Interior designers have identified four common living room décor elements that can make a space look cheap and tacky, and homeowners are being urged to remove them to achieve a more refined appearance.
The living room is a shared area where most guests spend their time, so ensuring it looks its very best is vital. A living room does not need expensive furnishings or luxury décor to look stylish; simply avoiding a few common decorating mistakes can instantly make the space feel more thoughtful and put together.
Fake Architectural Décor
Adding architectural features can enhance a room's value, but if the execution is slightly off, it can detract from the appeal. Designer and founder of Colombe, Marta Chrapka, told Home and Gardens: "In my opinion, things that pretend to be something they are not or are fakes will look cheap in the living room."
She added: "An example I see a lot is a fireplace surround; if the fireplace is not there and never was, don't try to emulate it unless you have the budget and the right space to do so. Any kind of wall panels that imitate stone too – ultimately, their cost is high, and the effect is cheap."
Wrong-Sized Rugs and Inconsistent Flooring
Choosing a rug that's too small can seriously damage the feel of a room, according to home decorator Lauren of The Turquoise Home. She said: "Choosing a rug that's too small or skipping one entirely can leave your room feeling cold and disconnected. We love having rugs in most all of the rooms of our main floor, and we get the largest size that the room can handle! It makes the hardwood floors feel soft and cosy, adds texture and colour, and brings the room together."
Flooring is also crucial. Jennifer Walter, owner and principal designer of Folding Chair Design Co, explained: "Inconsistent hard surface flooring like LVT and laminate in different rooms will make a house look cheap. A lot of people want to save money by selecting flooring other than hardwood, and there's no harm in that. However, keep it consistent! Putting one type of 'wood look' in the kitchen in an oak colour and then changing it to another type of material in grey in the living room can be a disaster."
Avoid Overly-Themed Spaces
Interior designer Stefana Silber insists no seasoned designer would suggest themed décor. She said: "You can achieve a coastal look without having seashells and pictures of the ocean all over your home. These are things that make your home look cheap and tacky."
She recommends using colours and materials to create the theme, such as softer tones of blue and white, and added: "Bring in cosy and relaxed materials like cotton and linen with driftwood and greenery that reflect the climate you are trying to emulate."
