Do it yourself
You want to decorate your own home. But before you jump in, here are the top ten pitfalls to avoid when doing it yourself
Don't become matching mad
Home furniture stores, catalogues and interior design shops will all try to sell you the complete bedroom suite or living room. It seems so easy. You buy everything at one place and it's all "guaranteed" to work together, because "professionals" put it together. But what they don't tell you is that you can easily turn your new space into a decorating disaster. That living room in the large floral print may look great in the store, but at home you'll quickly tire of it. Too much matching easily translates into bad taste. Instead go for two pieces and a complimentary pattern or solid for the third. For example, you could buy a sofa and chair in the floral, but find a loveseat from a different line, similar in scale and style but in a coordinating checked or striped pattern.
Avoid beige and neutral tones
Neutrals as a steady diet can be boring: spice it up with colour! With hundreds of shades to choose from, many people still pick beige as the dominating tone in their homes. Why not try to go for a fresher and more updated look? If colour makes you nervous, choose a neutral shade for the main piece of furniture in a room, but enhance it with contrasting tones when you select your home accessories, such as cushions, vases and flowers.
Don't lose "the look"
It can be hard to resist a piece of furniture that's marked 50 percent off. But think things through before you take out your chequebook. If you have a style idea for your room, and want to create a specific look, be it romantic or minimalist, don't lose track of it. There is nothing less stylish than a room full of great items that are completely mismatched. Consistency is critical. You don't want the room to look as if you simply bought what was left over at a clearance sale two days after Chinese New Year! Ask yourself if everything "flows" properly? Do any of the furniture pieces or accessories really not belong? If so, remove the culprits. Perhaps they will fit in another room with a different style.
Don't forget: the living room is for living!
If your living room is "just for looking at", rethink your attitude. There's no point in buying that beautiful light-green suede sofa if you have a two-year old ready to put his dirty hands all over it. This seems obvious enough - but it's very easy to be tempted to buy inappropriate furniture. Think about your personality, lifestyle and family status before deciding on fabrics, and the style and size of your pieces. The challenge is to achieve a space that is welcoming, inviting, visually appealing and functional, all at the same time.
Don't ignore proportions
It's important to keep proportion in mind when you buy furnishings, artwork or mirrors. It is also critical to think about this when picking patterns and accessories. If your room is large, with high ceilings, then you can safely buy two full-sized sofas, as well as a loveseat and a couple of armchairs. It all depends on scale. If your room is small and you can barely squeeze in a two-seater, take the less-is-more approach. Select a pair of smaller armchairs. Or try a chaise lounge and an armchair of similar proportions. Remember, if your room and furniture are large in scale, the artworks on your walls should also be big or they will be "lost" and even look displaced or cheap. To be safe, measure everything before you buy.
Don't blow your budget
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to overspend on one item, for instance a a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, antique armoire costing more than a new plasma TV. This is a sure way of using up your whole budget on a very small part of the room you are creating. Spend the biggest portion of your decorating budget on pieces that will have a long life: a beautiful dining table, well-constructed sofa, a classic rug or a gorgeous cabinet.
Don't fill up the space
It's tempting to stuff your rooms with fabulous finds and to keep adding more bit by bit, but this is dangerous because you will very quickly clutter the space. Try rotating your accent pieces. Switch things occasionally for fun, but don't let your rooms become a virtual bazaar of goods. You need to move around the room freely.
Remain focused
In rooms with a fireplace or large picture window, the focus is obvious. But if there's no special architectural detail or focal point, it helps to introduce a large piece of colourful art, a beautifully framed mirror or another interesting item. The focal piece is what your eye notices upon entering a room. Make sure it is something that you want the eye to rest on!
Choose art carefully
Don't place your pictures and paintings too high - they should always be at or below eye level. Just like you need a theme or decorating concept for your room design, it is also essential for your wall art. But that doesn't mean everything has to match. Does contemporary art go with traditional furnishings? Of course. Make picture groupings more interesting by making sure the subject matter or frames are complimentary. Keep pictures together: about three fingers apart, as a rule of thumb.
Don't be a wall flower
Vertical lines in a room give the impression of height and formality while horizontal lines provide a sense of space. Diagonal lines give a sense of motion, transition or change and curved lines convey a sense of freedom, softness and sensuality. Remember, you don't have to stay within the lines! Don't place all your pieces pressed with their backs straight against a wall. Bring some out into the middle of the room or at least move a piece or two at an angle.
