Never …
- Place curtain rails just above the top of the window… this makes the ceiling feel low
- Hang curtains so the bottoms are way off the floor… this just looks awkward and odd
- Buy a rug that is the wrong size for a space… a rug should define the ‘space’ in the room, eg, a lounge in an open-plan space, where all furniture should fit on the rug
- Use all-matching furniture sets… this looks too much like a furniture showroom – be individualistic in your approach to buying furniture and select distinctive, but complementary, pieces
- Hang artworks too high or too low… there are certain ‘rules of thumb’, or guidelines, for the right height to hang art, depending on where it is being hung in relation to other furniture, and whether it is a single piece of art or a cluster of artworks
- Buy too-large furniture for a small space (and vice versa). It is important to measure your space before you buy, and, if possible, draw a scaled plan of the room
- Rely on a single light source in a room… a room always feels cosier if we can layer the light sources, and use task lighting, eg, for reading, working, etc.