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Pro Designers Reveal Their Biggest Home Decor Pet Peeves

You're gonna want to read this before your next move (or renovation, or trip to Target).

By Brie Dyas and Lauren Smith
Room, Interior design, Countertop, Kitchen, Floor, Home, Interior design, Gas stove, Kitchen stove, House,

You're gonna want to read this before your next move (or renovation, or trip to Target).

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#1: Being Afraid of Bold Colors

designer pet peeves
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Most people think they'll tire of strong, in-your-face hues, but Sarah Vaile of Sarah Whit Interior Design doesn't agree: "Some of my favorite rooms have been oxblood or grass green since before I was born," she says. In her opinion, style is timeless when done right.

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#2: Matching Art to Decor

designer pet peeves
Getty

Just because the wall art you've fallen in love with doesn't feature the same colors you have in your living room, doesn't mean you can't take the plunge and purchase it. "Buy art that you dream about and can't live without," says designer Ryland Witt.

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#3: Using Too Many Trends

designer pet peeves
Getty

Even though chevron was all the rage a few years ago, CeCe Barfield Thompson of CeCe Barfield Inc. warns against using too many ideas you see in all the magazines or on Pinterest. "Trends are not your friend," she says. Why? It's simple: "Decorating should be personal."

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#4: Poorly Positioned Art

Wood, Floor, Room, Interior design, Lighting, Hardwood, Flooring, Property, Furniture, Wall,
Sollina Images

"I can't stand seeing art hung too high!" says Katie Martinez of Katie Martinez Design in San Francisco, California. "It should be at eye level, not way up on the wall." To be safe, the best height is often considered to be 57" from the floor.

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#5: The "Floating" Rug

Furniture, Living room, Couch, Room, Interior design, Sofa bed, Brown, Floor, Table, Wall,
gerenme

It's all about missed opportunities on the floor, says Amie Weitzman of Weitzman Halpern Interior Design in New York, who hates seeing rugs that are too small for the proportions of a room. The better route: Make sure you get an area rug that (at the very least) extends to under each piece of furniture in a seating arrangement.

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#6: Too Many Open Shelves

Countertop, Cabinetry, Room, Furniture, Kitchen, Property, Shelf, Interior design, Building, Home,
Spaces Interiors

"There's too much opportunity for messy shelves — instead, keep a good proportion of closed doors so you can hide the chaos," Weitzman says. If you're stuck with open shelves, cull your collection (do you really need all those souvenir mugs?) and hide clutter in prettier storage bins.

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#7: Defaulting to Stainless Steel

Room, Countertop, Property, Cabinetry, Major appliance, Kitchen, Furniture, Door handle, Kitchen appliance, Refrigerator,
Fotosearch

"Don't build a diner in your kitchen," urges architect and designer Michael Davis of Michael Davis Architecture and Interiors. "I frequently differ with clients about the trend to overwhelm their kitchens with stainless steel appliances. While a functional material when used properly, stainless steel is also vulnerable to dents and scratches and tends to age badly." The other big thing: Stainless steel appliances break up the flow of traditional cabinetry create what Davis calls a "gap-toothed" effect.

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#8: Personality-Free Living Spaces

Interior design, Room, Living room, Property, Floor, Wall, Furniture, Couch, Ceiling, Home,
Robert Daly

Putting perfection over personality often ends in a room that feels anonymous, almost like a hotel lobby. "One of the most important aspects of home design, is no matter how simple or elaborate the interiors are, the idea of the human presence is most important," says Toronto-based designer and artist Vivian Reiss. "If the design does not succeed in making people feel welcome in the space, they have failed in the idea of what a home should be."

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#9: Matching Everything

Bedroom, Furniture, Room, Property, Bed, Interior design, Bed frame, Bed sheet, Floor, Ceiling,
Roy Mehta

"Matching furniture sets, be it for the bedroom, dining room or beyond, drive me batty," says Jacquelyn Clark of Lark and Linen Interiors. "Rooms that have been purchased from a single source always feel like they're lacking in both soul and character." Instead, Clark encourages you to take your time to pick pieces that coordinate and complement one another, much like you would with your wardrobe.

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#10: Naked Windows

Interior design, Flowerpot, Interior design, Artifact, Plant stem, Vase, Still life photography, Window treatment, Houseplant, Transparent material,
BLOOM image

Even if you don't have much wall space or decent window casings to work with, don't leave your windows bare, says Michael Foley of Foley & Cox in New York. "The trick is to approach the obstacle with creative thinking — that can sometimes lead to the most inventive and unusual solutions!" he says. While you might have to go custom, a well-dressed window makes a big impact in any space.

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#11: Skimpy Curtains

Room, Curtain, Furniture, Interior design, Property, Pink, Bedroom, Light, Yellow, Bed,
Pinghung Chen / EyeEm

What's worse than no curtains? Ones that are too short for the window. "It is important to measure correctly and let curtains touch the floor," says Natalie Kraiem of Natalie Kraiem Interiors in New York. "I prefer to let them hang an extra inch or two longer. I also like to hang the rods or tracks below the crown molding to make the ceilings appear taller."

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#12: Basic Wall Switch Plate Covers

White, Electronic component, Switch, Wall, Light switch, Technology, Line, Electronic device, Power plugs and sockets, Rectangle,
John Kim / EyeEm

These are the decor equivalent of wearing plastic jewelry with a formal gown. "I don't like seeing the 50 cent light plates or outlets, [especially] in a high end room," says Kraiem. "If you spend so much effort and money in making your house stylish, buy screwless plates such as the Lutron ones. They come in every color and you could match them to the wallpaper or paint to make them disappear."

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#13: Beds Made With Comforters

Bedroom, Furniture, Bed, Room, Bed sheet, Bed frame, Interior design, Nightstand, Wall, Floor,
Ryan McVay

Amie Weitzman has another big pet peeve: "Beds that are made with comforters instead of a bedspread or blanket." Though often necessary for a good night's sleep, they can make beds look bulky. "Comforters should be folded at the end of a bed," she says.

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#14: Too Much Clutter

Living room, White, Room, Interior design, Furniture, Property, Yellow, Building, Home, House,
Jamie Garbutt

"Less is more," Kraiem says. "A room looks more put together when it's styled with fewer accessories. I prefer to use larger or the right accessories, instead of many small ones."

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