11 Home Decor Mistakes That Scream Cheap Instantly (Plus 6 You Should Especially Avoid For A Fancy Living Place)

Your home tells a story about who you are and what you value. When decorating, small choices can make the difference between a space that looks polished and one that feels thrown together. I’ve noticed certain decorating mistakes that instantly give off a ‘cheap’ vibe, regardless of how much money was actually spent.

Let’s explore these common pitfalls and learn how to create a home that exudes quality and thoughtfulness.

1. Matching Furniture Sets

Walking into a room where every piece matches perfectly feels like visiting a furniture showroom, not a home. Matchy-matchy sets lack personality and creativity.

Instead, mix complementary pieces that share design elements but aren’t identical twins. This creates visual interest and makes your space look thoughtfully curated rather than purchased in one swipe of a credit card.

2. Exposed Electrical Cords

Nothing ruins the flow of a beautiful room faster than a tangle of black cords snaking across your floor or walls. These wire messes create visual chaos and scream ‘I didn’t think this through!’

Smart cord management using cord covers, cord clips, or furniture placement can hide these necessary evils. For a truly polished look, consider hiring an electrician to install outlets in more convenient locations.

3. Plastic Plants Collecting Dust

Fake greenery from the bargain bin fools absolutely no one, especially when coated with a layer of dust. Plastic plants often look exactly what they are – cheap imposters.

If you can’t maintain real plants, invest in high-quality silk options or try low-maintenance live plants like snake plants or pothos. Even better, display interesting branches or dried botanicals for natural texture without the maintenance.

4. Poorly Sized Area Rugs

A tiny rug floating in the middle of your room looks like an afterthought rather than a design choice. Small rugs make spaces feel disjointed and unplanned.

The right rug should anchor your furniture arrangement with at least the front legs of major pieces sitting on it. For dining areas, ensure the rug extends at least 24 inches beyond the table edge so chairs remain on it when pulled out.

5. Bare Walls Without Art

Vast expanses of empty wall space make a home feel temporary and unloved. Blank walls suggest you haven’t fully committed to your space.

You don’t need expensive artwork to fill these voids. Framed personal photos, vintage posters, or even beautiful textiles can add personality. Remember to hang pieces at eye level – not too high – and create thoughtful groupings rather than scattered single items.

6. Exposed TV Cables

Your beautiful flat-screen loses all its sleekness when surrounded by a tangle of visible cables. This oversight immediately downgrades your entertainment area from sophisticated to sloppy.

Cable management systems are inexpensive and easy to install. Consider cord covers that can be painted to match your wall color or in-wall cable management kits for a truly professional look. Even simple zip ties can transform cable chaos into order.

7. Outdated Light Fixtures

Those builder-grade flush-mount ceiling lights (lovingly called ‘boob lights’) date your home faster than almost anything else. Lighting is literally the jewelry of your room!

Updating fixtures is one of the most impactful changes you can make. Look for fixtures with clean lines and quality materials. Even inexpensive options in modern styles can elevate your space instantly and create more flattering light.

8. Overstuffed Furniture

Massive, puffy recliners and sofas that dominate your room signal comfort over style. While coziness matters, there’s a balance to strike.

Modern comfort doesn’t require sacrificing aesthetics. Look for pieces with clean lines that still offer plush seating. Pay attention to scale – your furniture should fit your room’s proportions. A streamlined sofa with quality cushions offers both comfort and sophistication.

9. Visible Clutter Everywhere

Countertops buried under appliances, tables stacked with mail, and shelves crammed with knickknacks create visual noise that cheapens any space. Clutter makes even expensive homes look chaotic.

Embrace thoughtful storage solutions like decorative baskets, credenzas, or built-ins. Remember that negative space is valuable in design – not every surface needs decoration. Curate your belongings ruthlessly, displaying only items that bring beauty or meaning.

10. Pushed-Back Furniture

Shoving all your furniture against the walls creates an awkward ‘dance floor’ effect in the middle of your room. This arrangement lacks intimacy and makes conversation difficult.

Float furniture to create conversation areas, with pieces facing each other. Don’t fear pulling sofas away from walls – even a few inches creates breathing room. Use area rugs to define these groupings and anchor the space.

11. Cheap Window Treatments

Flimsy mini blinds or those standard-issue white plastic vertical blinds instantly downgrade your windows. Skimpy curtains that barely cover the window width look equally unfortunate.

Invest in proper window treatments that enhance your windows rather than apologizing for them. Hang curtains high and wide to maximize light and create height. Even budget-friendly options can look expensive when properly sized and installed.

12. Too Many Small Decorative Items

Collections of tiny figurines, souvenir trinkets, and miniature decorations create visual clutter that feels busy and unfocused. These small items often look like dust collectors rather than deliberate design choices.

Edit your accessories ruthlessly. Fewer, larger statement pieces create more impact than numerous small items. Group similar objects together rather than scattering them, and leave breathing room around your displays to highlight their importance.

13. Low-Quality or Mismatched Frames

Family photos displayed in cheap plastic frames or a wall of mismatched framing styles creates a disjointed, unplanned look. Your precious memories deserve better presentation!

Choose frames with consistent finishes for a cohesive gallery wall. Black, white, or metallic frames in similar styles create a curated look even with varied photo sizes. Consider professional matting for an elevated touch that makes even casual snapshots look important.

14. Poor Lighting Distribution

Relying solely on harsh overhead lighting creates unflattering shadows and a sterile atmosphere. Good lighting transforms the mood of any space.

Create layers of light with a mix of overhead, task, and accent lighting. Table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces add warmth at eye level. Dimmer switches allow flexibility for different activities and times of day, instantly making your space feel more expensive.

15. Mass-Produced Wall Art

Those ubiquitous canvas prints with generic motivational phrases found in every discount store lack personality and originality. “Live, Laugh, Love” doesn’t say much about your unique taste.

Seek out art that resonates with you personally – whether original pieces from local artists, vintage finds, or even your own photography professionally printed. Art should reflect your interests and experiences, not generic sentiments that could hang in any home.

16. Fake Luxury Materials

Faux marble contact paper, plastic “crystal” chandeliers, and vinyl “wood” flooring that’s obviously fake fool no one. Imitation materials often highlight what you lack rather than creating the illusion of luxury.

Instead of fake versions of expensive materials, choose authentic materials within your budget. Real wood, genuine leather, or actual stone in smaller quantities looks far better than unconvincing imitations covering large areas. Quality beats quantity every time.

17. Furniture That’s Too Large or Small

Cramming oversized sectionals into tiny apartments or floating dainty furniture in cavernous rooms creates awkward, unbalanced spaces. Scale matters tremendously in design.

Measure your rooms carefully before purchasing furniture. Create a floor plan to visualize how pieces will fit together. The right proportions create flow and harmony, while mismatched scale immediately signals amateur decorating, regardless of what you spent.