7 Things That Immediately Make Your Living Room Look Bad, According to Designers

Everyone wants their home to look as stylish and luxe as possible, even if they're on a budget. Unfortunately, though, many people, without realizing it, make design choices that actually cheapen their space, designers say.

In order to create a living room that is elegant and full of charm, you will want to avoid succumbing to the following six pitfalls that designers often witness.

Furniture From Only One Store

Opting to furnish your living room with pieces from only one store or vendor—regardless of the one you pick—may seem like an easy solution when decorating. However, this tactic is going to cheapen how your space looks, even if you actually spent a lot, Jamie Gasparovic, the founder of Studio Gaspo, says.

"Matching sets are a major red flag and make your space look one-note rather than design forward," she says.

Instead, don't be afraid to mix and match, the designer suggests. She recommends shopping at a range of stores and even incorporating some vintage pieces to really make your living room stand out. Including unexpected touches is never a bad idea.

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Accent Walls

Designers are oftentimes divided on whether or not accent walls are a smart choice. Gasparovic falls into the anti-accent wall camp and believes that incorporating one negatively affects the look of a room.

"It looks like you cheaped out, and the space looks incomplete and a little amateur," she says.

She encourages those who wish to add trim work, paint, or wallpaper to their living room to do so to all four walls for a more complete, elevated look.

Not Layering

Forgoing layers will instead result in an inexpensive-looking space, according to Anais Chaumien, the founder of Design by Anais. She recommends mixing in a variety of types of textiles for a more luxurious result.

"When picking pillows, try to mix textured fabric (like boucle) with other ones (like linen or velvet) to add rhythm to the space," Chaumien says.

Using Too Small of a Rug

Go ahead and spring for the slightly larger size of the rug you've been considering. You will most definitely thank yourself later, Chaumien comments.

"In case of doubt, go bigger," she says, noting that it is wise to position your furniture so that at least all of the front legs sit on top of the rug.

If you already own a rug that's on the smaller side but can't imagine not incorporating it into your space, consider layering it above a larger base piece, such as a jute. This is also an excellent way to infuse more color and texture into your living room.

Standard Lighting

By no means do you have to succumb to the boring builder-grade lighting in your living room. Instead, shop for fixtures that better reflect your design aesthetic and will add artistic flair to the space.

Don't own your home? No problem. Chaumien notes that even renters can swap out light fixtures—just be sure to store the original fixture somewhere safe so that it's easy to replace when your lease ends.

Bare Walls

It can be difficult to land on artwork for your home, but that doesn't mean you should leave your walls bare for too long.

"When a living room's walls are bare it can easily look unfinished and inexpensive," Emily Sturgess, the founder of Emily Sturgess Design, explains.

She notes that by no means do you have to spend a pretty penny in order to liven up your walls. Sturgess recommends finding a photograph you love or an oil painting from a local vintage store to layer on every wall.

Another option the designer recommends is to hang a statement mirror. No matter what you choose to do, keep it interesting!

"Don’t be afraid to infuse your unique personality into your space," Chaumien says.