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Crafts. DIY Projects. Gardening. My List of Lists is a lifestyle blog providing free tips for baking, crafts, DIY projects, holidays, parties, home decor and more.

DIY, Home & Garden, Tips & Tricks · April 16, 2015

Decorating Mistakes that Make your House Look Messy

Decorating is so fun, but sometimes it’s easy to go overboard. Too much decorating, or the wrong kind of decorating, can make your house look more like a monster than a model home. I’ve gathered some tips & ticks to help fix decorating mistakes that make your house look messy. If you follow these pieces of advice, your house will look lovely without looking overwhelming. Good Luck!

DIY decorating, home decorating, interior design hacks, decorating ideas, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pin, cheap home DIY.

Refinery 29 recommends keeping your furniture away from the walls. If all of your furniture is up against the walls, the space will look cluttered and messy. It’s much better to evenly space the furniture in your room.

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Eat Sleep Decorate suggests hanging pictures in an organized and balanced fashion. If you hang too many pictures everywhere, they can be overwhelming. But if you place a choice few in a pleasing arrangement, they can help beautify a room.

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Refinery 29 recommends making sure the scale of your furniture is similar. A mix of scales can make a room look thrown together, rather than tastefully designed. It’s also nice to align things, like in this picture. It’s easier on the eyes.

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Domaine Home recommends fluffing your pillows in your living room. When pillows are flat and disheveled, the entire room looks messier. All you have to do is give your pillows a quick fluff, and the whole room looks fresher and cleaner.

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

A disorganized pantry makes for a disorganized and messy house. Chez Larsson posted a pantry redo that puts every pantry thing in its place. Instead of looking like a tornado (like my kitchen), this kitchen pantry enhances the entire home!DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Aimee Weaver recommends organizing and decorating the entry way to your home. Since that is the part of the house that first greets visitors, it’s imperative that it makes a good impression. If it looks messy, the whole house will look messy!

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

The Budget Decorator recommends tagging your storage pieces so that things are easy to find. There’s nothing worse than buckets and baskets filled with all the wrong things! What you really need is to add cute little tags!

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Poofy Cheeks posted a tutorial for hiding electronic cords that is just brilliant! TV cords make family rooms look so messy, but with a little DIY action, you can make your TV area one of the best in the whole house!

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Decorating Your Small Space posted an idea for organizing stuffed animals that would help make your toy room sparkle. Just built a wooden box with bars for the sides and then stuff your bears inside! Cute and definitely clean!

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

My Paradissi posted photos of a beautiful apartment in Sweden that utilizes shelves to keep things organized and clean. You don’t want a lot of clutter on shelves, that will defeat the purpose. But tasteful and sparse decorations on shelves can make a huge impact in  your home!

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

Remodilista posted a beautiful home that is very minimalist and oh so beautiful. The key here is to make sure you get rid of clutter. Countertops should be essentially barren. Too many things clustered around, and your kitchen will turn into a mess rather than a beauty.

DIY, DIY home projects, home décor, home, dream home, DIY. projects, home improvement, inexpensive home improvement, popular pins, cheap home DIY.

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Comments

  1. Helen Chong says

    September 30, 2015 at

    Some of the tips are really interesting and even easy to implement. For example: not putting the furniture against the walls, keeping the pantry clean and tidy and giving a neat look to your entrance by keeping an organizer. But not everything is easy to implement like tagging things in the storage space. This is bit difficult as no one finds time to label things while putting them in the storage space.

    Reply
    • Teri says

      March 21, 2016 at

      I keep a sharpie, paper and packing tape in my storage room and label as I go.

      Reply
      • Yvette Dixon says

        October 8, 2017 at

        Great

        Reply
    • Sally Dev says

      March 24, 2016 at

      Setting furniture away from the walls is nearly always the first thing on any decluttering list. For good reason. But many people (like me) can’t afford a place with such expansive rooms
      As an alternative for those like me, it helps to be disciplined and place fewer pieces in the room than you might otherwise. This should leave some bare wall areas which can give the impression of larger space.

      Reply
      • Lynn says

        July 10, 2016 at

        If you have a small living room & pull the furniture away from walls then ALL the furniture would be in the middle of the room. THIS idea simply doesn’t apply to everyone, because some of us don’t have the luxury of living in a 2500 sqft home.

        Reply
  2. Nurul Bahiyah says

    December 15, 2015 at

    Thank you for the advice. Your website really helps me in decorating my home.

    Reply
  3. Bev says

    December 15, 2015 at

    This is a topic that’s close to my heart… Take care!
    Exactly where are your contact details though?

    Reply
  4. Sandi says

    January 13, 2016 at

    Yeah, so there’s no tutorial on hiding cords – at least none that I could find. All you get no matter what you click on, is the photo with the messy cords. Can you provide the link? Tried clicking on the name of the blog, the photo….nada.

