Common Decorating Mistakes - by Donna

Not long ago I watched a program on the decorating channel that talked about some of the more common decorating mistakes people make.   It was quite informative and pointed out errors such as hanging pictures too high,  having plastic flowers in a home,  too many cushions on a sofa (which I have to admit being guilty of myself).  A few others they mentioned were hanging light fixtures too high,  too many small rugs in the same space,  and hanging curtains at inappropriate lengths.   They offered some good advice and at the end of the show they mentioned they weren't trying to offend,  but just wanted to give people a few ideas that will improve their living space.   Seeing the show made me remember a few more mistakes people make while decorating and I thought I would add them and as was mentioned on the show,  this is not meant to offend.

One of the more obvious mistakes I immediately notice at some homes is what I call the 'tea towel travesty.'   Tea towels hanging from an oven door handle,  a refrigerator handle or a kitchen cabinet are fine while there is cooking going on,  but otherwise not so much.     By placing a hook on the inside of a cabinet door your tea towel will be out of sight and it can also dry there.   Even though tea towels today can be so pretty they are not meant to be a decoration.   Same rule apples for pot holders,  oven mitts and aprons.  That's what cabinets and drawers are for.

This doesn't happen as much as it used to,  but rumor has it that this practice left over from the 50's and 60's can still be found from time to time.   I'm referring to the old habit of leaving the salt and pepper shakers,  butter dish,  bottle of mustard and ketchup in the centre of the kitchen table.   This is a bad,  bad idea.   How long does it take to open the fridge or cabinet to take any of these items out.

This one I think will raise a few eye brows,  but come on how busy does a person have to be that they can't open a cabinet and take out their electric frying pan,  kettle,  blender and so forth when they're needed.   Ok so if you are short on space you are forgiven,  these items are necessary and they have to go somewhere.   But if you do have the space an uncluttered counter is so much more attractive looking that showing everyone your cooking items.

This may raise a few eyebrows also,  but who wants to look at tomorrow's dinner hanging from a kitchen ceiling.   For example some people have these three tiered wire type baskets that are joined together by chains,  hanging from their kitchen ceiling.   If that's not bad enough each basket holds food items such as potatoes,  beets,  onions and so forth.   No,  no,  no it's just wrong.   That's what pantries are for.   If you don't have a pantry you can purchase a portable trolly where these items can be stored until you need them to cook dinner.   Also I can't handle seeing garlic hanging from the ceiling,  even if you're a top chef it's no excuse,  especially with all the different types of storage compartments available today.    The only exception to the food hanging from the ceiling is possibly...actually now that I think of it there is no exception.

A few months ago I was watching a decorating show and the decorator (who incidentally is a very well known Canadian designer) was remodelling a powder room and she finished off the cabinet in the room by stacking rolls and rolls of toilet paper on the bottom shelf.   There was no door,  just the wide open shelf with the many rolls of toilet paper apparently acting as a decoration.   It is shocking to me that anyone would find a roll of toilet paper attractive.   Toilet paper is not a decoration,  sorry not even in a cottage.   So put that toilet paper away.

Another decorating issue and one that happens a lot is the 'too many pictures on the wall' mistake.   I will never understand why some people feel every wall in their home needs to be plastered with a whole bunch of pictures.   Some walls in our house do not even have a single picture and it looks just fine.   In fact it is much more elegant and gives so much more of a relaxing feel to the space.   I would not want to see all the walls in any home bare,  but certainly be selective with what you put on your walls.

One of my biggest pet peeves is potpourri.   In a rare exception it may be ok,  but there is nothing I detest more than walking into someone's house and seeing bowls of potpourri that have been there way too long.   If you like to have potpourri around put it in a silk or cotton draw string bag,  that way from time to time it can be emptied out and refilled with fresh potpourri.   Never keep potpourri for more than a few months it is just too much of a dust collector and you never know what might start growing in it.

Possibly the one decorating mistake that has the most impact of all is the problem of clutter.  From reading decorating magazines,  watching television shows on the same subject and from what I have witnessed,  I have noticed that there is a whole lot of clutter going on out there.   Which made me realize and I hate to admit it,  but there just might be a little clutter going on in some areas of my own home.   Actually I am in the process of trying to clear away any clutter and our house looks so much better for it.    With all the storage options available today (a few examples are ottomans,  inexpensive cabinets and shelving,  storage cubes and decorative storage boxes)  there really is no excuse for clutter anywhere.   Getting rid of the clutter can only improve the look and feel of any space.

Hope these tips have been helpful.   By putting a little extra thought into your living space you can make it look it's best and you will enjoy it so much more.