Are you making these decorating mistakes? Here’s how to fix them!

You’ve tried your best to make every room in the house shine, yet somehow you keep missing the mark. If only you could afford to hire a design professional.

But there’s no reason to despair. Many decorating mistakes are easily fixed—and without the investment of a $200/hour designer. Recently the website Houzz listed common design mistakes and offered easy-to-follow ways to fix them.

Here are four tips to improve the look of your home:

Declutter your shelves. “Putting every ornament you own on open shelves often leads to a distracting mishmash of nondescript items,” notes Houzz. The website suggests taking every item off the shelf and categorizing each as “beautiful, interesting or out.” Place anything in the latter category in a “no” pile. Then, once the sorting process is over, study what’s left with an eye toward showing every item in its best light. For instance, “[y]ou might want to paint the back of the shelves to emphasize lovely shapes and colors among your chosen collection,” Houzz suggests.

Brighten up a white kitchen: White kitchens are popular these days, but without the right approach, they can seem bland and sterile. Houzz suggests displaying kitchenware to add interest. For example, “Hang great-looking saucepans from wall hooks, leave a stack of pretty dishes out on display or set a bowl filled with fruits or veggies on the counter.” Also, brighten select spots with flowers, small colorful appliances, and so on.

Take care when hanging art: Homeowners often make the mistake of hanging art too high, says Houzz. Aim for the picture’s center point to be at eye level when hung in places where people stand. Aim lower in places where people will be seated. If in doubt, hire a professional to help; this is one area where it’s worth the investment.

Create a focal point: When you walk into your rooms, do you find it hard to know where to rest your eyes? If so, chances are, you’ve neglected to designate a central item of interest. When planning a room, start with a focal point—a stunning piece of art or furniture, a mirror, a rug. Then arrange the rest of your décor to complement it. If you like what you already have, pick one item to be the focal point and rearrange your furniture to direct attention to that item.

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Re/Max of Cherry Creek Blog