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      January 29, 2016 at

      Hi Sandi
      | am retired but when I was working, our IT guy bought some rubber piping from the hardware store and threaded all the computer cords, etc. through this piping and he moved the lot to a side of the desk that you could not see and the cords would be safe. Perhaps you could apply this to your cord problem.
      Shirley

      Reply
      • Karin says

        February 25, 2016 at

        I like that idea Shirley. Will have to look for that rubber tubing. Thanks for the tip! 🙂

        Reply
        • Murainne says

          April 2, 2016 at

          I use the white plastic covers for shower curtain rods to cover my cords. They cost about $4 and I like them because they are slit down the length so you don’t have to thread the cords through

          Reply
    • Kaia says

      February 8, 2016 at

      I don’t know any links but at my house we coil up the extra lengths of cords and the cable box and zip tie them together and mount it all where ever we can hide them best like behind our corner wall mounted tv in the family room it’s all zip tied to the wall mount leaving only one small white cord that is visible mounted to the wall that goes to the outlet and in the formal living room it’s all inside the entertainment center you can find all sorts of cord hiding and mounting gadgets at most electronic stores or home improvement places

      Reply
    • Mary says

      February 16, 2016 at

      Thank you.

      Reply
    • Doreen says

      March 19, 2016 at

      You can attach the power cord to the back of the piece of furniture and put excess length of cord inside toilet paper rolls.

      Reply
    • Charlotte says

      April 6, 2016 at

      If you click on Poofy Cheeks right at the beginning Of he paragraph it takes you to a link explaining what he suggests to hide he cords .

      Reply
    • Bonnie says

      April 18, 2016 at

      In search put “keep cords hidden” it will show you lots of ideas.?

      Reply
    • cheryl says

      October 5, 2016 at

      Just run the cord down the back leg of the furniture and secure in place with tape then it disappears.

      Reply
  5. Tara Anne says

    January 15, 2016 at

    And with picture arrangements, always keep the top row of paintings flush, as in even. NEVER hang paintings too high~ eye-level, almost exact center between ceiling & floor. Always decorate in odd numbers~ much more pleasing to the eye…whether it’s items on a mantel or beads on a necklace. AND, every room needs a touch of red.

    Reply
    • Judie says

      February 27, 2016 at

      Well this seems to be your preference but not desirable for everyone. Especially the
      red color. A home is what each person makes it not what is a set of rules.

      Reply
      • Tara Coppola says

        February 29, 2016 at

        Well a touch of red is just a suggestion, but trust me, you’d be surprised by how much it adds. Odd numbers and paintings are pretty much rules of design. Especially odd numbers. Try putting two or four beads on a necklace, then change it to three or five. Unbelievable difference. Studies have shown people stare longer at odd numbers. They are much more aesthtically pleasing. Same with portrait art. General rule of thumb: No teeth. Imagine The Mona Lisa smiling?? Again, studies have shown that people stare longer at portraits with no teeth. They are more intriguing. And hanging a painting too high can absolutely ruin it.

        Reply
      • T says

        April 2, 2016 at

        I hate red

        Reply
    • Jill Boehm says

      March 22, 2016 at

      Always a touch of black! Classic , statement making, neutral!

      Reply
      • Tara Anne says

        April 4, 2016 at

        Sure, whatever you want! Like I just said to someone who suggested yellow, that’s a great color as well. But you’d be surprised what a touch of red could do, whatever your taste or colors. No matter how small. An interior designer told me that years ago, and I’m always surprised when there’s no red in a room, and a little splash of it adds so much…

        Reply
        • JB says

          May 11, 2016 at

          Give the red a rest already!!

          Reply
        • Dee says

          September 13, 2017 at

          Im with you Tara. A touch of the roght shade of red rocks!

          Reply
          • Dee says

            September 13, 2017 at

            Right!

      • Beverly Evans Stiles says

        January 3, 2018 at

        One of my favorite TV personality interior designers recommended the same thing. Good choice!

        Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 26, 2016 at

      When you say hang pictures at eye-level, whose eye are you talking about. I have family members that are 6’4″. I am 5’5″.

      Reply
      • Tara Anne says

        April 4, 2016 at

        I wouldn’t go by exact height. They should just never be too high, that’s the worst. Too low is bad, but high is awful. I would say a little bit about the center of the ceiling and the floor for a typical painting.

        Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 26, 2016 at

      I think every room needs a touch of yellow. It ‘s like a bit of sunshine.

      Reply
      • Tara Anne says

        April 4, 2016 at

        Yellow is great as well! You’d be surprised what a touch of red could do, though, if you give it a shot. Even if it’s just a little knick-knack…

        Reply
    • Teresa says

      April 7, 2016 at

      I totally agree, especially the red part;)

      Reply
  6. vmcg says

    January 25, 2016 at

    Yes, and those pictures are too high!

