skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
  • PHOTOS
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen
    • Dining
    • Outdoor Kitchen
    • Kitchen Islands
    LIVING
    • Living Room
    • Family Room
    • Home Theatre
    • Sunroom
    • Fireplace
    • Study Room
    BATHROOM
    • Bathroom
    • Laundry
    • Powder Room
    • Small Bathroom
    BEDROOM
    • Bedroom
    • Kids Bedroom
    • Nursery
    • Master Bedroom
    • Storage & Wardrobe
    KERB APPEAL
    • Exterior
    • Driveway
    • Carport
    • Garage
    • Entry
    OUTDOOR
    • Garden
    • Courtyard
    • Balcony
    • Deck
    • Patio
    • Pool
    • All Outdoor
    MORE IDEAS
    • Granny Flat
    • Home Office
    • Home Gym
    • Staircase
    • Home Bar
    • Wine Cellar
    • View All
  • FIND PROFESSIONALS
    BUILDING & RENOVATION
    • Architects
    • Home Builders
    • Building Designers
    • Design & Construction
    DESIGN & INTERIORS
    • Interior Designers & Decorators
    • Home Stylists & Property Staging
    • Painting & Wallpaper
    • Carpet & Flooring
    • Shutters, Blinds & Curtains
    • Furniture & Home Decor
    • Artists & Artisans
    GARDEN & LANDSCAPING
    • Landscape Architects & Designers
    • Landscape Contractors
    • Garden & Landscape Supplies
    • Arborists & Tree Services
    OUTDOOR & EXTERIOR
    • Pools & Spas
    • Decks, Patios & Structures
    • Fencing & Gates
    • Driveways & Paving
    • Stone, Pavers & Concrete
    • Cladding & Exterior Contractors
    • Roofing & Gutters
    • Blacksmiths & Welders
    KITCHEN & BATHROOM
    • Kitchen Designers & Renovators
    • Bathroom Designers & Renovators
    • Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
    • Tile, Stone & Benchtops
    • Joinery & Cabinet Makers
    HOME SERVICES
    • Lighting
    • Heating & Air Conditioning
    • Fireplaces
    • Windows
    • Doors
    • Staircases & Balustrades
    • Wine Cellars
    SYDNEY
    • Architects in Sydney
    • Bathroom Renovators in Sydney
    • Builders in Sydney
    • Interior Designers in Sydney
    • Kitchen Renovators in Sydney
    • Landscapers in Sydney
    MELBOURNE
    • Architects in Melbourne
    • Builders in Melbourne
    • Bathroom Renovators in Melbourne
    • Landscapers in Melbourne
    • Interior Designers in Melbourne
    BRISBANE
    • Architects in Brisbane
    • Builders in Brisbane
    • Landscapers in Brisbane
    • Bathroom Renovators in Brisbane
    • Cabinet Makers in Brisbane
    • Fencing in Brisbane
    PERTH
    • Landscapers in Perth
    • Tilers in Perth
    • Bathroom Renovators in Perth
    • Kitchen Renovators in Perth
    • Cabinet Makers in Perth
    • Architects in Perth
    View All Pros View All Services
  • STORIES
    STORIES FROM HOUZZ
    • Houzz Tours
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • More Rooms
    • Renovating
    • Building
    • Architecture
    • Interior Design
    • Gardens
    • Eco Living
    • Lifestyle
    • News Stories
    • How to Use Houzz
    HOUZZ RESEARCH
    HOUZZ TV
  • ADVICE
    HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
    • Design Dilemma
    • Before & After
    • Polls
    • Kitchens
    • Living Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Gardens
    • Renovating
    • Home Decorating
    • Exterior
    • Flooring
    • Building a home
Decorating
Decorating
The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know
Top Ideabooks
The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to KnowMy Houzz: A Chic Tropical Oasis in the Heart of the ’BurbsHow to Make Your Home Look Posh (Without a Royal Budget)How to Use Pantone’s Uplifting 2021 Colour of the Year at Home
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
SeasonalColourDecorating IdeasLightingDecorating By StyleDecorating FAQsDecorating By RoomTexture
Living Rooms
Living Rooms
Room of the Week: A Sophisticated, Richly Coloured Living Room
Top Ideabooks
Room of the Week: A Sophisticated, Richly Coloured Living RoomRoom of the Week: A Contemporary, Mixed-Material Living Area13 Ways to Divide Up a Large Living RoomCushion Masterclass: How to Choose and Style Like a Pro
Appears in
More Rooms
Expert Eye
Expert Eye
When to Call a Plumber About a Faulty Appliance
Top Ideabooks
When to Call a Plumber About a Faulty ApplianceBuzz Off! How to Keep Mozzies Away Without the SprayPro Panel: What Do Structural Engineers Do and Should I Hire One?3 Small Outdoor Spaces... and How They Did It
Appears in
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Picture Perfect: 45 Ideas for Bathroom Mirror Style and Placement
Top Ideabooks
Picture Perfect: 45 Ideas for Bathroom Mirror Style and Placement32 Ways to Work Glazing Into Your Interior From Around the WorldRoom of the Week: A Practical, Beachy Keen Kitchen in NZA Landscape Architect Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome Time

