Living Room Design Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve sandbagged my home as I wait for Hurricane Idalia to land on Florida’s Gulf coast in the early AM tonight. I’ll blog again as soon as I am able after the storm passes. If I lose electricity, it may not happen for several days. That doesn’t necessarily mean the storm damaged my home or me, it may mean just lost power. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

The living room in most homes is a busy place with lots of traffic. It’s usually the place visitors see first. We want our living rooms to be friendly and welcoming to our guests and family members. Unfortunately, it’s also too easy to make design mistakes in this special area. Getting a good balance of looks and functionality is tricky. Today let’s look at some of the most common styling errors that people make and ways to avoid them.

I. Rug is too small

A great rug can make your living room. It grounds your furniture and, in an open-plan space, defines the living area. Measure your living room and the main pieces of furniture in it before you shop. Ideally, the rug you choose should be big enough to allow the key pieces of furniture to sit on top of it. If your living room is not big enough to allow everything to sit fully on your rug, choose a style that is slightly wider than your sofa and allows for the front legs of your sofa and any smaller furniture pieces (such as side tables and stools) to sit on it.

II. Using matching furniture

Buying a matched set of furniture is one of the most common living room design mistakes. Yes, it is easy to fill the room and not have to decide on what goes with what. If you accept the challenge you can mix pieces that complement each other. Just use use color and print to tie the look together – that’s the magic element.  Remember that mis-matched sofas and chairs are a modern look in design. Since my taste is eclectic, that really appeals to me.

III. Pushing all the furniture against the wall

Instead of the wall, move your single or pair of sofas into the middle of the living room with a coffee table. Symmetry is your friend here. Note the two chairs below create an impactful space with the sofa as the visual anchor. This way you can walk around the seating with space to spare. Although having a sofa pushed up against the wall may seem logical when the room is small, having it in the middle creates the illusion of space. 

IV. Selecting a sofa too big or too small

Selecting a sofa that’s the wrong scale for your living room is the biggest blunder people make. Last year when I was researching for my new couch, I measured my room, wall, and my large painting on the wall. Best rule – measure, measure, measure. Measure up your living room, the other furniture in the room, and the sofa you have your eye on before you buy. Always start with a floor plan first to ensure that the scale and proportion of the piece works in the space and provides enough room to move around with ease. If you want a black sofa remember it can look visually larger than one in a lighter color. Consider the style of sofa. In a compact living room, consider a sofa on legs and with narrow arms to give the illusion of more space. Since my living area is small I wanted wooden legs and narrow arms. If you have a large room, you might consider a more substantial sofa, such as one with wide arms that sits close to the ground. Use painter’s tape to mark off where your selected sofa will sit before you buy. Do you have space to walk around?

V. Following the latest design trends

Try to create an ageless space that doesn’t follow design trends or a specific time period. It will be just as beautiful in 10 years as it was the first day. For a feeling of luxury, include furniture with character and include some luxurious materials like a touch of velvet. Mixing old and new pieces makes a room more individual and can reflect who you are.  Create a statement with the arrangement and colors. The room below is timeless and classic.

VI. It’s never a mistake to love your design

Choose quality furniture and accents that you love. If you want to throw in one inexpensive “latest” decoration, that’s okay. Avoid going matchy-matchy with any trend. You’ll be replacing them in a few years. I like to surround myself with things that have history and create a cozy feeling. If a couch or chair resonates with you, take it home. The huge window below can’t be avoided in this room. The white sofa looks so plush and comfy. It is the same size as the window. A smaller sofa would look really small with that window. If your living room has hardwood floors or stone tile flooring and lots of glass surfaces like this one, super plush seating and rich materials like velvet soften the feel and warms up the room. The two velvet chairs pop against the white and glass. What an impact when you walk into this room. I just love the look and that window.

In conclusion . . .

Always choose comfort and utility when assembling your living space. We love comfy sofas and chairs that fit our lifestyle. If you have kids and pets, your choice in a sofa or chair is different from a single retiree. Don’t be afraid to mix a new item with old cherished ones. Create a space that reflects you and your family.

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