1. WORN TEXTILES
'Fabrics that wear excessively, such as worn or torn cotton fabrics, are outdated when it comes to furniture design,' says Jane Lockhart, founder of Jane Lockhart Design. 'Although this may be a cool look in jeans, it doesn’t have the same impact in furniture. Also, any 'scratchy' fabrics in furniture are outdated. With the development of soft-touch fabrics for furniture, the expectation now is that all fabric is smooth, furry, or overall comfortable to the touch, rather than rough due to its fiber composition.'
2. BADLY HUNG CURTAINS
Your living room curtains will be something that either makes your room look expensive, or makes your room look cheap. 'