How to Correct the 20 Most Common Decorating Mistakes

We all make mistakes. Styles change and what was once perfectly acceptable is now fodder for interior design hipsters to mock.

Don't Worry - Aiva has 20 great solutions for how to update your home easily and inexpensively. Here are the 20 most common decorating mistakes and how to fix them. In Countdown Form:


20. Toilet Rugs

Problem: Toilet rugs are cut to fit around the toilet and sometimes have the carpet-like matching seat cover.

Solution: Small Rectangular Rug

Opt for a rectangular rug placed away from the base of the toilet

19. Too Many Photos

Problem: People that are really into photos have a hard time giving up all their photos, which end up cluttering many surfaces

Solution: Gallery Wall
Display your favorite photos on a gallery wall and switch them out whenever you'd like. You can organize your other photos by decade or event and display the albums on a shelf.

18. Ignoring the Foyer

Problem: The foyer is a terrific opportunity to make a statement about who you are and what your house is like. It doesn't have to be something grand - any statement is better than none at all.

Solution: Make a Statement

Use paint or patterned wallpaper to add color, and hang a beautiful mirror or painting. A mirror is especially great because it reflects light and creates the illusion of more space. Use the horizontal surfaces to hold mail and keys when you first walk in.

17. Out-of-Place Themes

Problem: A home's decor needs to be authentic and provide a sense of where you are. Decorating too much in the same print is overwhelming and tacky.Choices okay in some places are unacceptable anywhere else (I'm talking to you, Florida!)

Solution: Stylish Accent Pieces

Use accents to incorporate the look you enjoy without being overwhelming. If your house is in the mountains but you love the beach, display a collection of seashells or coral on a bookcase or end table instead of designing an entire beach-style room. 

16. Outdated Accessories

Problem: Don't let your room feel outdated because of old cabinets and hardware

Solution: Updated Hardware
Make small changes like switching the hardware on your
kitchen and bath cabinets for a big impact

15. Lopsided Furniture Arrangements

Problem: If you don't have an eye for furniture arranging,
look at decorating magazines to get ideas

Solution: Balance Furniture Pieces
Keep your furniture arrangements balanced to the eye.
If your furniture has heavy bottoms, use a glass table
or tall floor lamp to bring the eye up

14. Keeping Something You Hate

Problem: Just because something was a gift does not mean
you are obligated to keep it. Keeping something you hate
out of obligation or apathy is a common mistake.

Solution: Get Rid of It
When it comes to your home, you have the right
to get rid of something you don't like
(give it away, throw it away, donate it to charity, sell it, etc).
Drop hints to friends and family to avoid getting
something in the future that doesn't fit.

13. Visible Clutter

Problem: Unsightly clutter and disorganization not only contribute to a more stressful life, but ruins the look of the space.

Solution: Hidden Storage
Storage baskets, storage ottomans, under-the-stairs shelving units...there are many options for hiding and stylizing your stuff.

12. Furniture that Doesn't Fit

Problem: Furniture showrooms are much bigger than your living room, making it tough to choose furniture scaled to your home.

Solution: Choose the Right Sized Furniture
Follow these tips to avoid buying furniture that doesn't fit: 
1. Draw a to scale floor plan or purchase a room design kit so you can find the best layout without moving heavy furniture. 
2. Embrace "less is more", and don't try to put too much into any space. 
3. Measure the room before buying furniture pieces, and you'll decrease the chances of making a mistake.

11. Too Many Color Patterns

Problem: Too many colors and patterns tend to look busy, crowded and distracting.

Solution: Choose a fun pattern for a wall or a piece of furniture, but keep other pieces solid to balance it out.

10. Floating Rugs

Problem: A small rug in the middle to "bring the room together" actually looks disproportional.

Solution: A Rug that Touches All Furniture
Before purchasing, use measuring tape to create an outline of where you want to place the rug. Place the front feet of all furniture on the rug.

9. Frames Hung Too High

Problem: If you have to bend your neck to see your art, it's hung too high. You want your artwork at eye level, whether sitting or standing.

Solution: Hang Art at Eye Level
About 60 inches is the optimal height for hanging art and mirrors. If your pieces are big enough, they should just reach the top of the door frame. To hang art over a sofa, the bottom edge should be 6 inches above the top of the sofa.

8. Tacky Couch Covers

Problem: If you love your furniture, there are better ways to protect it than plastic covers

Solution: Stylish Throws
Use a throw blanket that doesn't overpower the couch, brings together the colors in the room, and doesn't hide your furniture. Keep it simple and sleek.

7. Pushed Back Furniture

Problem: Pushing back furniture to the walls creates a look that is too boxy and uniform

Solution: Use a Sofa Table
Create a comfortable sitting area in the center of the room. A console table behind a sofa is a great place for a gorgeous display

6. Ignoring Windows

Problem: Bare windows do not make a room feel inviting and comfortable. Also, your neighbors can see you naked.

Solution: Hang Curtains High Up
As a rule of thumb, hang curtain 2 inches above the window frame. OR you can make the most of high ceilings by hanging them near the ceiling to seem bigger. Or you can add a Roman Shade to block light and add interest

5. Fear of Color

Problem: Most people love color but are too scared to use it. But you won't enjoy a boring room.

