How To Decorate Around 5 Common Decorating Challenges

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Part of decorating is recognizing the design challenges that exist in your home. Every home has them! The key is to figure out how to decorate around them. Or maybe it’s better to say in spite of them.  Here are some of the five most common design dilemmas and tips for how to fix them.

bedroom bay window sitting area with chairs and blue draperiesPin

Design challenges – we all have them in one form or another.  Even though I’ve had homes custom built along with having had homes that I’ve fully remodeled, no room is ever perfect – there’s always something that you have to figure out how to decorate around.

I’ve actually been writing about this very subject for a looong time – since 2011!  In fact, my whole mission for this blog is to inspire you while creating the home of your dreams and to provide you with the knowledge for making it happen. So….let’s talk about the five most common challenges and how to turn them from a problem into a bonus.

HOW TO DEAL WITH MULTIPLE FOCAL POINTS

You know that thing that your eye automatically goes to when you enter a room?  That’s considered a focal point and every room needs one. 

That thing can be a fireplace, large window, built-in bookcase, a large furniture piece, a headboard, even a big ole blank wall.  The problem arises when you have some or all of these features within one room.

Which one should you focus on???  Which one should you try to draw attention away from??? Is it okay to have more than one focal point??? 

Every room and situation is different, but in this post you’ll get basic guidelines for dealing with multiple focal points when designing your living space.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE POST

cottage style living room with neutral furniturePin

HOW TO DECORATE, ORGANIZE AND ADD STYLE TO A SMALL BEDROOM

Any small room can tough to comfortably live and function in on a daily basis! 

I adore the coziness of small bedrooms, but figuring out how to decorate, organize and add style to them can be a real challenge.  

Instead of tackling the entire room at once (which can be overwhelming), I’ve broken the process down into smaller parts that you can take care of one at a time.

In this post, you’ll learn about what to do with your walls, the best bedding, furniture and lighting, how to add stylish storage and more.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE POST

How to decorate a fixer upper farmhouse bedroom with white shiplap walls with metal bed and quilt and end table lightsPin

IMAGE VIA JAMES THOMAS INTERIORS VIA HOUZZ

ENLARGE A SPACE WITH MULTIPLE MIRRORS

Speaking of small spaces, what about making the other small rooms in your home look larger?  Look no farther than mirrors! 

Using mirrors to fool the eye into thinking a space is larger than it really is, is a well known designer trick.

And don’t stop with just one.  In this post, you’ll find ideas for how to use multiple mirrors in the same room, on the same wall or even on opposing walls.   By the time you’re finished, your room will have never looked larger!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE POST

Foyer filled with vintage gold framed mirrors to make it look larger and brighterPin

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

HOW TO DECORATE A SMALL FRONT PORCH

Maybe I should have made this entire post about how to decorate small spaces because here’s a third small space dilemma. It certainly seems to be a common problem that many of us deal with.

Whether you have a small porch with just a step or two, have just a stoop or don’t have a true porch at all, you’ll find lots of stylish tips in this post for making the most of your front entry.  Do it right and you’ll add to the curb appeal of your home too!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE POST

examples of several small front porches and tips for decorating themPin

HOW TO OVERCOME THE DREADED “FEAR OF DECORATING” SYNDROME

And finally, this may very well be THE #1 design dilemma that just about all of us face at one time or another – fear of decorating.  It’s common to some of us more than others, but it’s a real thing!

I’ve been right there myself many times – so afraid of making a “mistake” that I don’t do anything at all.  Friends, I don’t want you to feel that way!!!  This post is chock full of actionable steps that you can take to help you overcome those fears and start creating the home of your dreams.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE POST

Martha Washington side chairs upholstered with gray and white buffalo check fabric with a small gray chest between themPin
Tips for how how to decorate and solve the 5 most common design challengesPin

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39 Comments

  1. HI Suzy! This is a great post! I love the last one! Have a great week! laura

    1. Thank you, Laura! I hope you have a great week too!

  2. Hi Suzy! Thank you for this great post. Can you please help me. I moved to a very small house. The living room is 7.5-11. The rest of the home is small (500 sq ft) total. I’ve been able to deal with the other two rooms. -Kitchen and Bed room. But that tiny LR has me stressed.

    1. Can you be a little specific about what type of help you’re looking for?

  3. Betty Adams says:

    Hi Suzy…we have replaced our broadloom with hardwood in our bedroom, our dilemma is whether to use rugs on each bedside or a full rug under the bed to cover each side…the room is approx. 20 x 13.

    1. Hi Betty. I typically prefer one large rug in a bedroom as opposed to smaller rugs on each side. The rug will need to be long and wide enough to go partially under the end of your bed, but still give you a carpeted surface to place your feet on when getting in and out of bed. Using one rug instead of two will give your room a more cohesive, less chopped up feel. 😀

  4. 5 stars
    Great ideas! You tend to give tips and hints that are truly doable. Thanks.

    1. Thank you! If you haven’t already, be sure to go back and leave a comment on the Style Showcase blog post to actually be entered in the giveaway.

  5. Thank you for the giveaway.

    1. If you haven’t already, be sure to go back and leave a comment on the Style Showcase blog post to actually be entered in the giveaway.

    1. Thank you, Laura1 Love your beautiful state!

  6. 5 stars
    Love all these ideas! Thanks for the giveaway.

    1. Thank you! Make sure you go back and leave a comment on the Style Showcase post to be entered in the giveaway, if you haven’t already.

  7. 5 stars
    Wonderful “tutorial!”

    1. I hope you found it helpful!

  8. Melanie Foster says:

    5 stars
    Suzy, you have such a beautiful home. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!

  9. 5 stars
    Thank you for this information, sometimes we need a starting point too move forward. I’ll be back to get more info.

    1. Finding a good starting point is sometimes the hardest. Hope you found this helpful!

  10. I follow your blog and learn something from it every time I read it. A BIG thank you for all of your information!

    1. I’m so glad – thank you for letting me know!

  11. Suzy, everything is absolutely gorgeous!!! Let me know when you can come and decorate my home. LOVE your style !!!!!!

    1. I’ll be glad to help anytime! 😀

  12. 4 stars
    Thanks for the ideas–especially the small porch ideas. I love the one with the shutter and hanging plants.

    1. I hope you found the ideas helpful!

  13. julie ross says:

    Alot of helpful tips! Thanks

  14. Vicki Bray says:

    Thank you so much for posting all the ideas. I have been helping my sister who does not have a front porch really, but am trying to convince her to put something out anyway. I am going to share your ideas with her and hope it gives her some inspiration!

    1. I also have a blog post about how to decorate a small front porch that might be helpful.

  15. Suzy, I love the bedroom with those big windows in a semi-circle.

    1. Thank you so much! We have the same windows in our kitchen/breakfast area and they’re one of our favorite things about the house.

  16. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas!

    1. Hope you found some helpful info!

  17. 4 stars
    I really like the lighting in the small bedroom section of your post!

  18. Kim Henrichs says:

    Your home is so beautiful! Love the checked chairs