6 Things Interior Decorators Never Do In Their Own Homes

Whether you’re moving into a new home or upgrading your current space, it can be overwhelming to decide how exactly you want to decorate it and make it your own. Does the paint color look too dark? Is the living room too crowded? Does the ambience feel positive and welcoming?

“Having a well-balanced space not only enhances the look and feel … but it also creates a psychological impact,” said Scheherazade Lunn , a certified interior decorator and founder of Lunn Interiors . “Just like [how] a clean home creates a sense of calm … the same can be said about a well-designed space.”

We talked to interior decorators and designers about the one thing they avoid doing when decorating their own homes — and why that makes a difference in creating a space that makes them feel comfortable and happy.

Mistake #1: Selecting The Paint Color Of A Room First

“One [mistake] I always see people [make] … is they [choose their paint color] right away,” said Natasha Habermann , interior designer, decorator and owner of Natasha Habermann Studio .

She suggests this should actually be the last step when decorating your home. Because there are thousands of paint color options, she advises first picking out the decor and accessories you really love and then choosing the paint based on that. For example, even if you know you want a light blue room, it’s easier to match the exact shade once you already have the bedding, rugs and other decorative items you want for the space.

“[Otherwise] you’ll just always be fighting the paint rather than getting the paint to work with everything else that you’ve already selected,” she said.

Beyond looking at the decor and accessories, she also recommends thinking about how you plan to use the room you’ll be