Solution: Paint a Wall
Pick a color you love that works in the space, test it out at different times of day with different lighting, and if you don't like it, just paint over it. Color is a great punctuation and doesn't have to be overbearing.

Add caption

3. Too Many Knick-Knacks

Problem: We all have too many of them, and they can make a room seem cluttered (and a nightmare to dust)

Solution: Display on a Few Items
Edit your collections so they look good in small groupings. Rotate items that you really love. Leave shelf space around them so they don't get lost in the clutter. Less is more.

2. Pillow Overload

Problem: If pillows hinder being able to sit on a couch or lie in a bed, it's too much.

Solution: Create a Serene Look
Select a few pillows that you really love. Instead of buying so many, spend your time creating a perfect space that you want to spend time in.

AND THE #1 DECORATING MISTAKE IS:

1. Fake Flowers

Problem: Fake flowers and plants gather dust and they don't bring life into your home the way real flowers do. Fresh flowers are expensive but there are alternatives to buying them all the time.

Solution: The Real Thing
In addition to occasional fresh flower centerpieces, you can add lemons or other fresh fruit to a bowl, or use dried natural material like curly willow or bamboo stalks for a fresh look

Thank you to HGTV for content!

Just Picture It - Complete Guide to Hanging Pictures

The pictures and art that you put in your house are literally the face of your home. It seems like something so simple, some easy DIY, but the reality is that hanging pictures can be really complicated, both conceptually and logistically. How high should you hang them? How should you arrange a group of pictures? What if you mess it up and leave holes in your walls?

Never fear! Aiva is here to help! Here are expert designer and handyman tips to help you put your best face forward in any room:

Let´s take this step by step.

1. A Great Frame of Mind

• Think about the look of the room, the style and colors when choosing the type of frame you want. Wooden frames can be classic or modern, metal frames have a contemporary look, and plastic frames provide a straight-lined appearance.
• Choose photos or art that reflects your tastes and also enhances the room. Think about the colors in the room and the general feel you wish to portray.
• Prints, photographs, posters, drawings, and sometimes watercolor or acrylic painting can be framed alone or with a mat. Paintings on canvas are framed with a canvas stretcher (best done in framing or art shop). When framing artwork that requires a mat, specify a mat with 8-ply thickness; the increased depth can make anything look important.
• For photos that will be displayed together, consider having all the photos framed compatibly. The frames can be in various patterns of the same color or material and should all have the same mat color. Mixing wood-framed pictures with metal-framed pictures works best in an eclectic home. For a more formal look, try to keep the same color for all the frames. 

2. Making the Arrangements

• Don't go poking holes all over your wall before you really know what you want. If you're not sure how to arrange them, first make templates of your frames and hang them to see if you like it. Cut scrap paper to the size of the frame and mark the nail location on the paper. Using painter's tape, move the paper templates around the wall until satisfied. Then hammer the nail through the marks. Remove the paper template and hang!

• There are literally thousands of ways you can arrange your pictures, but here are 54 ideas to get you started:

• Here are some other designer rules of thumb about spacing to make sure you've done it just right:
• Don't put one little picture on a large wall. If there's not enough artwork to fill up more space on a large wall, consider putting mirrors or a shadowbox in the grouping. Conversely, don't overload a small wall with a large picture.
• Keep a minimum of 9 inches between the art and the tops of sofas and chairs
• When hanging a series of pictures together, keep the gap between them 2-2.5 inches to really utilize the wall space
• Always hang pictures with the mid-line at "eye level", or if you're not sure, 63 inches at the center above the floor is perfect viewing height for most pieces
• The perfect amount of space between a mirror or frame and the top of the mantle is 7 inches
• Don´t use mirrors in every room or over every mantle- mix it with artwork
• Don´t hang a mirror between windows. The spatial void it creates distracts from the view

• Remember that pictures do not always need to be on a wall. Also consider resting pictures on shelving hammered directly on to a wall. Or display them on a plate rack in place of plates. Consider a bamboo, wrought-iron or wood easel to complement the room.
• There are lots of ways to enhance how pictures are displayed with picture nails and various knobs. You can also use an eye screw at the top of the frame and then dangle the frame from a wire or ribbon attached to a screw in the wall

3. Getting the Hang of It

• Don't Eyeball It - it takes just a few extra moments to measure, but a badly hung picture will be staring you down, mocking your negligence, for years to come. 
• Once you've measured, put toothpaste where you will want the nail to go. Then, press the picture to the wall where you want to hang it so that the toothpaste from the back of your frame sticks to the wall. 
• For physically hanging the pictures on the wall,  look for a picture-hanging kit at the hardware or home store. It will include everything you need. And keep in mind, the picture's weight will determine what size hook to use. For a very large picture, use two hooks.  For heavy decor, use wall anchors to protect you drywall.
• Try this method of creating a portable picture hanger to make sure you get it just right Picture Hanging Tip
• If using a drill or large screws, add a simple, folded Post-It underneath your marked hole to collect most of the dust made from your pilot hole
  
  

So there you have it- everything you ever needed to know to perfectly arrange all your wall decor. Use these tips and suggestions to make your home perfectly reflect how awesome you are.