Oh No You Di’nt
We recently caught a re-run of an HGTV special called “25 Biggest Decorating Mistakes.” It was sort of like HGTV’s attempt to make a funny clip show (a la VH1′s “I Love the 80s”) that featured a mix of real decorators and stylists, plus some comedians posing as design critics to bring some actual comedy to the countdown. It was actually quite entertaining – not to mention, pretty accurate. For example, here’s crimes #10 (floating rugs) and #6 (pushed-back furniture) illustrated together in one, sad living room.
Check out the list below (and click any for more info). See anything that you think is an especially egregious blunder? Something you think doesn’t deserve to be condemned? Or – be honest – anything that you’re guilty of in your own home?? I think we’ve been accused of #4 once or twice…
25. Toilet rugs
24. Too many photos
23. Ignoring the foyer
22. Undressed cables
21. Out-of-place themes
20. Outdated accessories
19. Lopsided furniture arrangements
18. Keeping something you hate
17. Too formal
16. Uncomfortable dining chairs
15. Lack of traffic pattern
14. Everything matches
13. Following fads
12. Furniture that doesn’t fit
11. Too many colors or patterns
10. Floating rugs
9. Improper lighting
8. Frames hung too high
7. Tacky couch covers
6. Pushed-back furniture
5. Ignoring windows
4. Fear of color
3. Knickknack overload
2. Too many pillows
1. Fake flowers
[Image courtesy of HGTV]
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I am 100% guilty of #16 (unfortunately). I also caught a wee bit of this show only to see my design mistake – using a bench at my dining table. Up until now I thought it was the greatest thing and now… I guess it’s not the greatest thing to squish a bunch of people on a bench for Christmas dinner? Huh. Who knew.
Thank you HGTV for recognizing the toilet rug as one of the worst decorations known to man. I have fought my boyfriend for two years on the subject of toilet rugs. I will be showing him this list!
HA HA HA! #25 is the absolute WORST!! Why in the WORLD would you need a rug around your toilet? Ick!
I’m definitely guilty of #18, keeping something I hate. . .
The toilet rug is the very worstest worstestestest horrifying choice (hey, I’m Spanish, I can make up words if it’s a foreign language for me, right? – not that I don’t do it in Spanish)
I hate knicknack overload (#3)–there is something so wonderful about large streches of clean, uncluttered surfaces with maybe one great flower arrangement on it. Which brings me to #1 which I am very “guilty” of, I have many “fake” flower arrangements in my house. But usually at least 1 or 2 real ones as well. I actually completely disagree with #1, I think when done properly, with care in how they are put together, fake flower arrangements are great. I wish I could have real ones in every room, but that would be pretty expensive. My tip on making flower arrangements (real or fake) look less clutered and fusty, is to go very very simple–one type of flower per arrangement. And instead of using that green foam stuff to keep them in place, I suggest using marbles or ribbon to tie them together.
I think that pretty much sums it up. Or, going the opposite direction, maybe making a house look too much like a show-piece is a don’t. I like the things that make a house be a home. Personal touches are sublime.
I saw that show on TV and immediately ran into the living room, ripped the fake flowers out of a vase and threw them in the garbage. I was heart broken that my design faux pas was #1 on their list. I am still upset about it!!
I am probably guilty of too many photos. I always struggle with finding a balance between too many photos/personal belongings and looking like a model home with NO personal touches.
What in the world is wrong with the picture in #20? It’s supposed to be outdated accesories, but it doesn’t look outdated to me. What am I missing? I love the hardware on those cabinets. Am I really that out of it with design?
The decor police need to do a sweep of my entire midwestern family, aka the Motif Mafia. These people LOVE a theme. With my mother and aunt it is “Tuscan”. My aunt even had a “professional” put plaster on the walls of her 1998 ranch, then attach faux exposed brick. My grandmother’s kitchen is the aviary from hell, with birdhouses and fauxidermy birds attached to every nailed down flat surface. You try to run from the Hitchcockian nightmare, but you find no reprieve in the apple themed livingroom. Oh, bless their hearts.
I thought this list was great. I wish I had seen the show. I admit I am guilty of #22. I guess a trip to Target for a cord protector is in order.
i like this blog.. funny..
I’m guilty of #1, fake tall plants.. I guess I m selling them (if anyone would buy them)
sherry/john- any suggestion to replace those fakey-lamey tall plant trees? :):):)
I’m not sure that i agree with the “too many pictures” one.. i definitely have tons of pictures in my office and i love it! it adds colour and personality.. but the other ones.. ya not so good
Ha ha! You guys are too funny. I love hearing the confessions and disputes over what should and shouldn’t be on here. We too were once guilty of #1 in a few places, but agree with those of you who contend that it can be done right. It’s all about choosing the flower or plant that doesn’t look too too plastic.
But, that being said, now that we’re starting to get on the fresh flower bandwagon, there’s definitely something nicer about the real thing.
Oh, and Morgan, you know we’re rocking the bench-as-dining-seating thing too (although it’s cushioned and not a hard surface so maybe that qualifies as comfy?). Sherry and I eat on it every night and it hasn’t bothered us. But we do try to be mindful when we’ve got guests and give them the real chairs if they’d like (although some people fight over getting the bench- go figure!).
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for another countdown to share so the fun/debate can continue!
-John