Interior designers are trained to know what works and doesn’t work in a home. Some designers recently advised against purchasing certain home furnishings, whether you are staging a home or moving into one. Avoid these interior design eyesores for the sake of a home’s style:
Overstuffed chairs.
“I get that lounge chairs are comfortable, but they’re truly the elephant in the room,” Karen Gray-Plaisted, a home staging and decor pro with Design Solutions KGP, told realtor.com®. Huge recliners can cram a space.
Outdated drapes.
“Long, heavy drapes or inner coverings made of lace are done,” says Gray-Plaisted. Instead, she suggests opting for lighter, more modern designs. “Side panel curtains with beautiful hardware hung above the window allows in light and highlights the architectural detail of the windows.”
Matched sets.
A matching sofa, chair, and ottoman can make a room appear dull, designers say. “It’s like walking into a sea of wood, which could have looked better with a mix of texture and color if the pieces had been chosen separately,” says Carole Marcotte, an interior designer with Form & Function in Raleigh, N.C. She recommends homeowners buy a few pieces from one furniture set and then mingle in other styles for more contrast. For example, Bee Heinemann, an interior designer with Vant Wall Panels, suggests removing the love seat and replacing it with two chairs from a different collection.
Cheap furniture.
Inexpensive pieces that are poorly made or constructed—using materials such as particle board—will chip, fade, and fall apart. These end up costing homeowners more money in the long run. “Buying furniture you plan to replace every few years isn’t smart,” says Sara Chiarilli, owner of the design firm Artful Conceptions in Tampa, Fla. Instead, designers suggest purchasing high-quality, neutral pieces. Then, add pops of color with pillows or other accents.
Small rugs.
“Clients often underestimate rug size and there’s nothing worse than having furniture surround a dinky one,” says Marcotte. “The pieces don’t need to sit completely on the rug—just aim for the front third or half of the chairs and couch to straddle it.”
Source: “7 Things Interior Designers Really Wish You Wouldn’t Buy (You’ve Got at Least One),” realtor.com® (Dec. 29, 2017)
