Your room isn’t ugly… it’s just making one (or seven) of these sneaky common decorating mistakes. The good news? These are the exact same slip-ups I see in 95 % of homes I walk into—even the ones that look “almost there.” Fix even three of these and your friends will swear you secretly hired a designer. Promise.
We’ve all committed at least five of these decorating mistakes to avoid at some point. That’s totally okay. Today we’re calling them out (gently) and handing you dead-simple, renter-friendly, budget-friendly fixes that work instantly. Let’s dive in.
1. Hanging Curtains Too Low (and the 5-minute fix that adds height)
What it looks like: Curtains starting right above the window frame (or worse, a sad inch above), ending exactly at the sill, with a weird gap of bare wall above. It’s the universal “I just moved in and this is where the rod was” look.
Why it hurts the room: Low, short curtains chop the wall in half and make your ceilings feel 18 inches lower than they actually are. Your eye stops dead at the top of the window instead of traveling up to the beautiful crown molding (or the ceiling you paid for).
The Fix: Hang curtains high and wide.
- Mount the rod 4–6 inches below the ceiling (or crown molding).
- Choose panels that kiss the floor (or puddle slightly if you’re feeling fancy).
- Extend the rod 8–12 inches beyond each side of the window so the curtains stack off the glass when open—boom, your window just doubled in size.
Cost: $0 if you already own curtains and a screwdriver (just move the rod). New floor-length panels from H&M Home, Target, or Amazon start at $15–$25 per panel.
Before: Squat windows, stubby ceilings.
After: Leggy supermodel windows that make the whole room feel taller and more expensive in literally five minutes.
2. Pushing All Furniture Against the Walls (the floating trick nobody talks about)
What it looks like: Sofa glued to one wall, loveseat glued to the opposite, chairs lined up like they’re waiting for a firing squad. There’s a vast empty prairie in the middle no one dares cross.
Why it hurts the room: It screams “I’m afraid to take up space” and turns conversation into a shouting match across no-man’s-land. Rooms feel larger and cozier when furniture floats a bit.
The Fix: Pull everything 8–18 inches off the walls and create intimate zones.
- Float the sofa perpendicular to the wall to define the seating area.
- Anchor with a console table or slim bench behind it (IKEA Lack shelf = $15).
- Angle chairs toward each other instead of facing the TV like a movie theater.
Cost: $0–$50 (maybe a $29 console or just rearranging).
Before: Cold, cavernous, college-dorm energy.
After: Warm, intentional, “How is this the same room?” energy.
3. Tiny Rugs That Make Everything Look Cheap (the one rug rule that changes everything)
What it looks like: A 5×7 rug floating like a postage stamp under the coffee table while all four legs of the sofa and chairs sit on hardwood. Bonus points if it’s the wrong shape or a faded “Live Laugh Love” situation.
Why it hurts the room: A too-small rug is the #1 way to make even expensive furniture look cheap and disconnected. It visually shrinks the space and makes legs look like they’re falling off a cliff.
The Fix: All furniture legs ON the rug (or at minimum, the front legs). The magic rule: In living rooms, go at least 8×10; in bedrooms, the rug should extend 18–24 inches on each side of the bed.
Cost: Decent 8×10 jute or flatweave rugs start at $99–$199 (Ruggable, Target Threshold, or Facebook Marketplace gold).
Before: Furniture floating awkwardly, room looks half-dressed.
After: Grounded, luxurious, “Where did you get that rug?” (Target, shh).
4. Art Hung Too High (or too small, or too matchy)
What it looks like: One tiny 8×10 frame floating at nosebleed height above the sofa, or a trio of perfectly matching beach prints straight out of 2008.
Why it hurts the room: Art hung too high feels disconnected from the furniture—like it’s trying to escape the room. Tiny art gets swallowed. Matchy art screams “builder’s pack.”
The Fix:
- Center of artwork at eye level (57–60 inches from the floor).
- Go big—one large piece or a gallery wall where the overall shape is at least 2/3 the width of the sofa.
- Mix frames, mix subjects, mix eras.
Cost: $0–$80 (print posters from Etsy or Desenio, thrift frames, or lean a giant canvas against the wall—no holes, renter win).
Before: Sad, lonely art.
After: Personality explosion that makes the room feel curated.
5. Ignoring the Power of Lighting (and the $20 lamp hack)
What it looks like: One overhead “boob light” blasting harsh light from the ceiling, or worse—zero overhead and you live by one sad table lamp in the corner.
Why it hurts the room: Big-box overhead lighting is unflattering and makes every room feel like a dentist’s office. Single-source light creates cave shadows.
The Fix: Layer three types of light—ambient, task, accent.
Instant starter pack:
- Swap harsh bulbs for warm 2700K LEDs.
