Chennai

1. Matching-matching

Matching your décor with your accessories gives it a well-rounded look, but do not go overboard. Break the pattern or add an accent colour. If you are planning to opt for a nude colour palette, add colours that pop by incorporating colourful cushions or a solid colour carpet or even a few vases.

2. Over accessorising

Do not go overboard with the accessories and use only those you need. Too many elements in the house can make it look cluttered and eat into your space.

3. Fake greenery

Fake flowers and plants don’t add much to the room. They accumulate dust and aren’t as aesthetically-pleasing as real flowers. Instead, opt for real flowers and plants as they make your space look alive, provide a lingering fragrance and help purify the air. You can also incorporate a fruit bowl as the center-piece on your table. The natural colours add life to the table and you will always have a healthy snack at hand at all times.

4. Lacking personality

Not adding enough elements to personalise your home may end up making it look like an apartment. The home may also lack the welcoming and homely vibe. Add a few pictures, display your awards, paintings or wall hangings that you may have taken up as a hobby, or show off your guitar in a corner. The point here is to not be perfect, but make your imperfections a part of your home.

5. Pushed to the wall

This is a common setup that can be observed in an ideal Indian home. Give that a break; arrange the furniture in a different way; move your couch and chair to the centre and add a rug beneath it, thus creating a seating area for conversations. Opt for a table, which is the same height as your couch and place it behind the couch; now you have an additional table-top, which also hides the back of your couch.

Pooja Mahimkar, Times Property, The Times of India, Chennai