Pro Panel: 8 Common Styling Blunders You Don't Want to Make

Something a little off about your living room set-up, but not sure what? Here are eight mistakes that people often make

Georgia Madden
Georgia MaddenJanuary 22, 2020
Senior writer, Houzz Australia
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
A beautiful colour scheme and a few nice bits of furniture aren’t all that goes into an appealing living-room arrangement. There are other factors to consider too, such as balance, proportion and placement. Not sure what that means for you and your living room? We asked three design experts to reveal the eight most common styling errors that people make and how you can steer well clear of them.

We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautifully designed living rooms from the Houzz archives to fuel your decor ideas.

Berkeley Interiors
Gabrielle Reinhardt, interior designer at Berkeley Interiors, says:

1. Blunder: A too-small rug
A great rug can be the making of your living room – it grounds your furniture and, in an open-plan space, defines the living area.

The most common mistake people make when purchasing a rug is choosing one that’s too small for both the room and the furniture in it. A too-small rug sits separately from the furniture in the room, making the space look disjointed and feel uninviting.
Marylou Sobel Interior Design
Solution
Measure up your living room and the main pieces of furniture in it before you hit the shops. Ideally, the rug you choose should be big enough to allow the key pieces of furniture to sit on top of it.

If your living room is not big enough to allow everything to sit fully on your rug, choose a style that is slightly wider than your sofa and allows for the front legs of your sofa and any smaller furniture pieces (such as side tables and stools) to sit on it.

Need expert help pulling your living room scheme together? Find a local interior designer or decorator on Houzz
Residential Attitudes
2. Blunder: The television is the focus of the room
The television is the ruin of most living rooms. Many homeowners will choose an oversize television that is too big for the room and then centre all the furniture around it, forgetting that the living room is for entertaining and conversation too.

I also often see living rooms with nothing in them but a television and a modular sofa or a sofa and a chaise. A bare set-up such as this makes the room feel cold and unwelcoming, and suggests that the living room has no purpose beyond watching television – which can be an instant conversation killer.
Hobbs Jamieson Architecture
Solution
The television can be an integral part of your living room without being the focus of it. The key is to conceal it as much as possible and create a space that performs dual functions as a watching zone and relaxing/social space.

A built-in wall of cabinetry or a ready-made cabinet with shelves are two smart ways to detract attention from a television or conceal it altogether. Use the open sections of the cabinetry to house books, photos, ornaments and other interesting things that will draw the eye from the television and add personality to the room.

Also consider having a smaller television in your living room and keeping the oversize screen for a media room or spare room (if you’re lucky enough to have one), where it can be hidden behind closed doors.
S&K Group
3. Blunder: Squashing all the furniture against the wall
Pushing all your living room furniture up against the walls is another common styling mistake people make. I often see rooms where the sofa is against one wall, with a pair of armchairs against another, and the coffee table stranded in the middle of the room where nobody can reach it. The result is a dull room that feels a little like the waiting room in a doctor’s surgery.
Pascon Group Pty Ltd
Solution
Moving the furniture deeper into the room and setting up conversational zones will instantly make your living room feel cosier and more welcoming.

The arrangement that works best will depend on the shape and size of the room. You may decide to put the sofa against a wall, with a pair of armchairs opposite it and a coffee table in between them. Or, if your living room is spacious, you may choose to place the furniture near the middle of the room, with space around it to move about.
Coco Republic
Lily Cumberland, interior designer at Coco Republic, says:

4. Blunder: A sofa that’s too big or small
Selecting a sofa that’s the wrong scale for your living room is the biggest blunder people make. It’s important to remember that a sofa will often appear to be quite different in size once it’s out of the showroom and in your home.

Colour can also have an impact on how big a piece appears; a dark sofa with a skirt that goes to the ground, for example, can look quite heavy or imposing in a very small living room.
Willeroo Interior Design
Solution
Measure up your living room, the other furniture in the room, and the sofa you have your eye on before you buy.

Always start with a floor plan first to ensure that the scale and proportion of the piece works in the space and provides enough room to move around with ease.

Then consider the style of sofa. In a compact living room, consider a sofa on legs and with narrow arms to give the illusion of more space.

If you have a large room, you might consider a more substantial sofa, such as one with wide arms that sits close to the ground.

Tip: If you don’t have easy access to a floor plan of your living room, mark out the size of a potential sofa on the floor with painter’s tape or newspaper before you buy it to test the dimensions.
Fenton & Fenton
5. Blunder: Getting the orientation wrong
Today’s living rooms work hard and often perform multifunctions as spaces where we entertain, watch television, work and dine. The position and orientation of your furniture is key to its success.

While a symmetrical layout with a pair of sofas opposite each other and a coffee table in between them is a traditional living room set-up, it’s not your only option and might not be the best choice for your space. This set-up has a formal feel (not ideal if you favour laid-back entertaining) and, if your living room is small or awkwardly shaped, it can make the space feel cramped while creating a lot of ‘dead’ space in the room.

It’s often more important to create symmetry with the architecture – such as centering a sofa below a window or framing a doorway – rather than creating it with furniture layout.
dcf design group
Solution
Rather than automatically opting for a symmetrical furniture layout, think about what will work best in your living room. The layout you choose should allow doors to open, people to move comfortably around the space, a view of the television, room to chat and areas for storage.

If your living room is small or narrow, consider replacing a second sofa with an occasional chair or two. An upholstered armchair is less bulky than a second sofa, and can be a great way to add colour and character to your living room.

Embrace the idea of a non-symmetrical arrangement: consider moving the television unit to one side to make space for display items, shifting the sofa along to make room for a standard lamp, and popping a single occasional chair in the corner of the room.
BAF ILLUMINATION
6. Blunder: Bad lighting
Even with the best layout and flow, bad lighting can ruin the look and feel of your living room. Generally, the problem comes down to either too much or too little light, and not enough options to allow you to use the space for different functions.
Alwill Interiors
Solution
Look to create a smart, layered lighting scheme in your living room consisting of different light sources, such as a ceiling pendant, table and floor lamps and up or downlights. Setting them on dimmers allows you to alter the lighting levels and mood to suit the occasion.

A layered lighting scheme also allows two people to use the space at the same time for different tasks without disturbing each other. For example, one person might be watching television with the lights dimmed, while another person is reading in the corner of the room with a floor light on.

There are three types of lighting you’ll want to include: ambient lighting (a gentle wash of light that allows you to move around safely); accent lighting (to highlight special features in the room, such as art); and task lighting (for reading and other tasks where you need to see clearly).
White Pebble Interiors
Frances Cosway, principal designer at White Pebble Interiors, says:

7. Blunder: Artwork hung too high
Artwork is often hung too high to be properly seen or appreciated.
Gallery style is the only hanging style that allows for artwork to be hung higher than eye height as it combines artworks of different sizes to create a wall of art.
Berkeley Interiors
Solution
Artwork should be hung at eye height, with the middle of the piece approximately 1,600 millimetres from the floor.
Cumulus Studio
8. Blunder: A tiny coffee table
A coffee table that is too small for the living room and surrounding furniture is a common sight and leads to a couple of issues.

First, if your coffee table is not in proportion with the room, sofa and any armchairs, it looks wrong visually and the space won’t feel cohesive or comfortable.

A too-tiny coffee table can also prove a practical challenge. If the coffee table is too small for the sofa or chairs, it will often get positioned far away from them in an effort to create a sense of balance, which makes it hard to reach.
Style Council
Solution
As a rule of thumb, your coffee table should be between half to one-third of the length of your sofa. Look to position it about 400 to 500 millimetres from the sofa and armchairs so you can reach it comfortably.
dcf design group
Your turn
Are you guilty of any of these style blunders? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.

More
Keen for more expert decorating advice? Don’t miss An Interior Designer’s Step-by-Step Sophisticated Home Makeover
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (2)
  • Phyllis
    12 months ago

    This is a really practical and useful article, thanks.

  • debanger3
    11 months ago

    I don't think there's a single blunder in the list that isn't one I've made!

