Interior Design Experts Highlight Living Room Decor Items to Avoid
Interior design experts have identified several home decor items that are generally considered undesirable in living room settings due to their lack of authenticity and personal connection.
Interior design experts emphasize that certain decor items can detract from the authenticity and personal character of a living room. According to designer Holly Thompson, cheap rugs are often seen as a dead giveaway of poor taste. She suggests opting for higher-quality rugs made from natural fibers or considering secondhand options, such as older wool rugs, which can be cleaned effectively and add a more refined look to a space (1). [1]
Excessive styling of a living room can also create an overly commercial or impersonal feel. Thompson explains that when every nook is perfectly styled with objects, it can resemble a store display rather than a lived-in home. For example, a bench in an entryway should not be so heavily adorned with pillows that it becomes unusable (1). [1]
Fake books are another item that designers recommend avoiding. Thompson notes that while faux book boxes can be used for storage, they are considered tacky when used to make a shelf look perfect. Real books, on the other hand, add coziness and provide a more personal touch to a living room (1). [1]
Designer Behin Forghanifar advises against using generic, mass-produced artwork in living rooms. She argues that such pieces lack character and fail to reflect the personality of the space. Instead, she recommends sourcing artwork that tells a story or connects with the owner, whether through vintage finds or support for local artists (1). [1]
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Interior design experts emphasize that certain decor items can detract from the authenticity and personal character of a living room. Excessive styling of a living room can also create an overly commercial or impersonal feel. Fake books are another item that designers recommend avoiding. According to the article, designer Holly Thompson states that fake books for making a shelf look perfect are 'so tacky' and that real books provide more coziness and give you something fun to flip through on a rainy afternoon (1). [1]
Designers also caution against the use of generic, mass-produced artwork in living rooms. Designer Behin Forghanifar, the founder of Behinteriors, advises against using such items, stating that a generic work bought just to fill a wall has no character or personal connection to the owner. She recommends sourcing artwork that truly speaks to the individual, whether through vintage pieces or support for local artists (1). [1]
In addition to fake books and generic artwork, interior designers warn against the use of cheap-looking mirrors and fake luxury decor. Forghanifar recommends avoiding inexpensive-looking and poorly fabricated mirror frames covered with shiny and artificial-looking gold finishes, which make the room feel less sophisticated. She also opposes 'fake luxury decor,' such as accessories made from plastic or resin that copy the look of marble, crystal, or expensive wood finishes (1). [1]
Interior design experts warn that over-styling a living room can create an overly commercial or impersonal feel. According to designer Holly Thompson, 'When every nook is too perfectly styled with objects, it looks more like a store than a home.' This advice is supported by Apartment Therapy, which notes that excessive styling can make a space feel less welcoming and more like a showroom (1). [1]
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Fake books are another item that designers recommend avoiding. Thompson states that 'Fake books for making a shelf look perfect are so tacky,' as they lack the coziness and personal connection that real books provide. This perspective is echoed in Apartment Therapy, which highlights the importance of using authentic items to add character to a living room (1). [1]
Designers also caution against the use of generic, mass-produced artwork in living rooms. Behin Forghanifar, founder of Behinteriors, emphasizes that 'A generic work that is bought just to fill a wall has no character or personal connection to the owner.' Apartment Therapy supports this view, recommending that individuals focus on sourcing artwork that truly speaks to them (1). [1]
In addition to these items, designers warn against the use of cheap-looking mirrors and fake luxury decor. Forghanifar advises against 'inexpensive-looking and poorly fabricated mirror frames covered with shiny and artificial-looking gold finishes,' as they can make a room feel less sophisticated. Apartment Therapy also notes that fake luxury decor, such as plastic or resin imitations of marble or wood, can detract from the authenticity of a space (1). [1]
Sources
Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.
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