Five common decorating mistakes to avoid

Style at Home Magazine's Karl Lohnes and leading custom window fashions manufacturer Hunter Douglas have put together a list of some the all-time most often made decorating mistakes. 1 - Purchasing new furniture before measuring the room.

Many new home owners start purchasing new furnishings prior to taking possession of their homes. When the furniture finally arrives, it often doesn't even fit through the door, not to mention it being too long or too deep for the room. While it is important to dress your windows early in the process to manage incoming light and keep out prying eyes, when it comes to the furniture, it's best to wait and live in your space with your old pieces before ordering anything new. You'll make better choices after spending time in the physical room, instead of judging the room from a pre-sale floor plan or picture. And, having the window treatments in place early ensures that your furnishings- old and new - are protected from the sun's harmful UV rays. With its two sheer panels and rotating fabric vanes between them, Silhouette window shadings are one of the few window fashions that offer generous

protection against the sun's harmful UV rays while still allowing for light and a view.

2 - Highlighting wimpy trims and moldings.

Everyone thinks they have to highlight their baseboards and trims by painting them white. If you have trims of 3 1/2 inches or smaller, paint them the same color as the wall to blend them away. Otherwise you will end up with a "racing stripe effect" around the room. Paint your baseboards, walls and crown moldings a uniform color to make the walls feel taller. You can even cover them by selecting a vertical window fashion, such as luminette privacy sheers, mounted outside the window frame from ceiling to floor.

3 - Buying too many small accessories.

Holding off on buying trendy accessories for a year or two could save you enough money to purchase a substantial piece of furniture you will have forever. Buying an expensive piece might feel like a splurge, but it's a wiser investment in the long run.

4 - Scattering your collectibles all over the house. By keeping your collection of figurines, samplers or family photos grouped together, you can create a big impact with many small things. Dotting them all around the house only adds a cluttered look to your decor. If displaying your collectibles in a sunny spot for prime viewing, be sure to choose a window fashion from Hunter Douglas that will protect your treasures from fading and damage without compromising the view.

5 - Getting it all done in a day.

When you shop for your entire room's decor in a day, it looks like you did it all in a day. The result is usually a "matchy" appearance that implies you purchased a display right out of a storefront window. Take your time and let your vision, goals, budget and timelines provide you with a layered decor process. It's not fun to rush; it is a great deal of fun to "build" the look of a room.

The local Hunter Douglas outlet is Cruipi Interiors on King Road in Nobleton.

More information is available toll-free at 1-800-265-1363 or online at www.hunterdouglas.ca.

- News Canada