- 1 - Mass-produced art
- 2 - A cluttered entryway
- 3 - Overdone themes
- 4 - The wrong lighting
- 5 - Cutesy décor
The most exciting part about buying a house is decorating the rooms.
In the days leading up to the big move, you are already envisioning luxurious sofas, gorgeous accent pillows, and bespoke artwork to complement your new abode. Whilst decorating can be fun, it can also be very expensive.
Homeowners often cut corners to save money but then the décor just ends up looking cheap.
There are many ways that you can cut costs and style your home elegantly. You just need to work smart with what you buy:
1 – Mass-produced art
Art is one of the most important things that you can acquire when decorating a house. It can bring so many different elements together and it does not have to be expensive.
Be careful of buying mass-produced art because this can really swing the room from tasteful to tacky.
Original pieces of artwork are recommended. Not all of us can attend gallery evenings or even purchase original works of art from artists so keep an eye out for local talent in your area. Maybe you have a streak of creativity in you and you can design your own unique artwork.
2 – A cluttered entryway
The entryway is often the place where we throw our keys, our mail, our jackets, and any other items we do not want to carry with us into the house.
It is very easy for this area to become cluttered and overstuffed. The entryway should look sophisticated, neat, and tidy.
Make sure that there is a designated place for bills and jackets, and that this does not consume the entire area. Invest in a few pieces of functional furniture and keep the décor to a minimum here. You do not want to overwhelm your guests as soon as they step foot inside your house.
3 – Overdone themes
Themes are great for when you want to design a teenager or a child’s room but this is where it has to stop. Other rooms in the house should reflect your personal design style rather than a set theme.
One of the fastest ways to cheapen a house is to have too much of one thing – repetition is like décor suicide and it can get out of hand very quickly.
If, for example, you want to have an ocean theme in your house, focus on a few nautical accents. Do not make everything blue and white and have a hundred pictures of the sea on your walls.
4 – The wrong lighting
Natural light is the best way to go when decorating a house but this is not always possible. Artificial lighting makes for a great replacement – if done the right way, of course.
If a room is too bright and oversaturated, it can feel tacky and cheap.
Make sure the lighting is right for each space in your house and that it reflects the function of that room. A globe with a high-wattage is probably too bright for a bedroom whereas a dimmer light might make the living room look gloomy and dark.
5 – Cutesy décor
It is okay to have comical Santa Clauses out in the open when it is Christmas time but be sure to pack it away as soon as December is over. Kitschy décor can make the house look cheap very easily.
Rather ditch the cliché quotes, the porcelain kitten ornaments, and the Live, Love, Laugh signs and go for something that makes a statement.
Designing a house should reflect your personal style and an elegant look can be achieved by working on a budget and buying smart.
