These 5 Things Are Secretly Ruining Your Living Room, According to Designers

Ever walk into a room and feel like something is off? All the good decorating intentions might be there — a well-thought-out living room layout included — but the execution maybe is falling a little short for whatever reason. Interior designers have a superpower for spotting what’s hard to put into words here, and the good news is that a room is always fixable — especially with some expert advice to lead the charge.

That’s why I asked three designers to unpack five of the most common things that ruin the vibe of a perfectly good living room. If you find your space falling into any of these decorating traps, don’t worry: Each of the pros also shared how to tweak what’s off so you can take your room to the next level in no time.

Even if you’re not concerned about living room window treatments from a privacy perspective, it’s important to incorporate them from a design standpoint, explains designer Barrett Oswold. “Window drapery adds a lot of character to a space and makes it feel complete and purposeful,” she says. “If decor is the reason you’re adding drapery, you can usually incorporate decorative panels, which use less fabric and are less expensive than fully functional ones.”

The upshot here? Unless you have an absolutely stunning view or striking window architecture, your room can absolutely use the polish that window treatments provide. And you can definitely find something on a budget; simple blinds or cotton curtains are better than nothing.

No stylish living room is complete without proper lighting. A lack of lighting, Oswold explains, “is a common reason that a living room might look flat.” 

From Oswold’s perspective, warm, layered lighting is ideal. “Add a mix of table lamps and floor lamps with a 2700K temperature, and, if possible, put overhead lights on a dimmer,” she says.  

Designer Behin Forghanifar of Behinteriors is a proponent of weaving plants into a living room setup. Opting for the wrong ones, though, she says can bring the vibes of the space down. The biggest culprit? Low-quality faux plants and flowers, she says, stating that they’re “one of the fastest ways to diminish the overall polish of any space, especially living rooms.” Why, exactly? “When the scale, texture, and color feel artificial, it can make even a well-designed room feel less elevated due to the lack of visual harmony,” Forghanifar adds.

She encourages those without green thumbs to purchase fewer, higher-quality-looking faux options that are more convincing; many designers (and Apartment Therapy editors!) recommend Afloral and CG Hunter, but note that good fake plants can be more expensive than you think. “A single well-chosen sculptural stem or branch can feel more refined than filling a space with obviously artificial arrangements,” the designer says. 

Designers say art is an essential component of any living room, but the right placement is just as important. “One of the biggest things that can instantly bring down the look of a living room is art that is out of proportion to the overall size of the wall,” says Brittney Luedecke, the founder of Signature Styles by Brit. “I see this all the time where smaller pieces are spaced out evenly, and it ends up feeling like everything is just floating in the middle of a big blank wall,” she adds, noting that this instantly yields an unfinished result. 

Often, going a little bit bigger with your artwork is an easy solve, and if you can’t afford large original pieces, you could always use a print or poster (or try to DIY something of your own with some paint). Another option is a gallery wall, but again, remember that the best salon-style arrangements have at least one large anchor piece and a variety of different-sized pieces for visual variety.

Make an effort to think beyond mass-produced works, too. “Bringing in something original or even just less common — whether that is from a local artist, estate sales, or a small shop — adds character and makes the space feel more personal,” Luedecke says.

Finally, Luedecke notes that living rooms that are styled to appear too “perfect” or matchy-matchy ultimately appear a bit off visually. “Real spaces feel better when they are a little imperfect,” the designer says. “I always tell clients to think in odd groupings like sets of three because it creates visual interest without feeling forced or overly styled.” 

Be sure to steer clear of furniture sets if you can — or just break up any that you may already own. “Mixing materials, finishes, and even slightly different styles gives a room depth and personality that you just cannot get from a single collection,” Luedecke says. “I have never met someone who actually wants to live in a showroom — it does not feel like home!”