While you may keep your home relatively tidy and clutter-free, certain interior design missteps can undermine your efforts, resulting in a messier, more chaotic-looking space.
To help you achieve a crisp, cohesive aesthetic, we listed seven all-too-common design pitfalls that create visual disarray.
Clashing Prints and Patterns
Prints and patterns are great for adding more character and personality to a space. However, having too many in one room can visually overwhelm the space and make it look chaotic. Limit yourself to just two or three coordinating motifs per room. You can also mix geometrics with florals, and stripes with solids - just avoid clashing distinctly different styles like paisley with houndstooth.
Visible Cords and Wires
Few things look messier than an unsightly tangle of AV cables, power cords, and charging wires snaking across floors and walls. Strategically route wires behind furniture or along baseboards, and use cable boxes to bundle them neatly out of sight. Additionally, you can install floor outlets under decks.
Lack of Storage Solutions
When you lack ample closets and cabinets, belongings inevitably spread across visible surfaces. Incorporate decorative storage like trunks, baskets, bins, built-ins, and shelving to keep miscellaneous items contained.
Busy Entryways
The entry is what guests see first, so keep it crisp and curated. Ditch piles of mail, bins for shoe piles, and overflowing coat racks. Mount wall hooks, add a slim console table, and neatly store necessities in cabinets.
Crowded Countertops
Cluttered countertops create a messy, chaotic vibe no matter how clean the rest of your kitchen looks. Stick to just a few decorative accessories and essentials like a utensil holder, and store appliances in cabinets when not in use.
Too Much Wall Art
While gallery walls can look chic, they require editing with negative space around each frame. But too many pieces crammed together create a cluttered look. Stick to 1-2 larger statement pieces per wall for cleaner appeal.
Excessive Furniture
Having too much bulky furniture weighing down a space immediately creates a cramped, messy feel. Edit your furnishings leaving ample walking paths between pieces. Swap oversized sofas and armchairs for streamlined pieces to open things up.
By avoiding these visually disruptive pitfalls, you can create a clean, pulled-together, harmonious home aesthetic despite life's inevitable messes and clutter. Simple edits make all the difference in achieving a refreshing sense of order.
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