Certain decorating choices, though affordable, can leave your living room looking tacky rather than elegant. Interior design professionals have highlighted several typical mistakes that can make a living room appear less appealing. To maintain a charming and polished look, it's essential to avoid these common decorating pitfalls.
Accent Walls
Accent walls are a decorative choice that often leaves interior designers divided. Jennifer Pacca, founder of Jennifer Pacca Interiors, is firmly in the anti-accent wall camp. She told Good Housekeeping: "When it comes to design trends for 2026, I believe accent walls are out. While they were once a popular way to introduce contrast and visual interest into a space, design is moving toward more unexpected and integrated ways to create impact."
Tash Bradley, a colour psychologist and director of interior design at Lick, previously told The Mirror: "Just doing an accent wall takes away what you're trying to do [with the room]. That becomes the focal point and your eye will always be drawn to it and it almost makes the room seem smaller."
Overdoing Faux Fur
Designer Terri Brien argues against having faux fur throws in the living room unless they are high quality and in "tip-top shape." While these once looked cosy, Terri says this is now a look that just appears "cheap and tired."
Jessica McClendon, founder of Glamour Nest, recommends limiting any faux fur to just one or two items. She told Elle Decor: "I always say less is more when it comes to faux fur. It's a very fine line before it gets to be a rockstar crazy type of look. Throw just one pillow on your sofa to add texture, without being too heavy or too rustic."
Too Many Mirrored Accessories
Terri adds that having a multitude of mirrored accessories is another mistake that can look cheap and tacky. She 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."
Badly Hung Curtains
Laura Chiddey, Fabb Furniture's home interior expert, says you could be making huge mistakes when it comes to hanging your curtains. They can add depth and character to a room, and if you opt for the wrong one, they can look unfinished.
She says: "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, opt for long, fuller curtains. Even better, get them to touch the ground – this will add an extra touch of luxury to the room."
No Colour Scheme
Alongside opting for the right curtains, Laura highlights the importance of a consistent colour scheme, arguing that having numerous colours that fail to work together can "create a busy, unpleasant atmosphere", which will ultimately "make your living room look cheaper".
When it comes to choosing a colour scheme, experts have named colours that should be avoided, including whites that scream "rental" and reds that appear "overpowering and jarring."