- Add one $20–$35 plug-in wall sconce or floor lamp (Target, Amazon).
- One table lamp on a console or side table.
Cost: $20–$70 total.
Before: Interrogation room.
After: Golden-hour glow that makes even IKEA furniture look expensive.
6. Too Many Toss Pillows (or worse—none at all)
What it looks like: Either the sofa disappears under 47 tiny pillows you have to excavate to sit, or it’s a naked slab with zero texture.
Why it hurts the room: Over-pillow-ing screams “I bought the entire pillow aisle,” while zero pillows reads cold and unfinished.
The Fix: The 5-pillow rule for a standard sofa:
- Two 22-inch squares in the corners (your “base”).
- Two 20-inch in front of those.
- One lumbar or odd-shaped in the middle.
Remove half of what you currently have (yes, really) or add two if you have none.
Cost: $0 (shop your house) or $15–$30 each for inserts + covers from H&M or Amazon.
Before: Pillow avalanche or barren tundra.
After: Plush, intentional, hotel-lobby vibes.
7. Everything Matching Perfectly (the “showroom syndrome” cure)
What it looks like: Gray sofa, gray walls, gray rug, gray pillows, gray throw—everything bought as a “set” from the same store in the same year.
Why it hurts the room: Perfectly matched rooms feel flat and soulless, like a furniture showroom no one actually lives in.
The Fix: Introduce contrast and vintage.
- One wood tone that’s warmer or cooler than the rest.
- One thrifted piece (coffee table, lamp, art).
- One plant or colorful object that refuses to match.
Cost: $0–$75 (thrift store or Marketplace).
Before: Instagram in 2016 called, it wants its gray back.
After: Depth, soul, “You have such good taste.”
8. Fear of Color or Commitment (the 60-30-10 rule rescue)
What it looks like: All white/beige/gray everything because “I didn’t want to make a mistake,” or the opposite—one wild accent wall that fights with everything else.
Why it hurts the room: Zero color reads sterile and rental-basic. Random color reads chaotic.
The Fix: Use the 60-30-10 rule like training wheels:
- 60 % dominant color (walls, big furniture—usually neutral).
- 30 % secondary color (sofa, curtains, rug).
- 10 % accent color (pillows, art, that vase you love).
Start by painting just one piece of furniture or adding curtains in your 30 % color.
Cost: $35 gallon of paint or $50 in new curtains.
Before: Playing it safe and looking forgettable.
After: Bold but balanced—you finally look like you live there.
FAQs – Your Most-Asked Decor Questions
Why does my living room feel cramped even though it’s big?
99 % chance your rug is too small and/or all furniture is pushed to the walls. Pull things in and size up the rug—watch the room breathe.
How do I know if my rug is too small?
If any furniture leg is touching bare floor (except maybe a side table), it’s too small. Front legs on = minimum viable. All legs on = luxury.
Can I fix these if I’m renting?
Every single one. Command hooks for art and curtains, plug-in sconces, no-nail gallery ledges, peel-and-stick if your landlord allows—zero permanent changes.
I’m on a super tight budget—where do I start?
Curtain height (free), furniture floating (free), and warm light bulbs ($8 pack). Those three alone are life-changing.
My partner hates “decorating.” How do I sneak these in?
Do one per weekend and call it “rearranging for better TV watching.” They’ll notice it feels better but won’t know why.
Help—my whole house is beige and I’m scared of color.
Pick one room, add curtains or a rug in a color you already love wearing. That’s your 30 %. You’ll be shocked how safe it feels.
You’ve Got This
Here’s your weekend challenge: pick literally ONE of these fixes. Hang those curtains higher, pull the sofa off the wall, buy the bigger rug, whatever calls to you. Do it Saturday morning, sip coffee, and watch your room transform before lunch.
Then tag me (or just bask in the glow when someone says, “Did you do something different in here?”).
P.S. There’s actually a sneaky ninth mistake that’s quietly ruining more rooms than all eight of these combined… but that’s a whole post of its own (drop a comment if you want it next).
You’re one tiny tweak away from a home that feels like the best version of you. Go be obnoxious about it.
Laurie Neel Hamilton is a creative DIY expert and the author behind the charming home décor content on Vivyro.com. Passionate about empowering women to craft beautiful, personalized spaces on a budget, she shares inspiring DIY projects, inventive décor ideas, and easy-to-follow tutorials that bring warmth and style to any home.
As a proud Gigi to five beautiful grandchildren and the heart of her creative community, Laurie infuses her work with joy, creativity, and family-inspired touches. Her welcoming approach makes DIY accessible and fun for crafters of all levels, encouraging everyone to unleash their inner artist and create stunning, heartfelt décor that reflects their unique story.
