What makes a home look elegant is often not expensive furniture, but the small mistakes that aren’t made. Some habits that almost all of us in our culture have had at least once can make even the most carefully furnished home look ordinary. In our video, viewed more than 4 million times on Instagram, our architect Sinem Kocabaş listed these details one by one; here we have gathered each of them, with why you shouldn’t do it and what you can do instead.
1. A big TV in a small room
The size of the TV should be in proportion to the size of the room and the viewing distance. In a small room, a screen that covers the wall takes over the room’s focal point and makes the space look smaller and more crowded than it is. When choosing a screen, first measure the distance between the sofa and the wall; setting the screen into the TV unit or a panelled wall also softens its size.
2. Kitchens with no colour break
A kitchen that is bright red or deep blue from top to bottom may look impressive on day one, but the eye soon tires. If you love a strong colour, use it only on the lower cabinets or the island; balance the upper cabinets, worktop or walls with wood, white or a neutral tone.
3. Furniture with broken glass
A display cabinet, coffee table or cabinet door with cracked or broken glass calls into question the overall upkeep of the home and lowers the value of everything else. Either replace the glass or change the furniture; it is one of the fixes that makes the biggest difference at the lowest cost.
4. Wall stickers
Stickers, especially ones with text or cats and dogs, are among the details that most lower a home’s aesthetics. If you want to liven up a wall, a simple painting, a large mirror, a wall texture or moulding gives a far more lasting and stylish result.
5. Cables hanging from the TV
They create visual clutter and spoil the decor. In the short term they can easily be tidied with cable channels or cable ties; the permanent solution is to plan cable runs inside the wall or behind the TV unit.
6. Short curtains
Window-length curtains were once in fashion; that trend passed long ago. Curtains that start near the ceiling and fall to the floor make the ceiling look higher and the window bigger.
7. Low-quality artificial flowers
Artificial flowers can be used, but only if they are high quality. Faded flowers that look like plastic cheapen a space. Whenever possible, choose live plants and flowers; even a few easy-care, large-leaved plants change the feel of a home.
8. Coloured LED strip lights
LED lighting is wonderful when used correctly; but coloured versions are not suitable for living spaces and should only be used in special areas where their function requires them. Choose warm white tones in the living room, kitchen and bedroom.
9. Polystyrene ceiling decorations
Polystyrene ceiling roses and decorative mouldings are outdated. If you want some movement on the ceiling, treat it as part of an overall design: a hidden light strip, a simple change in ceiling level or a layered lighting plan gives a much more contemporary result.
10. Anything with a Paris–Eiffel Tower pattern
From curtains to wall stickers, cushions to mugs, it’s long past time to say goodbye to Eiffel Tower–patterned accessories. If you want to display a travel memory, a well-framed photograph looks far more elegant.
Bonus: “estate agent beige” walls
No home with estate agent beige walls looks luxurious. A warm, layered colour palette chosen according to the space’s light, flooring and furniture completely changes the character of the home. For tips on choosing colours, take a look at our article on colour choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest change to make a home look elegant?
Tidying cables, replacing short curtains with floor-length ones and repainting the walls are the three steps that make the fastest difference on a low budget.
Do these changes require renovation?
Mostly not. Jobs such as running cables inside the wall or redesigning the ceiling require some small works; the others can be solved entirely through decoration.
If you’d like to address these details in your home together, contact us for a free site visit via our decoration & renovation service.
