Creating a stunning living room doesn't have to cost a fortune, yet many homeowners make décor decisions that take away from the sophistication of their space. While your home should always reflect your personal style, there are certain choices that interior professionals would firmly label as cheap and tacky.
Some of these trends were perfectly acceptable decades ago, but today they simply look dated. Interior designers have highlighted a number of common mistakes that can leave a living room looking far less appealing. To maintain an elegant and polished finish, it's essential to avoid these all-too-frequent design blunders.
Too Many Mirrored Accessories
Designer Terri Brien has warned that it's time to pack away those mirrored accessories once and for all. She said: "What may have once felt glam now reads as cheap and mass-produced." If you simply can't bring yourself to get rid of everything, at least try to pare back your glittery collection somewhat.
Terri told Real Simple: "Don't get me wrong, used sparingly, a touch of shine can still feel chic, but when every surface glitters, it ends up looking more like a mall decor haul than a space that's been thoughtfully collected and curated."
Faux Fur Throws
Alongside mirrored accessories, Terri is equally unenthusiastic about faux fur throws in the living room, unless they are of exceptional quality and remain in pristine condition. She believes these blankets appear particularly outdated once they become matted. The designer said, "What once read as cosy now just looks cheap and tired." Instead, she suggests opting for a timeless wool or knit throw to drape over your sofa.
Accent Walls
Designers are often split on whether accent walls are a wise decision. Jamie Gasparovic, the founder of Studio Gaspo, sits firmly in the anti-accent wall camp and reckons that adding one damages the overall appearance of a room. She told the Spruce, "It looks like you cheapened out, and the space looks incomplete and a little amateur." Jamie urges anyone wanting to introduce trim work, paint, or wallpaper to their living room to apply it across all four walls for a more polished, sophisticated finish.
No Clear Colour Scheme
Laura Chiddey, Fabb Furniture's home interior expert, maintains that having numerous colours that fail to work together can "create a busy, unpleasant atmosphere", which will ultimately "make your living room look cheaper". To prevent this, Laura advises sticking to neutral, understated tones. Interior Designer Nicolene Mausenbaum echoed this view when speaking to Ideal Home, noting that "a limited colour palette makes a space look more curated and expensive". While this doesn't mean you can't inject a pop of colour from time to time, mixing multiple conflicting hues or choosing colours that don't complement each other can leave your living room's design feeling fragmented.
Poorly Fitted Curtains
Your curtains deserve careful consideration if you want to avoid making a room look tacky. Laura explained: "Curtains add depth and character to a room, so it's crucial to get this feature right. Short curtains are ones to avoid, as this can make the whole room look unfinished and cheap." Instead, you should always "opt for long, fuller curtains. Even better, get them to touch the ground - this will add an extra touch of luxury to the room."
