Home decorating seems simple enough. You pick colors you like, arrange furniture that fits, and add a few accessories for personality.
But the world of interior design is filled with “rules” and “truths” that many people follow without question. Some of these decorating beliefs have been passed down through generations while others spread through social media. The problem? Many aren’t actually true.
1. Matching Furniture Creates a Cohesive Look
The idea that all your furniture should match perfectly is one of the most persistent myths in home decorating. Many furniture stores sell complete matching sets, reinforcing the idea that coordination equals sophistication.
This matchy-matchy approach actually creates a flat, uninspired space lacking visual interest. Professional designers intentionally mix different styles, finishes, and textures to create depth and character. The key is finding pieces that complement each other rather than match exactly. Try introducing furniture with different wood tones or mixing contemporary pieces with vintage finds for a more curated look.
2. Dark Colors Always Make Rooms Look Smaller
“Never paint a small room dark” is practically decorating gospel. The theory suggests dark colors absorb light and visually shrink spaces, while light colors reflect light and expand them.
This oversimplified rule ignores how color actually functions in a space. Dark colors can create depth and make walls recede, especially in rooms with adequate lighting. Deep navy, charcoal, or even black can add drama and sophistication to small spaces like powder rooms or dining areas. What matters more than color is lighting, furniture scale, and maintaining visual flow throughout the space.
3. The TV Must Be the Focal Point
Many people automatically place their television in the most prominent position in their living room and arrange all seating to face it. This TV-centric approach has dominated home layouts for decades.
Your living space doesn’t require this configuration. Alternative focal points like a fireplace, window with a view, or even striking artwork can create more balanced, versatile rooms. Consider positioning your television off-center or in a dedicated media area if possible. This arrangement encourages more conversation and makes the room feel less like a home theater and more like a true living space.
4. Minimalism Is the Most Stylish Approach
Social media and design magazines often portray minimalist spaces as the pinnacle of sophisticated design. The “less is more” philosophy suggests that clearing surfaces and eliminating decorative objects creates cleaner, more stylish spaces.
Minimalism is simply one design aesthetic among many equally valid approaches. Maximalism, with its celebration of pattern, color, and collected objects, can be just as intentional and sophisticated. Your home should reflect your personality and lifestyle rather than conforming to any single design philosophy. What matters most is thoughtful curation and arrangement, not the quantity of items displayed.
5. Natural Light Is Always Better Than Artificial Light
The push for natural light has led many to believe artificial lighting is inherently inferior. Some even leave spaces underlit rather than use lamps or overhead fixtures.
Natural light changes throughout the day and season, making it unreliable as your only light source. Even rooms with excellent windows need thoughtful artificial lighting for evening use and darker days. A well-designed lighting plan incorporates multiple sources at different heights, overhead, task, and ambient lighting work together to create versatile, properly illuminated spaces regardless of natural light conditions.
6. Ceilings Must Be Painted White
White ceilings have been the default choice for so long that many consider it the only appropriate option. This “rule” stems from the belief that white ceilings reflect light and make rooms feel taller.
Your ceiling represents a fifth wall that offers decorative opportunities. Painting it a soft color, using wallpaper, or applying a decorative finish can transform a room. Darker ceiling colors can create coziness in large spaces with high ceilings, while subtle hues can add warmth without sacrificing brightness. Some designers even recommend painting ceilings the same color as walls for a more enveloping effect.
7. All Wood Tones Must Match
Many homeowners stress about ensuring all wood finishes in a room-from flooring to furniture to trim-match perfectly. This restrictive approach limits design options and can lead to overly uniform spaces.
Mixed wood tones create visual interest and depth. Professional designers regularly incorporate various wood finishes in a single space. The key is intentionality; woods with similar undertones (warm or cool) generally work well together. Try unifying different woods through similar design styles rather than identical finishes. This approach allows for more collected, evolved spaces that tell a story.
8. Large Furniture Can’t Work in Small Spaces
The conventional wisdom suggests small rooms require small-scale furniture. Many people crowd their compact spaces with multiple small pieces thinking this maximizes space.
