Today’s post will most likely elicit some good discussions. Did you happen to catch this HGTV special recently? Evidently there are 25 Top Decorating Mistakes that we absolutely should not do. Oh, the horror of it all! I was holding my breath, hoping against hope, that I had not ever committed the decorating sins that I was about to behold. Can you hear the sarcasm here? OK, so I did commit a few of them….let’s see if YOU are off the hook!
- Fake flowers and plants (I confess, I have both in my home at the moment, although not nearly as many as I used to.)
- Too many pillows, on the bed or sofa (yes, I’m guilty of this one too)
- Knick-knack overload (have plenty of these, but not as much as a granny would)
- Fear of color (apparently, this is not one of my problems)
- Ignoring windows (not a problem for me either)
- Pushed back furniture (don’t do this for the most part, if there’s room to float, I do it)
- Tacky couch covers (they were talking clear plastic, can you imagine? does anyone do that anymore? I never see it in the South)
- Frames too high (this is a pet peeve of mine too)
- Improper lighting (I think I have this one covered just fine)
- Floating rugs (nope, not a problem either)
- Too many colors/patterns (love color & patterns, but I think I’m under control)
- Furniture that doesn’t fit (I think they mean oversized & too much in one room)
- Following fads (I have been a wee bit guilty of following some fads, but only the good ones)
- Everything matches (this seemed to be too much of one color in a room, everything the same color).
- Lack of traffic flow (not good for directing foot traffic in a room, I’m OK with this one)
- Uncomfortable diningroom chairs (mine are upholstered & completely comfortable)
- Too formal (nope, I’m not that formal in any room)
- Keeping something you hate (nope, I will not have anything out that I hate)
- Lopsided furnishings (this is balance in a room, not having too much on any one side)
- Outdated accessories (don’t think I have too many of those, but my mother sure does)
- Themes (I’m not much for themes either)
- Undressed cables (hidden for the most part, I did just tack down the white satellite cable in our bedroom with white tacks next to the white baseboard..much better).
- Ignoring the foyer (oh, I love my foyer & would never ignore it)
- Too many family photos (have a few in the livingroom, but not overload)
- Toilet rugs (I gave up the contoured toilet rugs long ago, but we do have a rectangular rug in front of the toilet, that tile is entirely too cold in the winter. I do have one of those toilet seat covers, yes on all 3 toilets…call me tacky, but I like them, this is not a hotel…but, I’m thinking I might take them off eventually :). Fess up…who has a toilet rug OR toilet seat cover? I want to hear from all of you! Is it a Southern thing? There are tons of them still in all the bath stores.
OK, true confession time. How many of these have YOU committed? I can tell this is gonna be a good discussion. I recently wrote about this topic over at Blissfully Domestic , the online magazine and got some really fun comments going. I’m a Decorating contributor over there and will be posting about once a week, so go and check it out, join up, and read lots of other fun stuff, not just decorating!
Speaking of HGTV, one of my blog friends here in Alabama, Layla at The Lettered Cottage is auditioning for HGTV’s Design Star. Go over and vote for her here and let’s help get her on the show! She’s an adorable and talented girl and I’d love to see her on the show next season. If you haven’t visited her blog, please do so, you will love it. Best of luck, Layla!
You’ll notice my banner got a new Fall makeover too! Here’s to cooler weather just around the corner.
Birmingham girls: See the note on my left sidebar. I’m going to a big neighborhood yardsale on Saturday a.m. bright and early. Just email me if you’d like to join me!
Gollum says
I’ve violated every rule, except the toilet bowl rug–although, once upon a time, I used to have one in every bath. I keep meaning to buy a fabric cord cover and then use it as a template to make others. Wish I lived closer, or I’d join you tomorrow morning.I wanted to ask if you’d ever blogged about Majolica? I love your collection so much.
Pattie T. says
A couple of silk flower arrangements make me guilty of one decorating fauz paux, but that’s about it. Really though, how can one affordably have lovely flower arrangements in the winter without breaking the bank? Did HGTV offer some alternative?
The Berry's Patch says
Guilty as charged! Love fake plants and flowers, way too many pillows, and tons of accessories during the holidays. Most of the others I’m not guilty of. Especially the foyer…that it the first place I decorate. It’s the first impression. Loved this post Rhoda!
Buzzings of a Queen Bee! says
The only one I really disagree on is the too many family photos. I agree that they should not be on every single wall, but if you have them strategically placed, or grouped all together, I think it works. After all, it’s YOUR family that lives in the house, right?
Carrie
Mary says
I still like my silk flowers, and I have way too many accessories. On the other hand, a lot of rooms on HGTV seem to have a sort of generic designed- to- sell stamp on them. I’m not sure I want to follow their advice. 🙂
Great post, Rhoda. Lots to think about!
xoxo,
Mary
Meghan says
Here's my dilemma…frames too high.
I hang them at my eye level & my husbands.
