Home decor is tricky enough without all these ridiculous rules. Here are 20 home decor myths that are good for nothing but cramping your style.
Small Spaces Can’t Have Dark Colors
Contrary to popular belief, dark colors can make small spaces feel cozy and intimate. When used strategically, they add depth and sophistication, enhancing the room’s overall aesthetic.
Why’s that? Well, dark colors absorb light, reducing visual clutter. This can actually make your space appear more cohesive and spacious, rather than the opposite.
Accentuate dark walls with contrasting furniture and accessories to create balance. This interplay of light and dark elements can make small spaces feel dynamic, stylish, and visually intriguing.
Large Furniture Overwhelms Small Rooms
Obviously, this one only works if you’re being reasonable. You do still need your furniture to fit inside of the room you’re using it in.
Corner couches, in particular, are great for this purpose. They’re large, but they’ll fit the shape of your room without detracting any space from it.
You can also choose furniture with slim profiles and exposed legs for an airy feel. This helps maintain an open and spacious atmosphere without sacrificing functionality or comfort.
Only Use White Paint for Ceilings
As you’ve probably surmised from your own experiences, non-white ceilings are pretty rare. And you know what? That’s a shame. Why do ceilings have to be boring?
We at Blossom are here to take a stand. There’s no law dictating that you have to have a boring ceiling. Paint it a color.
If you’re not ready to hop on the Boldly-Colored Ceiling Express yet, that’s okay. Lots of people prefer light colors, like baby pink or powder blue.
Rugs Should Always Match the Room’s Color Scheme
Okay, yes: generally speaking, you want the colors in a room to match. However, there’s always going to be exceptions to the rule.
For example, a colorful rug can pop when used in a room with an otherwise neutral color scheme. It can be patterned or solid.
Be careful not to be too garish, though. A tennis ball-esque lime green rug in your gray living room might not be the way to go.
Paint Colors Must Be the Same Throughout the House
Gone are the days of monochromatic walls. Where’s the fun in that? Exactly: nowhere to be found. Painting your rooms different colors, though? Now that’s a good time.
If you’re a fan of maximalist decor, you could give each room its own theme, with walls to match. That may be a bit much for some, however.
For a balanced approach, choose a cohesive color palette with varying shades. This maintains a unified look while allowing each room to have its own unique personality.
Don’t Mix Patterns in One Room
Pattern mixing, in both interior design and fashion, is considered a no-go. Who cares? We’re here to give you the green light (within reason, of course).
It’s far from impossible to mix patterns in one room. You could have one pattern with bolder colors, for instance, and another with more subtle, subdued colors.
Basically, a unifying color scheme is the secret ingredient. It creates harmony, making the mix of patterns feel intentional, and not like you’re hopeless with interior design.
Minimalist Decor Means Bare and Boring
Okay, we’ll admit it: minimalism can be boring. But it’s by no means synonymous with it, especially when in the right hands.
At its core, minimalism is the principle of keeping only what holds real value to you. Those throw pillows you’re still not sure about? Get rid of ’em.
Really, minimalism is only “boring” if the only objects left have no aesthetic appeal. And if they matter to you, then who cares?
You Need a Lot of Money to Decorate Well
This one’s just completely untrue. You could have the most expensive home decor out there, but it means nothing if you don’t know what to do with it.
A sense of design is the most important thing, and it’s something you can learn to cultivate. With it, you can make treasure out of “trash.”
Plus, this myth totally excludes thrift stores from the equation, which I just won’t stand for. You’ll get the coolest, one-of-a-kind pieces from thrift stores, for 90% less.
You Can’t Mix Modern and Vintage Pieces
Whoever said you can’t mix modern and vintage pieces clearly had no idea what they were talking about. You absolutely can — and should.
This probably stems from the idea that modern and vintage pieces have totally different looks, which would make them clash aesthetically. In actuality, it depends on the pieces.
If your home decor shares the same colors and patterns, then they’ll match, no matter the time period. It can look better than just sticking to type of decoration.
Open Shelving is Impractical
Unlike the last one, we get why this home decor myth was popularized. Having your stuff out in the open can definitely be nerve-wracking.
However, open shelving is only impractical when done improperly. Don’t put all your glassware on the edge of your shelves, and you’ll be fine.
