By Lauren Flanagan
Family & Living Rooms Expert
Is your living room looking a little tired? Maybe a little dated? The
solution might be easier than you think. Look around and see if you
have any of the following five items. If so, get rid of them now!
Fake Flowers
Flowers
add a burst of color and life to interior spaces. The fake ones, not so
much. More often than not they end up being dust collectors. That said,
there are a few exceptions to the rule. Every now and then a
manufacturer will come up with something that is actually quite striking
– Pier 1
for example has had some lovely faux flowers in the past. The secret is
that they’re not trying to look real. They wear their fakeness proudly.
The worst thing you can do is get fake flowers that you hope people
will think are real. Just get the real thing! Sure they may need regular
replacing, but they add a breath of fresh air to any room they’re in.
Small Photo Frames or Novelty Photo Frames
Remember the days when people used to cram their mantles and bookshelves with tiny photo frames?
Those days are over. While we all like to display
our precious memories, tiny frames aren’t the way to do it. Neither are
novelty frames in cutesy shapes. When it comes to picture frames, simple
is usually better, and the walls are better than surfaces. That’s not
to say you shouldn’t have a frame or two on a table to display, just
don’t overdo it. Consider a photo wall as an alternative.
Flimsy Throw Pillows or Bolsters
We
all love our throw pillows, but there are two things you should
definitely avoid. Flimsy pillows are the first. What’s the point?
Pillows should add comfort and a nice decorating touch – flimsy, flat
pillows do neither of those things. Either have them re-stuffed or get
rid of them. As far as bolsters go, they should be reserved for yoga
class and not your living room. They were popular 10 or 15 years ago and
some people aren’t ready to let go, but bolsters give your room a dated
look.
Anything Macrame
The number one way to date a room
is to put a macramé plant holder in it. The number two way is to put
anything else macramé in it (wall hangings anyone?). In 2013 the home
décor industry went into a bit of a panic when it was suggested that
macramé was making a comeback, but thankfully it fizzled out before it
caught too much steam. Macrame is a definite decorating mistake.
Inspirational Words on the Walls
This
one is a little controversial, as some people absolutely love to put
inspirational words on the walls. But generally speaking these three-D
words just look cheesy and dated.
Rather than hanging words on the walls and making it feel like you live
in a 1990s self-help book, find a nice print with a similar sentiment,
frame it, and hang it on the wall as part of a larger photo wall.
Another nice alternative is to find letters - whether they're old
printing blocks, or from a vintage sign - and hang those.
source: about.com
