AN EXPERT has revealed the interior design fails you should never make – so how many are you guilty of?
Chris Carroll, 39, from Australia, has had his say on everything from flat pack furniture to huge TVs and wall art.
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Here’s his verdict on the common crimes against homeware, which he gave to news.com.au…
1. Flat pack fail
Ikea is the best friend of budget home decorators across Britain, but don’t be tempted to get everything in white.
Chris says: “Flat pack furniture is nice and all, but if every piece in your home is giving off a glossy sheen, you’ve got more issues than Woman’s Day on your hands.
“A room filled with all-white melamine furniture can feel cold, clinical and sterile.”
Add some timber and other materials to make it a warmer space.
2. On the box
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During lockdown, watching Netflix or Line of Duty has been about as fun as it gets, so its no surprise lots of us are opting for big TVs.
But Chris isn’t a fan, explaining: “Unless you’ve paid $150 for a small popcorn and have a teenager shining a torch in your eyes periodically throughout a film, I must break the bad news to you that your living room is in fact not a Hoyts cinema.
“As such, stop buying TV screens that dominate the space.”
3. Got it covered
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Thought you were being a good host by providing a range of reading material for people to browse while they’re doing their business? Think again.
Chris says: “The most hideous of all-time design crimes is the stack of magazines beside the toilet, covered in more DNA than a CSI crime scene and giving people an excuse to sit among the waft of their own waste way longer than they should be.”
It’s time to move that reading material out of the downstairs loo.
4. Hit a wall
Is your home covered in wall art quotes? Time to ditch them – especially those which read ‘Live Laugh Love’ or similar.
Chris says: “If I have to explain this one, you’re beyond help.”
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5. Take your pic
Are you modelling your house on show homes or ‘perfect’ Instagram pads? Bad move.
Chris says: “You should be able to walk into any home in the country and get a sense for who lives there.
“This is achieved through keepsakes and mementos being displayed across rooms. This is a personal statement, so go all out with what you love.”
While we’re on the topic of pics, Chris says any artwork is better than none (aside from the previously mentioned quotes).
And make sure you’re not imposing “social distancing” between your picture frames – it looks plain weird.
6. Sofa so good
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Sofa and TV both pushed up against the wall? Chris isn’t a fan, saying your living room shouldn’t “resemble a gauntlet on the best TV show of the nineties, Gladiators.”
He adds: “Pull the sofa into the space, ensure there’s a coffee table in front of it, and add in some armchairs.”
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7. Shop to it
When you’re on a roll in a budget furniture store, it can be tempting to pick up everything you like.
But Chris hates nothing more than package furniture deals.
He adds: “The modern (and correct) approach is to buy furniture for a room from different stores.”
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