The Worst Mistakes You Can Make When Redoing Your Living Room

What state is your living room in? Not geographically, albeit that could affect its condition. Sand, salt water, sun, and humidity levels can wreak havoc on furnishings, fabrics, and finishes (via Ocean Home and Better Housekeeper). Regardless of the region, regular everyday use takes its toll, and if it's been more than a few years since your living room has undergone a major change, it could be time to consider one. Per Elle Decor, a sofa should be replaced after seven to 15 years, and Joaquin Painting suggests new paint every five to seven years. If your living room's lifespan is nearing that, now's a good opportunity to reassess and refresh. 

Start gathering inspiration, measurements, and an idea of how much time and money you're willing to invest; making interrelated design decisions and planning for their purchases simultaneously is a logical and ultimately more livable approach. In addition, forethought allows time to sit-test and order furniture, take advantage of sales, and zero in on your style. 

There are typical mistakes made by the amateur home decorator that interior designers and experts know to avoid — things that can make a living room feel uncomfortable, unfinished, or uninviting. The Washington Post reported that neglecting to consider the scale and proportion of decor as it relates to its environment is the primary oversight and cause of a space seeming off. Below, we share a list of additional pitfalls and advice on how to keep your design goals on track once you're ready to begin. 

An area rug creates definition within a floor plan and offers a way to implement design cohesion throughout the home. (That's particularly important in an open concept plan, where zoning sections into perceived rooms and functions delineates the space.) It's a spectacular avenue for introducing visual softness and pattern and reinforcing the style story or color palette. One can tie elements together, such as furniture textiles, wood tones, and curtain fabrics; additionally, a light carpet can brighten a dark space, per Fusion Furniture. 

Yet, the effects of using an area rug in the living room are felt in more than appearance alone. They provide warmth and plushness underfoot and help absorb sound, making the environment more inviting. As a significant part of a room's surface area, the floor treatment demands and deserves a proportionate amount of attention. 

Understanding the appeal of an area rug, many homeowners agonize over choosing the ideal specimen, comparing it to paint chips, fabric swatches, and mood boards only to undermine their fastidious planning with a common mistake — selecting a size that is too small. Designer Bobby Berk cautions that an undersized rug can make the design feel out of sync and disallows some of the things rugs do best, like grounding the space and connecting different components, for example. Berk recommends all furniture pieces be partially positioned on the rug to avoid a flimsy or floating effect; this rug guide further explains how to pick the right one.

It's easy to fall prey to the idea of the sofa and loveseat suite; the pieces are frequently displayed together in furniture stores and discounted when purchased as a set. On its face, it seems like a great solution — lots of seating, design cohesion, and a good value for your money. Yet The Decorologist explains that the combo package can be limiting. First, the room may accommodate very few arrangements of the two pieces, and second, they don't necessarily offer the seating they appear to — three people rarely want to cozy up together on a loveseat. Furthermore, conversation is tricky when everyone is seated in a row. Finally, unless countered by something else, the L arrangement of a sofa and loveseat pairing will be weighted to one side of the room, relating back to a mistake of balance and proportion. 

Instead of a loveseat, a pair of chairs is much more amenable to engaging conversation and flexible furniture placement. They can flank the sofa, facing one another, or sit across from it with a small table in between. Match them exactly to each other or go wild; coordinate them to a sofa pillow fabric or introduce another color or pattern altogether. Alternative pieces are low daybeds and ottomans, which are perfect in front of a fireplace. For large rooms, consider multiple seating areas or a made-to-order sectional, which takes advantage of available space while looking custom and intentional; offer additional seating and interest with occasional chairs.