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Decorating rules. They’re there for a reason, right? Don’t they keep us from making devastating home decor mistakes?

Well, not always.

Most decorating “rules” are really just rules of thumb that someone, somewhere came up with and that simply stuck.

While many decorating rules are great guidelines when you are first learning how to decorate, they ultimately become limiting. Since decorating is all about self-expression in your unique space, there ain’t no one, anywhere who should be setting up rules for your space. Amiright?

So, let’s talk about some of the decorating rules that you can break today:

1-) Rule 1: Furniture should match

In our bedroom, a partial white furniture set is balanced with a handmade stained blanket ladder, bronze wall lights, and crystal chandelier. 

If you go to a furniture store, you’ll likely find nice living room sets, bedroom sets, and dining room sets. These pieces are designed to match perfectly so your whole room goes together nicely.

And having matchy furniture definitely has its place. It’s perfect for those who need a quick solution to their space or simply don’t enjoy home decor. It’s ideal for those who just want to set it and forget it.

But matchy can also come at a cost. First, just because all the furniture pieces match doesn’t mean that they will all fit your space well. And second, a space decorated with only matchy furniture can lack creativity.

So branch out and find individual furniture pieces that suit your space and your personality. Find furniture that complements each other rather than matches. You’ll be surprised at how well your space can come together!

2-) Rule 2: You should pick a style

Our living room has elements of farmhouse, industrial, traditional and modern styles in a mix that suits our tastes!

When it comes to interior design we often categorize things in nice neat little style boxes:  farmhouse, transitional, contemporary, mid-century modern, industrial, traditional, rustic, and mediterranean are just a few of the styles that come to mind.

But most people don’t fit into nice neat little boxes. We’re much more complicated than that…

So why should you feel forced to stick to one style? You shouldn’t!

Most of us like elements of certain styles. Maybe you like the metal elements of industrial spaces, the relaxed feel of farmhouse spaces, and the earthy elements and colors of mediterranean spaces. Once you’re armed with that knowledge you can turn your space into your personal paradise!

3-) Rule 3: The ceiling doesn’t require attention

When most of us decorate a space, we often ignore the ceiling and maybe give it a fresh coat of white paint.

Boring!

But if you think about spaces you’ve seen that really “wow”, I bet many of them have actually done something with the ceiling.

So think about what you can do to your ceiling to add more wow-factor to your room. Paint, wallpaper, texture, beams…the sky is the limit! And your guests will definitely be impressed!

4-) Rule 4: Avoid bold in small spaces

And while there’s definite merit in wanting to make your space feel light and airy, having color or bold elements doesn’t necessarily make your space feel closed in. And sometimes, having those bold elements even makes the space look larger.

So if you want to add personality to your small space, go for it! If you’re nervous, start with an accent wall. Alternatively, you can paint with a light color and add bold artwork to add that personality to your space without the risk of having to re-paint or re-wallpaper.

5-) Rule 5:  Furniture only goes where it was “intended”

If you think about different pieces of furniture, chances are you associate them with specific spaces: console tables in entryways, dressers in bedrooms, coffee tables in living spaces…

But sometimes a console table in the bedroom or a dresser in your living space just works. And when done right you can have guests asking, “why didn’t I think of that?!”

6-) Rule 6: Area rugs are only for covering hard floors

Those among us that have hardwood or laminate floors are likely quite familiar with area rugs, but what if you have wall-to-wall carpet?

Conventional wisdom says that if you have wall-to-wall carpet you don’t need area rugs. However, most of us choose neutral, patternless wall-to-wall carpet so that it doesn’t clash with anything in the room.

While that logic makes sense, wall-to-wall carpet doesn’t define the space the same way area rugs do. So don’t be afraid to use area rugs to define and spruce up your space…even if you already have wall-to-wall carpet!

There you have seven decorating rules to break today! What decorating rules do you like to break? Let us know in the comments!

For more DIY and home decor ideas, check out Buffalo Check Home Decor Under $100 for Your Entire House, Inexpensive Tricks to Make Your Old Home Look New Again, and How to Make a Bed for Ultimate Luxury and Comfort.