Photography: Natalie Jeffcott
As interiors writers and editors, we spend much of our time immersed in the world of home design – spotting trends, analysing spaces, and discussing what’s trending and what’s timeless. But that doesn’t mean we’re immune to the occasional decorating misstep. With the gift of hindsight (always 20-20 of course), we can now look back on some of our past decisions with a mix of amusement and affection, grateful for the lessons, and quietly confident we won’t be making those choices again.
So, if you’ve made a less-than-perfect decorating decision, don’t waste time beating yourself up. We’ve rounded up a few of our own decorating mistakes to help put your mind at ease, along with the simple fixes that made all the difference.
1. Questionable colour choices
“In the early 2000s I decorated my bedroom in cerise, white and chrome in the every first apartment I owned. I still love white bedlinen to this day but the hot pink shade seems dated now. The look was quite sterile and stark, especially with the chrome lamp bases. It’s not something I would repeat. I love colour but I’ve moved on from cerise well and truly,” says Kylie Imeson, Editor of Country Style.
2. The beige craze
“Nobody’s perfect…” I like to remind myself before airing my decorating missteps. Even interiors editors make choices they later come to question,” says Senior Digital Content Producer Danielle Grover. “One that springs to mind was my tendency to style every corner of my home in varying shades of neutrals. Sure, neutrals are timeless and effortlessly versatile, but when I took a step back and realised there was barely a trace of my (self-proclaimed) vibrant personality, it feels like a missed opportunity. These days I like to ensure there’s a good mix of versatility and fun in the space I call home.”
This couple requested a bright blue “mudroom wall” filled with in-built storage. (Photography: Anson Smart | Interiors: Marylou Sobel Interior Design)
3. The scale of it all
“I’ve made so many decorating ‘mistakes’ in my time – some due to budget, some due to (lack of) expertise and plenty due to jumping on trends that absolutely should not have been jumped on. I still think back to the palette coffee table I had in my first apartment with horror. But a big mistake I made early on was buying furniture that was too small for my home,” says Digital Editor Bella Westaway.
“I incorrectly assumed that a little living room meant everything had to be scaled down, which resulted in the space feeling cramped and unbalanced. To make your small space feel larger, try an oversized rug, large artworks, hanging pendant lighting and low-profile (but not teensy) furniture, which will all trick the eye into thinking the room is larger than it really is. Plus, when you move into a bigger space, you won’t have to offload all your favourite pieces!”
4. Crazy about cleaning
“We may have been somewhat crazy to say ‘yes’ to fair travertine pavers and grout for our courtyard,” says homes writer Hanna Marton. “While they blend seamlessly with the crazy pavers inside the house, ‘please Gerni the pavers’ is now a permanent addition to my husband’s (already long) to-do list of household maintenance tasks. Yes, they give cool mid-century Palm Springs vibes and, yes, they were sealed (duh), but one week after a high-pressure hosing session – not too high, because they’re delicate natural stone – the outdoor crazy pavers look dirty ah-gain. You learn to live with it, but if you’re a clean freak, reconsider!”
