By combining personal taste, unlimited resources, and individual style, you can achieve an interesting decorating look for almost any room in their homes. However, no matter how much money you have or much creativity you got, there are just some decorating no-nos that you should avoid at all costs.



Whether you're going for casual, traditional, or even just decorating your kid's room, these are some of the most common mistakes that are being committed again and again. It's quite surprising how many people are found guilty of these things, really. I hope you're not one of them.

Getting Furniture That Does Not Fit ? Think about it; you wouldn't wear clothes that are either too loose and baggy, or too tight and fitting on you, now would you? So why would you choose furniture that doesn't fit in your room? Before you shop for furniture, remember to measure the space that you have, think about where you're going to put the piece, and write it all down.

Use Too Many Patterns and Prints ? Please, don't just go around picking up any fabric or upholstered furniture you see and like. Most people do this quite often, thinking all the while that they can find a way to work around it. When buying drapes, curtains, upholstered furniture, or anything else that involves prints and patterns, sit down first and plan out your color scheme carefully. Find a main pattern and then go out and get pieces, plaids, stripes, etc. to work around that.

If you need to, select a large pattern or print, then find one small, coordinating print and one stripe or plaid. That would be enough. If you need another fabric, think about using a solid-colored texture or interesting weave.

Float a Rug in the Middle of the Room ? The elements in a room should be connected visibly and physically. Placing a rug on the floor effectively adds more color, charm, and that essential connection. However, a lot of rugs are still being left lying around without the edges safely tucked in under the legs of sofas, tables, chairs, etc. A rug placed in the middle of a room, unanchored, poses a safety hazard. It would be easy to trip on an edge or corner of the rug or slip and slide if the rug moves.

Push All the Furniture Up Against the Wall ? A lot of people have this misconception that a room looks larger if they push up all their furniture against the wall, leaving the middle of the floor open. Actually, doing the opposite is definitely more effective. Move the furniture into groupings in the center, unless you want to clear out the floor for dancing. Arrange a sofa with a table behind it, away from the wall with a walking space behind. Moving some chairs out of the corners will also provide a more airy and spacious atmosphere.

Display All Your Knick-Knacks ? Whether you collect knick knacks from travels like ash trays or salt and pepper shakers or fine pieces of sculpture or one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass, you shouldn't put everything out at one time. You're in a home, not a museum. Pick out a few important items, particularly those of monetary or sentimental value. Then get rid of the rest, if you can. If you can't bear to throw the pieces away, put them away and rotate the items on display.