Before you think we’re about to come at you like the interiors’ police, we promise we’re not.
We’re just here to lend a helping hand, a little nod in the right decorating-direction.
If your home is feeling cluttered and chaotic right now, it may be because of storage and organisation, it may be because of three small children, a pet dog and a husband that favours a floordrobe, but it *could* be because of these five-decorating no-nos:
- Pushing furniture against the walls
Whilst it’s easy to think that pushing your furniture flush against the walls will create more space, it actually does the opposite and makes the space look cluttered and messy.
If you’ve ever seen those Pinterest homes, you’ll notice a common theme: the furniture is pulled out from the walls and arranged in groups, staged for everyday moments.
So instead of pushing your (sofa) back against the wall, try grouping your furniture toward the centre of the room, arranged around a coffee table for coziness and traffic flow. Arrange décor items like console tables and lighting against the walls and behind sofas to utilise space and create an elevated feel.
2. Going cushion crazy
Apparently, more is not always more, and adding lots of accent cushions in un-coordinating patterns and colours to your sofa/bed make it look messy and chaotic.
Try to make sure that for each room, the cushions have coordinating patterns and colours that flow with the room. Two accent cushions at each end adds beautiful colour and pattern, while keeping the space clutter free.
If you’re blessed with a deep-seated sofa, add a row of 4-5 pillows as long as they coordinate in colour and pattern.
3. Putting mirrors and pictures anywhere
Not only will randomly hung art and mirrors look like you had no plan, it will contribute to that clutter feeling.
Group pictures in a gallery wall (if you’ve got a lot of prints), or ensure that art is balanced, decluttered and visually pleasing.
4. Putting it all on the (coffee) table
A sure-fire way to make a room look untidy is to fill an entire coffee table or console with décor.
Repeat after us: less is more. So, take stock of your décor and edit what you use, creating one or two groupings.
Only display what you love on the tale top and group lots of small objects on a decorative tray. Try elevating small objects for visual interest by stacking books.
5. Going colour-crazy
Too many colours are not going to help your home look ordered and styled, so make sure you use one or two accent colours combined with neutral hues to give your home a cohesive, relaxed look.
>> Top tip: natural fibre rugs are a great way to add neutral colour to a space and calm down a colour overload. <<
