17 Mistakes Designers Wish You Would Stop Making in Your Living Room

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Buying furniture you don't want to sit on.

Just because it looks amazing, doesn't mean it's right for your home. "Don't get me wrong, I love tiny chairs and super sleek sofas," says designer Ryland Witt. "But make sure there is seating that you and your guests feel comfortable in — otherwise you'll never use the room."

2 of 17
Putting your sofa against the wall. 

"Nothing drives me crazier than a sofa against the wall in a large room," says Sarah Vaile of Sarah Whit Interior Design. Even though for small spaces this might be necessary, when you have the option you should "float" your sofa away from the wall to make your room appear bigger. Betsy Helm and Kiley Baun of Shophouse Design agree, saying if there's one great trick for a small living room, it's pulling the furniture away from the wall. Ironically, it’ll make the room feel larger—and more thoughtfully arranged.

3 of 17
Hanging pictures at the wrong height. 

"I think the number one question I get asked is how high I should hang my pictures," designer Vern Yip says. The answer? 60 inches from the finished floor to center of the image, which is the average person's eye level. As Alexa Hampton says, when in doubt about anything scale, go human-centric—it just makes sense!

4 of 17
Not having enough sources of light. 

"Nine times out of 10, I think when people walk into a room and they like the ambiance, it's because the lighting has been done correctly," Yip says. To achieve this, he says your space should have a variety of light sources, including recessed, hanging fixtures, and more.

5 of 17
Not having enough seats for guests. 

Sure, your husband and you can fit on the sofa, but what about weekend get-togethers? Designer CeCe Barfield Thompson of CeCe Barfield Inc. says it's important to make sure seating facilitates conversation. "As a rule of thumb, there should be enough seating to accommodate the number you fit at your dining table," she says. It's a rule she may have learned while working for design icon Bunny Williams, who says the best rooms are just as comfortable for two as for ten.

6 of 17
Underestimating the power of pillows. 

In this case, Vaile says more is always better: "It drives me crazy when there are only two sad throw pillows on a sofa." With so many great options on the market, we'd say that's a huge missed opportunity to express your style—not to mention multiple throws will make your couch so much cozier.

7 of 17
Forgetting about everyday needs. 

Vaile says she once had a client tell her she designs homes for the proverbial cocktail party that will only take place once a year. Now, she takes a different approach and encourages homeowners to do the same: "I love imagining how you might use your living room every evening, whether it's in a cozy reading chair or with a puzzle at the game table," she says.

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Skimping on your upholstery. 

If you're going to take the time to add new fabric to a piece of furniture, designer Amy Berry says there's one thing you must consider before going with a less expensive material: "If you've got to sit on it, it better be comfortable." And when it comes to finding an upholsterer, you want someone whose work will last for the long haul, too.

9 of 17
Not having curtains touch the floor. 

Sure, it seems like a minor detail, but Berry says these gaps can sometimes make all the difference. "I am always hyper-aware of things that are out of scale," says Berry. If your curtains don't hit at the right height, it can make your room feel smaller than it really is — and who wants that?

10 of 17
Being afraid of clutter. 

While Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, might encourage you to toss many of your belongings, designer Thomas Jayne makes a strong case against decluttering. "Clutter creates comfort. We’ve all been in a new building with one sofa and a table. That space isn’t comfortable until you add things to it."

11 of 17
Not trusting your intuition. 

Don't try to mimic a style just because it's trendy. When picking out pieces for your living room "Follow your gut," designer Olivia Erwin says. "If you have to talk yourself into liking something, you probably don't."

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Only thinking symmetrically. 

Embrace the oddly-shaped, uneven pieces. “Get creative when thinking about form and function, designer Kate Coughlin says. When a client of hers desired a more modern way of entertaining. "We opted for an asymmetrical, organic space that encourages guests to float through the room while engaged in conversation."

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Replacing all of your furniture at once. 

Refreshing your living room doesn't necessarily mean buying all new furniture at once. Instead, gradually add/or replace furniture. As designer Jeffrey Bilhuber suggests, "buy one good piece of furniture every year, and in five years, you'll have five pieces. Everything else may change, but these will remain constant."

14 of 17
Staying safe with your paint colors. 

Designer Dina Holland turned this once all-white living room into an oasis by thinking outside the box. She opted for Benjamin Moore's Dark Teal 2053-20 to paint the trim, crown molding, window frames, baseboard, and beams, while also adding a fun wallpaper to the bookshelves. Her all-teal accents created a coziness that a home shaded in neutral tones cannot. "It works every time," Holland says of her paint job, "but only if you commit and go all in."

15 of 17
Not paying attention to measurements. 

A piece may look perfect in the store, but how will it fit into your space. "Being able to visualize the scale of a piece is critical, designer Kylee Shintaffer says, adding "when in doubt, tape it out" at home before purchasing.

16 of 17
Trying to perfect the room all at once. 

Creating the perfect living room doesn't usually come all at once. Don't be afraid to move things around, or add/subtract pieces — nothing is ever set in stone! As designer Katie Sutton says, "the least expensive action: edit, edit, edit!"

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Sacrificing style for a kid-friendly space. 

For families with little ones, the idea of a sophisticated, yet kid-friendly family room may seem out of the question. However take a cue from designer Sara Hillery, who chose an assortment of soft, upholstered pieces (many in performance fabrics!) to populate the family room of the Richmond home. "We wanted something super dog and kid-friendly," she explained. The multifunctional space she curated allows for kids' reading time, to adult cocktail hours.





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