The Biggest Decor Mistake I've Ever Made

Want to know the biggest mistake I ever made in my home decor? Not being careful with how I incorporated trends.

Ever since we got married, my husband and I have built a new home every two or three years. And when you move a lot, you learn a lot about home decor really quickly. Whether you’re building a house or redesigning the home you’re currently in (we’ll talk about both), being careful with how you incorporate current trends into your decor is a LIFE saver.

Mistake #1: Making the Big Stuff Trendy

I first learned this lesson when we were building one of our earlier homes. I decided to use a beautiful plaid, navy carpet in my living room. I LOVED it– at first. Sadly, as time went on, I found that I was getting sick of the color. This taught me a major lesson:

Don’t make major home details or decor pieces too trendy or overly specialized. 

Whether you are picking out paint colors, furniture styles, or other large or expensive decorative and home design pieces, remember that if you pick something overly specialized, bright, or bold, you’ll quickly get tired of it– and it will be really difficult to replace.

Mistake #2: Making Everything the Same Style

It's also really hard to change your home's feel when your whole house is a single style. you risk over-specializing. Several years ago, one of my friends changed out all their furniture after building a new house. Unfortunately for them, it was all part of the same style– making it expensive to switch out when trends or their own personal taste changed. While you’ll want to make sure your decor has a cohesive theme, and pick decorative pieces that complement each other, branching out in style a bit will make it easier to switch out styles.

Solution #1: Keep the Big Stuff Simple

Remember my navy carpet? Lesson learned. Now I keep the big things very, very basic to both save money and make it easier to change up my home’s look. Here are some of the big things you should keep simple when considering what look you want in your home:

Furniture and Rugs: If you’re paying several thousand dollars for furniture, you want to enjoy it for a long time. Pick furniture in versatile colors (like cream), and make sure that any pricy rugs you get are subtle in color and design.

Flooring: No more navy carpet for me. For my current home, I chose a carpet that is more of a beige tone with flecks of other colors (like black). It makes the carpet neutral while also allowing me to pull out whatever color I want. I also try to choose more neutral colored wood floors.

Wallpapers and Paint Colors: I often do cream walls and avoid using a lot of paint colors. I’d recommend also sticking with tasteful yet simple wallpaper. One of my most recent home improvements was adding wallpaper to my room, and I was SO tempted to pick something that was very trendy right then. But I knew that I’d be sick of it in a year. I finally ended up finding a really beautiful, subtle striped, beige wallpaper to use. It adds to the room, but it’s not overly bright or trend specific.

Countertops: This is only applicable if you’re building a home, but I’ve also found versatile countertops to be important. For my last six houses, I’ve used a really beautiful white marble that looks classy while going with practically everything. 

Solution #2: Make the Small Stuff Trendy

When you’re trying to incorporate a trend or try out a new style, focus on smaller decor elements that you can change out easily. Several years ago, when there was a trend to make everything geometric, with sharp lines and shapes, I incorporated the style using decorative couch pillows. It made it easy to enjoy the trend and make my decor look up to date, while also keeping it really easy to switch out when the next trend came along.

Other items that are easy to switch out include artwork and frames, vases and seasonal plants, throws and blankets, and decorative centerpieces.

Solution #3: Use a Variety of Styles Throughout Your Home

Don't just rely on a single decor style throughout your home-- otherwise you run into the same problem as making the big-ticket items overly specialized. It becomes hard to switch things out. Instead, mix and match a variety of styles. It will help your decor stand the test of time, make your decor more visually interesting, and also keep it easy to adjust your style if needed. (In my kitchen, I have a mix of industrial looking accessories and some antique elements, playing with the contrast of the two different styles.)

I’d also suggest experimenting with a variety of layers and textures. Personally, I love having an inter-play between feminine and masculine elements in a room (that’s one reason why I love my scalloped cutting board– it’s heavy duty while also being delicate and styled).

One way that I've found to add more texture to a display is by using a gingham bow. I LOVE incorporating them to my decor. Not only do gingham bows match a wide variety of styles-- making them an easy piece to mix and match decor with-- but they also add a beautiful seasonal flair. (Some of my favorite gingham bows include pink for Easter, red for the 4th of July, and orange for fall.)

Solution #4: Figure Out What You Love

Out of all my tips though, the most important is to make sure you’re bringing in decor elements that you really enjoy. Own it! Awhile back, I found a picture of a llama that I absolutely loved. My husband really didn't care for it, but it’s still hanging in my living room-- and I've really enjoyed it. It makes my space more me, and I’ve had lots of people compliment me on the piece. Gingham bows are another decor element that I just really enjoy. I love the classic touch they bring to my home, and I love sharing that with others.

If you’re not sure what you love yet, that’s okay! Take some time and explore different options and pieces. Just remember to keep the big stuff simple, and to specialize using smaller pieces that you can switch in and out. Happy decorating!