I'm an interior designer, and this is a common mistake that makes your living room look cheap

Daily Mail​

22-05-2025

If there's one thing we don't want our living rooms to look when we have guests over, it's tacky. Elegant, cosy, inviting yes - but not cheap.
However, according to one interior designer, there is a major mistake that could be making your home look less than brilliant, and it's a pretty common error. Paulina Wojas, interior designer at Stunning Chairs, says that 'while we all love to spruce up our homes and personalise them to our taste...over-decorating can sometimes lead to the opposite outcome that we'd hoped for.'
In living rooms, over-decorating manifests itself in an abundance of homeware. 'Adding too many layers onto the chair, using throws and cushions, can make the furniture piece look cluttered and suffocated,' believes Wojas. 'This can make the chair look tacky, influencing the rest of the living room and resulting in a cheaper-looking space.'
So what, according to Wojas, is the correct amount of cushions and throws to add to a chair? This depends on the size of the chair, of course, but 'as a good rule of thumb stick to one or two cushions and one throw.'
As for sofas, 'again, the right number of cushions and throws depends on the settee's size; however, I recommend using between three to five cushions on a standard two-seater, and five to seven on a three-seater sofa,' says Wojas. 'As for throws, one or two is enough for a two-seater, while a larger sofa can be styled with three or more. However, if using multiple throws, make sure these are intentionally layered to avoid the sofa appearing cluttered. This guideline ensures the arrangement looks stylish and coherent.'
'When accessorising the chair with a throw, draping it over the arm of the chair can create an expensive and elegant look without overpowering the piece. However, avoid it from touching the floor to ensure a stylish, sophisticated appearance,' says Wojas.
As for choice of cushions, Wojas recommends that you 'select velvet or silk cushions for a chic style and go for soft tones and neutrals for a luxuriously polished aesthetic.'
If you prefer a more vibrant palette, she says 'bold colours can also be classy, like deep emerald green; however, avoid going overboard or too flashy with colours as this can appear too tacky. The right-coloured cushion depends on the chair's colour and the room's palette. The same applies to throws; cashmere, velvet, and high-quality wool ooze elegance and can heighten the room's luxury feel.'
Wojas also has some absolute no-gos when it comes to living room accessories. 'Avoid clashing styles and instead opt for cushions and throws that share a similar feature; this could be colour, texture, or style. These soft furnishings don't have to match completely, and in fact, a slight differentiation adds visual interest, so don't be afraid to mix colours, textures, shapes, and styles, as long as there is a core element that ties them all together for a cohesive aesthetic.
An absolute no-no when it comes to styling a chair is overusing patterns. 'This can look chaotic and harsh, hindering the piece's quality appearance. Instead, use patterns sparingly and balance them out with solid colours and textures for a coherent look.' As for cushions with sequins or similar embellishments, Wojas verdict is 'avoid them altogether.'
'Cushions with sequin embellishments can look over-the-top and tacky. Instead, introduce texture with velvet, woven, or linen cushions for a luxuriously stylish aesthetic,' she says.
Of course, it's your living room, so you can do whatever you want - maximalists who love a bit of sparkle may choose to ignore this advice completely. However, for those who are unsure about interior design, it's helpful to have some rules to follow. Now let's hope no one messes up those artfully arranged throws...