  • Read Related Stories
    The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know
    Interior DesignThe Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know
    By Georgia Madden
    An interior designer reveals the essential rules for achieving a perfectly balanced interior
    Full Story93
    My Houzz: A Chic Tropical Oasis in the Heart of the ’Burbs
    Most PopularMy Houzz: A Chic Tropical Oasis in the Heart of the ’Burbs
    By Georgia Madden
    Quaint worker’s cottage on the outside, contemporary coastal abode inside – see how this interior designer-owner did it
    Full Story20
    How to Make Your Home Look Posh (Without a Royal Budget)
    Most PopularHow to Make Your Home Look Posh (Without a Royal Budget)
    By Samantha van Egmond
    No need to spend big... a few little luxuries can go a long way towards creating a home fit for a queen
    Full Story2
    How to Use Pantone’s Uplifting 2021 Colour of the Year at Home
    ColourHow to Use Pantone’s Uplifting 2021 Colour of the Year at Home
    By Jennifer Ott
    Hello, yellow! Good day, grey! See how to use the two colours predicted to be both hot and cool in the coming year
    Full Story67
    101 Most Beautiful Spaces of 2020
    Decorating101 Most Beautiful Spaces of 2020
    By Vanessa Walker
    Happy end of 2020! Our present is our annual wander through some refreshing and inspirational homes on Houzz
    Full Story7
    26 Elegant White & Neutral Christmas Decorating Schemes Worldwide
    Picture Perfect26 Elegant White & Neutral Christmas Decorating Schemes Worldwide
    By Amanda Pollard
    Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
    Full Story23
    Garden Studio Makeover: See How an Online Bargain Was Transformed
    Project Of The WeekGarden Studio Makeover: See How an Online Bargain Was Transformed
    By Georgia Madden
    Goodbye asbestos-ridden shed and hello sleek, new home office – see how this slice of backyard magic was born
    Full Story6
    6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home
    Organising6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home
    By Georgia Madden
    Three interior designs reveal some genius ways you can optimise those oft-overlooked and under-used parts of your home
    Full Story0
    Best of the Week: 26 Hamptons-Style Homes in Australia
    Most PopularBest of the Week: 26 Hamptons-Style Homes in Australia
    By Joanna Tovia
    Australians can't get enough of the timeless and sophisticated style of the Hamptons
    Full Story19
    A New Build Gets a Serene and Sophisticated Interior Fit-Out
    Project Of The WeekA New Build Gets a Serene and Sophisticated Interior Fit-Out
    By Georgia Madden
    Soaring ceilings, a monochromatic palette and exquisite detailing define the interior of this newly built family home
    Full Story7
    19 Modern Beach Houses to Fuel Your Design Dreams
    Picture Perfect19 Modern Beach Houses to Fuel Your Design Dreams
    By Georgia Madden
    Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
    Full Story2
    20 Festive Christmas Decorating Essentials Made Easy
    Christmas20 Festive Christmas Decorating Essentials Made Easy
    By Julia Fairley
    Dress up your home for Christmas with our cheat sheet of beautiful, inspirational and easy decorating ideas
    Full Story2
    Decorex Reveals How to Focus Design Around People and the Planet
    Interior DesignDecorex Reveals How to Focus Design Around People and the Planet
    By Amanda Pollard
    Decorex 2020 was about more than trends; the trade fair focused on how design can benefit both us and the environment
    Full Story15
    10 Tips to Create a Calm and Relaxing Bedroom
    Bedrooms10 Tips to Create a Calm and Relaxing Bedroom
    By Gillian Lazanik
    A USA-based interior designer shows us how to set the scene for a good night’s sleep
    Full Story70
    14 Wonderful Ways With Stacked Stone
    Picture Perfect14 Wonderful Ways With Stacked Stone
    By Georgia Madden
    Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
    Full Story5
    People who liked this story also liked
    The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know
    The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to KnowFull Story
    My Houzz: A Chic Tropical Oasis in the Heart of the ’Burbs
    My Houzz: A Chic Tropical Oasis in the Heart of the ’BurbsFull Story
    How to Make Your Home Look Posh (Without a Royal Budget)
    How to Make Your Home Look Posh (Without a Royal Budget)Full Story
    How to Use Pantone’s Uplifting 2021 Colour of the Year at Home
    How to Use Pantone’s Uplifting 2021 Colour of the Year at HomeFull Story
    101 Most Beautiful Spaces of 2020
    101 Most Beautiful Spaces of 2020Full Story
    26 Elegant White & Neutral Christmas Decorating Schemes Worldwide
    26 Elegant White & Neutral Christmas Decorating Schemes WorldwideFull Story
    Garden Studio Makeover: See How an Online Bargain Was Transformed
    Garden Studio Makeover: See How an Online Bargain Was TransformedFull Story
    6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home
    6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your HomeFull Story
    Best of the Week: 26 Hamptons-Style Homes in Australia
    Best of the Week: 26 Hamptons-Style Homes in AustraliaFull Story
    A New Build Gets a Serene and Sophisticated Interior Fit-Out
    A New Build Gets a Serene and Sophisticated Interior Fit-OutFull Story
    • Australia
    • ABOUT
    • MOBILE APPS
    • PROFESSIONALS
    • BUTTONS
    • FAQs
    • CAREERS
    • ADVERTISE
    • Terms & Privacy
    • © 2021 Houzz Inc.