    Reply
  7. vmcg says

    January 25, 2016 at

    I am speaking of the pictures hanging on image 5 of 12.

    Reply
  8. Shirley says

    January 29, 2016 at

    Since this is the first time on your site, I could not have written this before. However, a good idea is worth repeating and not scolded for trying to help. Don’t worry, I won’t bother a second time.

    Reply
    • Viv says

      February 8, 2016 at

      Your top was helpful.

      Reply
    • Amy says

      May 5, 2016 at

      I liked your idea!!! My IT guy suggested the same. The piping works great when using flush with the hard plastic wall cord covers (for mounted TVs) to hide the remaining cords because it is so flexible. (I think the argument was about using colors in a room…). Thanks for speaking up Shirley!!

      Reply
  9. Shannon says

    February 11, 2016 at

    Can you give the name/maker of the mirror cabinet pictured on bottom photo? Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Gail says

    March 4, 2016 at

    Regarding the idea to put all pantry items in see-through containers is double work for me. I still have whatever is left in the box to contend with. I neatly arrange items in boxed, cans, or glass (all original packaging) containers. Eliminating the need to buy other containers and to store the original package. Also, I need to check directions or “sell by” dates – all on original packages.

    Reply
  11. Lisa says

    March 13, 2016 at

    Any ideas for hiding a lamp cordfor lamp needed next to sofa when outlet is across the room?

    Reply
  12. Mark says

    March 21, 2016 at

    I like it all.

    Reply
  13. Karen May says

    March 25, 2016 at

    When making the “stuffed animal jail”, instead of bars use colorful bungee cords and the stuffed animals can be removed easily to cuddle with or clean.

    Reply
    • Gloria says

      June 20, 2017 at

      Great idea! I love the animal “cage” best of all the ideas.

      Reply
  14. Sara says

    April 10, 2016 at

    In my family room we have 1 wall ( also has large picture window ) that is a red cranberry color and the other 2 1/2 walls are white. Was this a mistake? Have small powder room right off Fam room what colors should go with? I want greys he wants reds or beige.

    Reply
  15. Trenton Gregory says

    April 12, 2016 at

    One thing that really makes a room cluttered is choosing plants that are too small or grouping them like little villages on the floor…. Ugh.

    Reply
  16. Lynn says

    May 13, 2016 at

    There are ways of hanging a lot if real art on your walls without looking messy. If you have well executed paintings by a famous artist or even a skilled family member the safest place to store this is on the walls. I get somewhat dismayed by all of these web sites just put junk on the walls to complete a look. There is a difference between decor objects that hang on walls and true art. If you have good paintings the room and decor should be designed around the art. Truly interesting homes have original art on the walls. No real art and it is like being in a cheap boring IKEA display. Show you personality and be tidy at the same time. Art matters

    Reply
  17. Judy says

    August 31, 2016 at

    Judy
    @Lynn
    Lynn, not everyone can afford “real art”. But whether one can afford it or not, people hang things on their wall, and decorate their homes in a way that make THEMSELVES happy and so they should. I’ve seen very beautiful “cheap” paintings and other types of artwork. I’ve also seen very ugly, horrid “art” by famous artists that make me wonder just exactly what was going through their mind at that time or what mind altering drug they may have been on. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. If you don’t like something in someones home, either don’t look at it or don’t go there.

    Reply
    • Marsha says

      October 27, 2016 at

      I totally agree with your statement Judy…..I hang what means something to me.

      Reply
  18. Kathy West says

    June 15, 2017 at

    Once I asked a question about turning a steel tank into a kiln to fire pottery. It was on a site where you could get advice from other fellow potters. By then end of the day people were making such nasty remarks to each other, I delete don’t my question.
    Reading some of the post reminded me of how irritable people can become. If the advice given doesn’t fit your situation, move on. I love red, I love yellow, heck I have original art and prints. I’m short and have odd and even numbers of prints hanging. Some are high and a few low. Sometimes I love other people’s decor far more than mine. Hey, thanks for listening.

    Reply
    • Gloria says

      June 20, 2017 at

      Bless you, Kathy! Somehow we have become a nation (world?) of easily irritated, irresponsible people who can’t or won’t tolerate the rights of others to their opinions, colors, artwork, etc. Yes, I love to see what others do even though I may go yuck to myself. It’s their opinion as to what makes them happy (and they might very well go yuck if they walked through my house, but it makes me happy). The upside of viewing others’ work is that I often say ooh, I like that; wonder how it would look in my … . Tolerance of each other and responsibility for one’s self is so important. (I am not saying lay down on the sidewalk and let people walk all over you!)

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Decorating Mistakes That Make Your Home Look Messy - says:
    February 16, 2017 at

    […] Add cute hooks on the walls to hang coats, bags and purses. Or, set up a shelf system like these painted wooden crates. It looks […]

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