The decorating mistakes that people make are often in the details. They might not have any idea what they're doing, or they might think that buying too many small things is cheaper than buying one big thing. They may be rushing into a big decision or being a slave to trends that don't work for them. No matter the mistake you've made in your decorating career, there's always hope! This article will help you figure out how to fix it and avoid making these common errors when doing your own home redesign projects:

Buying without planning.

Decorating is a lot like cooking: if you want it to turn out well, you need to have a recipe. If you don't know what kind of dish you're making or how to make it, then the best-case scenario is that it'll taste pretty good but not as good as it could be. The worst case? You might burn down your kitchen with your own incompetence.

Decorating without planning can result in wasted money and time—and even worse, mistakes that cost thousands of dollars to fix later on. Before buying anything for your home, ask yourself these questions:

• What do I have now? How much space do I have? Can I afford all this stuff? Can I fit all this stuff where I want them?
• What kind of style do I like (romantic Victorian, minimalist Scandinavian)? Is there any inspiration image or store nearby (Pinterest boards are great!) that shows me what's possible within my budget and space limitations?

Buying too many small things.

You know how it feels to buy too many small things. You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on something that will just clutter up your space, but you also want to feel like you are making progress with your interior design project. The best way to avoid this problem is by thinking through carefully what pieces of furniture or accessories will be useful in your home, and which ones are just nice-to-haves. If you find yourself saying “I really like this lamp/rug/decorative bowl” ask yourself if the item is actually necessary for your room or whether it can simply be added later on as an afterthought once the rest of the layout has been finalized.

If possible, try getting rid of some clutter before buying anything new so that when you do start loading up on decorating materials there won’t be any unused space left over from previous purchases cluttering up rooms!

Getting caught up in fads.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is getting caught up in fads. Fads are fleeting and expensive, and they're not timeless or classic or universal. They're just something that has a short shelf life, so it's best to avoid them for as long as possible.

Not measuring your space well.

If you don't measure your space, you can end up with a room that looks cramped or boxy. If there's any chance at all that your furniture will be different than it is today, take the time to measure it now. Get out a measuring tape and measure every room in your house as well as the walls and ceilings of each room. You need to know how tall your ceiling is from top to bottom (measure at least twice), how wide each wall is from left-to-right, how long your furniture pieces are (including their legs), and how wide doorways are from top-to-bottom and side-to-side.

Measurements will help guide decisions about where items should go in each room so that everything blends together nicely when finished. The more accurate these measurements are, the better job you'll do in creating spaces that make sense visually throughout the home

Overlooking proportion.

Proportion is the relationship between the size of one thing and another. It’s how your couch and coffee table look together, or how big your dining room table is compared to the chairs around it.

When you think about proportion, think about two things: scale and balance. Those two things are very different from each other!

Being a slave to trends.

Before you make any purchases, take a step back and make sure that what you're buying isn't just because of a trend. If you're going to be spending money on something, make sure it's something that will last and is timeless in design. It's also important to remember that trends can change quickly—so if the room feels dated when the next big thing comes around, are you willing to spend even more money updating?

Another mistake many people fall into is buying things just because they think they'll be able to sell them later. This will often lead them into purchasing items cheaply made with low-quality materials or low-cost furniture stores whose products may not hold up over time (and then having no luck selling them). Instead buy high quality pieces from reputable retailers who have been around for decades (or centuries) so that your investment in those items will be worthwhile in the long run.

Rushing into a big decision you'll regret later.

You should never feel pressured to make a big decision right away. If you don't like something, don't buy it. If it doesn’t fit your space, or your style, don’t buy it. And most importantly of all: if you won't use it more than once—don't buy it!

Here's another tip: don't rush into making any big design decisions when there are still tons of items to move around and try out in different places within your home (and even then—don't do this!). It's important that you take the time to carefully consider each purchase before buying anything permanent or expensive.

Ignoring the significant other in your life.

When it comes to interiors, most men don't notice the same things that women do. For example, if you've ever hired an interior designer for your house and thought he or she was crazy for suggesting a certain color palette or new furniture, that's because men tend not to be as attuned to details like color and style when they're judging their surroundings.

What they are much more likely to notice are things like dirty dishes in the sink, laundry piled up on the floor, and a bathroom full of hair products scattered everywhere—all signs of neglect and disorganization in your home. If those aren't cleaned up quickly enough (and trust us: we know how hard it can be), then these small details will become magnified by your partner into larger issues about cleanliness and organization in general.

Stuffing your space with just any old thing you've got collecting dust in the attic or basement.

You're not limited to buying new furniture. You can also get creative with what you've got, and you don't have to spend a fortune doing it!

If your space is feeling cramped or stuffy, consider downsizing some of the items in your home. Clutter makes rooms seem smaller than they are because it takes up visual space and gives off an impression of being cluttered. If something isn't used on a regular basis or adds charm when it's out, then why keep it around? Get rid of all those knickknacks that have accumulated over the years! What if there's something useful inside them? Store them away for later so that they add value rather than clutter up your space now!

Hanging everything on the walls, including the kitchen sink.

We're big on not hanging everything on the walls, including your kitchen sink. Sure, it's an easy way to make a boring space feel more interesting—but if you want something that's truly special, don't settle for just adding another canvas on which to hang things. Instead of using your walls as storage space, try using them as artwork instead! A few pieces placed well can totally change up a room and give it new personality without feeling cluttered or overwhelming.

And while we understand that there are some things that need to be displayed (like photos or awards), there are many others that don't need to come out of their hiding spot in order stay safe from dust and damage. If you're going for an "open" look but still want items like school papers or family photos nearby so they're visible when needed but out of sight most times, try creating shelves above eye level instead of hanging them up where people have no choice but to see them every day—it will save time later when it comes time for decorating changes (or even selling) because those personal items won't be missed by potential buyers looking around at all those empty spots where frames used to be!

Being smart about decorating will save you money and heartache over time and make your home look good!

• Make sure you have a plan before you start buying.

• Measure your space carefully, and consider the proportions of each room in relation to each other and your own body size (for example, if you are tall, it is best not to furnish entirely with small tables).

• Don’t buy too many small things; bigger pieces will make your space look more spacious and grandiose!

• Don’t buy things just because they’re trendy – remember that trends go out of fashion over time!

I hope this article has inspired you to think twice before making a decorating mistake! Don’t let it get too personal though; there are plenty of mistakes in the world to make, and as long as you don't make them every time, then we're all on track. Good luck out there; go forth and do good work!