15 Home Decor Mistakes You Are Probably Making

Styling a home might seem simple; you find things you like and put them together. But anyone who has spent hours scrolling Pinterest or shopping for decor knows how tricky it can be to make everything feel cohesive in real life.

Having styled homes across Hong Kong, we've seen it all when it comes to the biggest home styling mistakes! It's easy to make styling missteps at home, no matter if you're dealing with an abundance of space or trying to make the most of a beloved Hong Kong shoebox apartment.

Even with great taste, small decisions can throw off the balance of a room. The good news is that most styling mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for. 

Here are the decor errors our stylists see most often, along with how to get them right.

Home Decor Mistake #1: Art hung too high

..or too low! Artwork placed too close to the ceiling feels disconnected from the furniture below. Aim to centre pieces at roughly 145 cm from the floor so they sit at a natural eye level. Grouping smaller pieces together also creates a more intentional look.

Home Decor Mistake #2: Styling that forgets real life

Some rooms look perfect online, but feel impractical once you try living in them. Choose homeware and decor that support daily routines, such as surfaces for drinks and accessible storage. Always make sure the layout you pick is walkable! The best homes balance function and beauty without sacrificing either.

Home Decor Mistake #3: The matchy-matchy trap

Matching everything from the same set makes rooms look flat and predictable. Mixing textures, tones, and shapes creates warmth and dimension. Think of it as layering rather than coordinating.

Home Decor Mistake #4: Lighting that’s all overhead

Relying only on ceiling lights creates harsh is a major home decor mistake, that creates one-level illumination. Layer your lighting with table lamps, floor lamps and wall lights to create depth and atmosphere. A good rule of thumb is three light sources per room.

Home Decor Mistake #5: Everything pushed against the walls

In some flats, it's inevitable, but we find more often than not, apartments could benefit from floating their furniture. Pushing furniture to the edges can make the middle of the room feel empty. Pulling pieces slightly forward and arranging them into zones creates better flow. A rug helps anchor the layout and brings the room together.

Home Decor Mistake #6: Rugs that are too small

A small rug breaks up the room, making the furniture feel adrift. Choose a size large enough that at least the front legs of your main pieces sit on it. Larger proportions help the space feel grounded and cohesive.

Home Decor Mistake #7: Ignoring scale and proportion

Oversized furniture overwhelms small rooms, while tiny items make a home feel unfinished. Sketching your layout or taping out measurements helps you assess what truly fits.

Home Decor Mistake #8: Bare or cluttered walls

Walls left empty feel unfinished, yet overloading them creates visual noise. Find a balanced mix by combining framed art, shelves and mirrors. Here are 10 local places to buy wall art in Hong Kong that we love for inspiration when finding decor that suits your style.

Home Decor Mistake #9: No focal point

One common home decor mistake we see is rooms without a clear visual anchor, leaving them to feel scattered. Choose a focal point, such as a piece of art, a statement sofa or a window view, and let the rest of the room support it. This gives the eye somewhere to land and brings a sense of calm.

Home Decor Mistake #10: Neglecting texture

Too many similar finishes make a room feel flat. Introducing natural materials like linen, rattan, and wood adds depth and warmth. If you've already got lots of natural material, try adding something metallic or brassy to break the pattern. Even small textural changes can transform the mood of a space.

Home Decor Mistake #11: Poor flow between rooms

When each room feels entirely different, the home loses its sense of continuity. Carrying a consistent palette or repeating materials creates a sense of flow between spaces. Small connections help the home feel more considered overall.

Home Decor Mistake #12: Ignoring vertical space

Vertical space often goes unused in Hong Kong homes. Adding shelving, taller plants or higher artwork draws the eye upward and gives rooms more presence. Using modern wall art in staggered groupings can also help create a sense of height.

Home Decor Mistake #13: Forgetting visual balance

A room that feels heavy on one side can feel uncomfortable without you knowing why. While your home shouldn't be completely symmetrical, that´s a whole other home decor mistake, you should balance larger pieces with grounding items across the room, such as lighting or artwork.

Grouping smaller decor in odd numbers often looks more natural, and offsetting a bulky sofa with a smaller chair on the opposite side can create balance.

Home Decor Mistake #14: Harsh or cool lighting

There's nothing worse than cool-toned, clinical lighting! It can make even a well-styled room feel drab. Warm bulbs soften the mood and make colours appear richer, (around 2700K) instantly make the space feel more inviting. Adding fabric shades, diffused lighting, and dimmers can improve the overall atmosphere.

Home Decor Mistake #15: Styling without personality

The biggest home decor mistake is following trends to a tee, making your home feel generic. Layering in personal items, such as books, photos or meaningful objects, adds warmth and individuality. A little personality goes a long way in making a home feel lived in. The goal is for your home to feel like you, not like a catalogue!

Need help getting you home to feel just right?

Styling a home does not require perfection, only a few thoughtful adjustments. With small tweaks to lighting, layout or art placement, your space can start to feel more cohesive and more you.

If you need help nailing down your style and creating a home with intention, we're here to help! The Editors Company makes it easy to style your home without fear of falling into those common home styling traps.

Start with our free home style quiz to get a sense of your interior personality!