10 Decorating Mistakes That Prevent Your Home from Looking “Adult,” According to Designers

Wondering whether your home passes as a sophisticated, grown-up space or still looks a bit juvenile? I’ve got you. I chatted with a handful of designers to find out what decorating mistakes can make a home feel like it’s stuck in its 20s — and not in a good way. From logos that scream college co-ed to furnishings that look worse for their wear, you may want to keep your eyes peeled for these design elements that could be bringing your home down. After you familiarize yourself with the list, some redecorating might be in order to help your space better suit your current stage of life — and my design friends have some smart ideas for you on that, too. 

Designers have said it before, and they’ll say it again: Generic art (think prints that depict random phrases and words or mass-produced, nondescript beach scene canvases) won’t do a thing to make a space feel more personal. “You don’t need to spend a lot on art, but you do need to look for something unique that speaks to you,” says designer Anaïs Chaumien of Design by Anaïs.

The good news? Get creative with items you already have, and you can elevate that gallery wall to something adultlike and packed with your personality. “It can be a print from your favorite restaurant, a painting you brought back from a special trip, some photos you took, even a homemade painting,” Chaumien says. Or, as designer Julie Mishler, the founder of Bon Air Studio, suggests, you can shop local and support an artist in your community; check out an affordable art fair in your area, and start your search for artwork there. 

One more word to the wise: Don’t stick posters or pieces of art up on the wall sans frames, that is, if you’re trying to go for a more adultlike, pulled together display. “Taping or tacking up art feels more ‘dorm’ than deliberate,” says designer Tina Delia, the founder of Delia Designs. “Grown-up spaces show thought and care in presentation.” 

Speaking of dorms and postgrad apartments, decor featuring excessive college logos will make your space seem less grown-up. “Whether it’s nostalgia, pride, or simply habit, too many decals, logo throws, and pillows can quickly turn a home into something that feels more like a dorm room than an adult living space,” says designer Ayten Nadeau, founder of i-Ten Designs. “If you want to include school-inspired decor, keep it subtle and limited to one area like a home office, and opt for elevated pieces, like a framed vintage pennant or a refined color nod.” You could also look for a charcoal drawing or black-and-white print of your alma mater, and work that into a gallery wall or cluster. There’s nothing wrong with school spirit; it just looks a little more “adult” in smaller doses and more sophisticated finishes.

Inexpensive, poorly made rugs don’t have much to offer in Mishler’s view, and they can make your home seem less refined. Instead, she recommends investing in a nice wool area carpet or going the vintage route to find a piece that will last you for quite some time. “Rugs are an investment that should be with you for 25-plus years,” she says. Set aside what you can so you can upgrade here with something that’s in your means.

Rugs that are too small for a space are a red flag, too. “At minimum, make sure your rug is large enough so that the front feet of your sofa and lounge chairs sit on it,” says designer Lisa Furtado of a living room setup that telegraphs “adult.” You don’t necessarily have to part ways with that petite rug you love, though. “Embrace layering if you already own or want to incorporate some rugs that are too small for a particular room,” says designer Elaine Burns, the founder of Pistachio Designs. 

Now’s the time to break up with that living room or bedroom set you bought or inherited for your first apartment. Coordination is key, but a matchy-matchy look will prevent your space from looking layered and intentional. “While they may be convenient, these sets often lack personality,” says designer Letecia Haywood, the founder of Letecia Ellis Haywood Interior Design. “Your home should reflect your individuality and be filled with a curated collection of your favorite finds and comforts.” 

The same goes for accent pieces, designer JoAnna Baum explains. “Accessories all from one line at a big-box store can lack that layered, collected feel that gives a space personality,” she says. 

Vintage pieces with patina can be styled to look chic, but pieces that are in disrepair or just plain tired-looking? These items could be bringing your home down, and you might not even know it. “Scratched particleboard, wobbly chairs, or saggy sofas send the message that you haven’t invested in your space,” Delia says. “Prioritize quality over quantity.” 

Designer Jess Harrell, the founder of The Styled Domicile, agrees. “If 90% of your home is filled with hand-me-downs or cheap, temporary furniture you got just to fill space, it’s probably time for an upgrade,” she says. “Adulting means saying goodbye to Aunt Mildred’s dresser and letting go of chairs that wobble when you sit on them.” 

Your home shouldn’t feel like a super-temporary residence, either — even if your lease is only a year long. Bare walls and basic furnishings say you haven’t found your style yet, and that can make a space seem stuck in the limbo of growing up.

Go ahead and warm your apartment up a bit so that it better suits you. “If your walls are still that builder-grade white or gray, you’ve got no art up, and your windows are bare, the whole place is going to feel temporary — like you just moved in,” Harrell says. “That doesn’t exactly scream, ‘Hi, I live here, and I’ve put my stamp on this place!’” 

Expensive drapery might not be in the cards for you, but designers say your windows shouldn’t be totally undressed if you want your place to look polished. “If custom window treatments aren’t an option, look for curtains that just ‘kiss’ the floor, woven wood shades, or light filtering shades,” says designer Sarah Storms of Styled by Storms. “Adding something to the windows helps finish off a room.” 

Contrary to what you might think — especially when you’re first starting out on your decorating journey — every inch of your home doesn’t need to be furnished. “Edit what you have in a room,” Storms says. “Just because you have a small table that was in a previous apartment’s living room doesn’t mean it has to be in the best living room.” You’ll do yourself a favor if you really think through what you’re putting where — and you give your rooms a little white space to breathe.

Along those same lines, a messy home simply isn’t going to cut it, if you want your place to telegraph adulthood. “Stacks of paper, cords everywhere, or random piles = chaos,” Delia says. “A more ‘adult’ home feels intentional and calm.” 

Making a plan for storage will ensure that your home appears more pulled together, Chaumien explains. “Once everything has a place in your home, clutter will magically disappear,” she says. However, this means determining exactly what type of storage you need, whether that’s shelves for books, a closed cabinet for games, and more. Make sure that the storage pieces you select complement the rest of the room, of course. As Baum says, “Adults need case goods that actually fit the scale of the room and hold your stuff.” 

Bedrooms without a headboard are a no-go for Chaumien. “Forget the dorm room style,” she says. “If you don’t have one, it’s time to switch your bed or to invest in a headboard to add to it.” Even worse is when a mattress is simply laying on the floor. “This is the ultimate ‘not-quite-there-yet’ design move,” Baum says. “A proper bed frame makes a massive difference, even if the rest of the room is in progress.”