't have to keep the original door or cabinet hardware. If you want to modernise, change them

old fashioned hardware

19. Out of place or overly wacky themes will be a novelty, but not elegant

out of place themes

20. Your hallway is your home's first impression so don't lessen your design efforts just because it's not a main room

ignoring your hallway

21. Exposed cables really cheapen the finish of your home so try top keep all your electricals hidden

22. More photos aren't always a good thing, if they'll make your walls look cluttered. Select a few favourites and put the rest in albums

23. Pedestal rugs are something that should have never made it out of the 70s, so opt for a normal rug if you want one in your bathroom

24. Lopsided furniture won't always be immediately obvious to you, but don't assume your floors are level as certain things may need adjusting or spacing

25. Don't leave your layouts to chance, actually plan them with a traffic flow in mind. You can test whether it works by seeing if you can easily vacuum

Take Off, Una St Ives, iroka iroka Living room TV stands & cabinets

For more interior design tips, take a look at this Ideabook: Don't Repeat The Interior Design Mistakes Of Others.

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