It also gives you a great opportunity for decorating. You can spruce up your shelves with some fake plants, or show off your favorite dinnerware.
Plants Don’t Belong in Bathrooms
Not only do plants belong in bathrooms, they can actually thrive in them. Tropical plants do especially well in the humid conditions bathrooms create.
Before you get a few plants for your bathroom, you should know which ones to avoid. According to Homes & Gardens, gardenias, jade, and hibiscus aren’t good candidates.
Plants that need bright light and/or dry soil won’t survive in the bathroom. Still, succulents, ferns, and pothos all do great there! Just don’t drop them in the toilet.
Statement Pieces Should Be Avoided in Small Spaces
Some people believe that statement pieces shrink small spaces, but that’s just not true. On the contrary, statement pieces can make a small room so much more stylish.
This myth probably originates with the misconception that “statement pieces” are inherently large. However, you can have bold home decor without overwhelming the space.
Wall art, elaborate carpets, and antique lamps can all make for solid statement pieces. So long as you keep it well-organized, it’ll look great.
Bright Colors Make a Room Look Smaller
It’s less about the colors than it is how you use them. For example, a brightly-painted accent wall in an otherwise white room can make it look bigger.
You can also play around with shades. “Bright” doesn’t have to mean “neon.” A soft yellow is a great color to open up a room with.
Light pink is another great contender. Regardless of which one you choose, you don’t have to keep either color assigned to one wall.
Ceiling Fans are Eyesores
Maybe some people believe this, but this is a myth that needs to be put to rest. When summer heat waves hit, you’ll wish you had one.
That’s not to say that their appeal is purely functional. Ceiling fans can look cool, too, though it depends on how they’re designed.
If you live in an older house with an antique aesthetic, then a belt-driven ceiling fan can work wonders. There’s also sleek ceiling fans for minimalist decor.
Mirrors Should Only Be Used in Hallways and Bathrooms
Hallways and bathrooms are great places to have mirrors, but they’re not the only places you can put them. They can go anywhere, really.
For example, mirrors can look great in your dining room, especially if it reflects the table. It’ll make the room look a lot more spacious.
The biggest no-no with mirror placement is having mirrors face each other. So long as you’re not doing that, you’re good to go.
Every Wall Must Have Art or Decor
Listen, we love wall art and decor just as much as you do. However, it’s important to have balance and to know when to utilize blank space.
How much blank space you have depends on your personal tastes. A minimalist house, for instance, will have more than a maximalist one.
Either way, there is such a thing as too much decor. If your wall is painted, it can mesh well with the decor without needing to be decorated.
Open Floor Plans Don’t Need Zoning
Sure, zoning is a lot easier to do when you’ve got walls to help divvy up the spaces. That doesn’t mean that open floor plans don’t require it.
Since these floor plans aren’t exactly traditional, zoning can look a bit different. Furniture, for example, can be an effective way to zone without walls.
Rugs are another. In the living room section, you might have a cozy, furry area rug to make the room more comfy than your carpet-less kitchen.
Neutrals are Boring and Uninspiring
Neutrals get a bad rap for being bland, but they can create a calming backdrop. When paired with varied textures and accents, they exude elegance and depth.
Far from uninspiring, neutral colors can highlight your furniture and décor. They offer flexibility, allowing for easy seasonal updates and pops of color to transform the room’s feel.
Ultimately, neutrals provide a timeless appeal. They can serve as a canvas for creative expressions, balancing bold patterns or artwork and making any space feel inviting.
You Can’t Have Too Many Throw Pillows
You most definitely can have too many throw pillows. There’s nothing worse than having to rearrange ten pillows before you’re able to just sit on the couch.
We’re not talking about a few throw pillows. Two to four pillows on your couch can elevate your living room and tie your home decor together.
Any more than that, and you’re really overdoing it. Your throw pillows are there to enhance the couch, not bury it.
Decor Trends are a Must-Follow
This is the biggest home decor myth of all. You don’t have to listen to any decor trends (or any trends at all, really) that you don’t like.
Decorating should reflect your personal style, not fleeting fads. Creating a space that resonates with you will always be more satisfying than blindly following other people’s design choices.
You don’t even have to listen to us if you don’t want to. Follow your heart. Seriously, it’s the only way you’ll get a living room you actually like.