Several smaller pieces often make a room feel cluttered and disjointed. A few larger, well-chosen items can actually make a space feel more generous and cohesive. A standard-sized sofa with clean lines often works better than a loveseat with two additional chairs. Focus on proper scale and proportion rather than simply choosing the smallest furniture available.
9. Accent Walls Are Always in Style
Painting or wallpapering a single wall became extremely popular in the early 2000s. This trend persists with many still believing an accent wall is essential for adding interest to a room.
Design preferences have shifted toward more cohesive approaches like painting all walls the same color or using complementary colors throughout a space. Accent walls can feel dated or disrupt the flow of a room. If you want visual impact, consider full-room color, architectural details, or statement artwork instead. These approaches create more sophisticated, timeless spaces than the once-trendy accent wall.
10. Open Concept Is Always Better
Home renovation shows have promoted open-concept floor plans as universally superior to traditional divided rooms. Many homeowners knock down walls believing this always improves their homes.
Open layouts create their own challenges including noise transfer, cooking odors spreading, and limited privacy. Many designers now advocate for “broken plan” designs that maintain some separation while allowing for connection between spaces. Consider how you actually live before removing walls, some households benefit from defined spaces for different activities and sound control.
11. Decor Must Follow Current Trends
Interior design magazines and social media constantly showcase new trends, creating pressure to update your home regularly. Many believe stylish homes must reflect whatever is currently popular.
Chasing trends often results in spaces that quickly feel dated and require constant updating. Timeless design focuses on quality, proportion, and personal meaning rather than what’s momentarily fashionable. Invest in classic pieces that you genuinely love, then incorporate smaller trendy elements that can be easily changed. This approach creates more sustainable, personally meaningful interiors.
12. Rules About Rug Sizes Are Absolute
Many decorating guides insist all furniture legs must sit on rugs in living rooms and rugs must extend 18–24 inches beyond beds in bedrooms. These rigid rules are presented as unbreakable design laws.
Rug placement depends on your specific space, furniture arrangement, and practical concerns. Front legs on/back legs off can work perfectly in some layouts. Smaller rugs can define conversation areas in open plans. Consider function (creating zones, adding warmth, protecting floors) alongside aesthetics when choosing rug sizes and placement rather than following one-size-fits-all rules.
13. Formal Dining Rooms Are Essential
Many homes still include formal dining rooms based on the belief that proper homes need dedicated spaces for entertaining. These rooms often sit unused most of the time.
Consider how your family actually lives and eats before dedicating valuable square footage to an infrequently used space. Many households benefit more from multipurpose rooms that serve as dining areas, home offices, craft spaces, or homework zones. Flexible furniture like expandable tables allows spaces to adapt for occasional large gatherings without remaining empty most days.
14. Modern and Traditional Styles Can’t Mix
Decorating advice often suggests choosing one design style and sticking with it exclusively. Many believe mixing contemporary pieces with traditional elements creates visual chaos.
The most interesting, personal spaces often thoughtfully combine different design eras and styles. This eclectic approach creates depth and prevents rooms from feeling like showrooms. The key is finding common elements, color, scale, or material-that tie diverse pieces together. A modern lamp can look stunning atop an antique dresser when the pairing is intentional.
15. Ceilings Should Be Standard Height
Standard 8-foot ceilings have been the norm in American homes for decades. Many believe varying ceiling heights creates awkward spaces or wastes energy.
Architectural interest often comes from varied ceiling heights that define different functional areas. Tray ceilings, coffered details, or vaulted spaces add character and can make rooms feel more spacious. New construction increasingly incorporates 9-foot or higher ceilings for this reason. Consider celebrating rather than concealing unique ceiling features in older homes, they add distinctive charm that standard-height rooms lack.
Creating Your Authentic Space
Home decorating shouldn’t be about following rigid rules or adopting trends that don’t resonate with you. The most successful spaces reflect the people who live in them while still functioning beautifully for their needs.
Trust your instincts about what makes you feel comfortable and inspired at home. Experiment with breaking some of these “rules” if they’ve been limiting your creativity. Your space should tell your unique story through thoughtful choices that balance aesthetics, function, and personal meaning. After all, true style comes from authenticity, not perfectly following someone else’s design formula.
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