I am 6ft tall, he is 6'2", so is this too high?
My mom, 5'9" says yes.
Hmm…so who determine's the height?
nikkicrumpet says
Guilty on some fake flowers, too many bed pillows, and since my family all live so far away…I know I’m not only breaking that rule…I AM PULVERIZING IT! And I don’t even care. Let’s just see how those rule makers would do if their families were thousands of miles away! I love looking at the faces of the people I love everyday..and the only way I can is with pictures. And no toilet rugs…accept the a sqare one in front…I would think that’s alot better than the huggy ones that wrap the toilet.
Anonymous says
Hi Rhoda,
Rules are meant to be broken right ??….I say find what you love and use it, after all it’s your home and you have to live there. So create the space that YOU love and the heck with some ideahead over at HGTV, if he/she didn’t come up with that list they’d be alot of people without jobs.
Nice post,
SASSY says
Great post, and I’m afraid that I have broken a rule, or two. I have a few silk plants thrown in the mix, but only 2 or 3 in the whole house. Do topiary’s count?
Definitely have been accused of having too many pillows on my couch – it was pretty, but uncomfortable.
I also have some nekkid cables – gotta cover those soon!
Sue says
Well, I tried doing the no fake flower thing but a few have crept back in and I’m predicting several more will during the holiday seasons including a couple fake Christmas trees. LOL
I think themes are great. Who wouldn’t like Ruth Ann’s pie themed kitchen, Penny’s new rooster kitchen, Suzi Q’s…well a lot of our rabbits, Fifi’s crowns? They add personality to a home, in my humble opinion anyway.
Love your table vignette.
Thanks for the fun post.
Hugs,
Sue
Jenny says
Well I did pretty good except for fake plants and the rug in front of the toilet. Sorry but the floor’s just too cold not to have something there. Those designers must live in model homes where no one uses the bathroom.
And I used to have real plants. Until we got a cat that eats them. Even the toxic kind. So it was either the cat or the plants and away went the plants. And I’ve since discovered that I like the fake ones. They make some really nice ones now. They don’t need water and they always look nice. And the cats only chew on them sometimes.
~Jenny
Pennies In My Pocket says
Who me??? I’ve never committed a crime such as these! hahaha
Oh and I just threw ALL my fake trees in the garage for the next garage sale…I hate fake trees! Time to get some real ones…I just hate the little nats that come with them! lol
I love that show!
~melody~
joan says
Oh I seen that show and admit I am guilty of a few of these. I did have too many family photos but have cut back on them and plan on getting one of those digital frames soon. I’m hoping my family gets all of my hints about one for Christmas. LOL Have a wonderful holiday weekend Rhoda!
joan says
I forgot to tell you that I love your banner. You will have to tell us how you made it.
Layla says
Sending LOTS of hugs your way today, Rhoda…you are TOO sweet for mentioning my quest to be HGTV’s next “Design Star” on your blog. I appreciate your thoughtfulness SO much. 🙂
Layla
The Lettered Cottage
PS…I want to invite you to come on over this weekend to see the first ever “Lettered Olive” post on my blog. I will be launching LetteredOlive.com within the next couple of weeks…so excited! 🙂
The Decorated House says
I missed that show, but of course I’ve never done any of those things.
OK…maybe once, but we can all be reformed from those toilet rugs. Maybe they did get started from cold winter floors.
Funny stuff when you see the entire list in someone’s house though. 🙂
Have a good weekend, Donna
Terri and Bob says
Hmmm I may be guilty of several of these… I have to say, I love my fake green plants. I cannot grow them well and this gives me the feeling of freshness that plants always add to a room.
I too have a rectangular rug in front of the toilet. It is there for the cat to skid on, or so he thinks.
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Hi all! It was fun reading all of your comments. I hope you know that I posted this with tongue firmly in cheek. We all have to live in our homes & not just follow rules for rules sake. I ceratainly break the 'rules' a lot of the time! It is fun to see a show like this though, just to see what they highlight as "wrong".
And here's to rugs in front of the toilet…no more cold toes! That one is stayin' for sure.
I hear you all on the fake plants. I've removed some of mine, but still have quite a few left. I'm trying to get more live ones in here, since I enjoy those so much too.
Happy Weekend ya'll!
Rhoda
aunties says
Yikes… I guess I am an offender of a few, but over all did pretty good. I do have 4 toliet covers! No contoured rugs though, but I am with Rhonda, the tile gets a little chilly and we have rectangle rug in two of them, and then a large rug in front of the vanity’s of the other two. A few silk plants here and there, and 1 beautiful silk floral Maybe a few too many pillows…
With 10 grandchildren, I try but might be abusing the one of too many family pictures…their felings are worth it when they visit though.
Oh what the heck, its our HOME and that is what I try to create.
Shelia says
Me? Quilty of making decorating errors? You betcha! I did see that show and held my breath each time the next number came up. I love your blog and I really feel honored you’d come to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