Update your decorating - a few simple things to do now

Common but Easy-to-Fix Decorating Mistakes

Some would say there are no decorating mistakes—that what you like in your home is what counts. But the very hip home designers at Home and Garden Television (HGTV) believe a number of common but tired decorating traditions are long overdue for an update.

Here are seven of the easy-to-fix practices they recommend for every home:

• No more toilet rugs – Rugs that fit around the toilet base and often have matching seat covers actually make a bathroom look smaller. Opt for a small, rectangular rug placed away from the toilet to open up the room.
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• Don’t ignore the foyer – It’s the first glimpse visitors see of your home.  Make it welcoming with an appropriately sized furniture piece, an accent rug well-grounded to the floor, a plant, an umbrella stand or statue, or any other attractive piece that is functional or unobtrusively decorative.
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• Too many photos – A dozen or more family photos grouped on a table or shelf make for clutter and are seldom really seen.  Instead, display 5 or 6 of your favorites, nicely arranged on a ‘gallery wall,’ and switch them out every few months.
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• Outdated kitchen accessories – If you can’t afford to update cabinets, give the kitchen a new look by modernizing with new drawer and cabinet pulls—and ditch those outdated cookie jars and canisters for a few more modern accessories.
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• Uncomfortable chairs – Whether they’re dining chairs or living room chairs, their most important function should be comfort. If they’re not comfy, sit in a few new models and choose the chairs you like best.
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• Visible clutter – Unsightly clutter like that treadmill in the corner ruins the look of any space. Hide it behind an attractive screen, and invest in stylish shelves or baskets to keep other must-have eyesores in their place—but out of sight.
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• Don’t keep something you hate – You don’t need to display that ugly vase forever, even if you got as a wedding present. Everyone updates at one time or another, so be brave and ditch it for something you like much better.  

By Barbara Pronin