Ten decorating mistakes to avoid at home

Decorator and HGTV designer Karl Lohnes has a list of the most frequent decorating blunders.

+ Leaving windows for last. Window fashions create pleasing illusions of depth or height, and studies show the quality of natural light in a space affects moods and health.

+Purchasing new furniture before measuring the room. Spend time in the room instead of using a presale floor plan or picture. Have the window treatments in place early to protect furnishings from UV rays.

+Buying area rugs too small. Area rugs should reveal only 12 to 16 inches of floor. Furniture should ground the rug.

+ Choosing wall colors that are too pale. The larger the room, the more depth a color needs. To enhance the effect, use a matching or complementary window fashion.

+Hanging artwork too high. The bottom of the art should be eight to 10 inches above the furniture tops.

+ Highlighting wimpy trims and moldings. Paint trims three inches or smaller the same color as the wall to avoid a "racing stripe" effect, or cover trim with a vertical window fashion, mounted outside the window frame from ceiling to floor.

+Buying too many small accessories. Hold off on trendy accessories for a year or two and save enough for a substantial piece of furniture.

+Scattering collectibles. If displaying collectibles in a sunny spot, choose a window fashion that will protect them from fading.

+Having more than one focal point. If it's the window, it will visually influence the rest of the room.

+Getting it all done in a day. When all the decor is bought in one day, it looks it. It's more fun to build the look.

This story is provided by North America Precis Syndicate Inc.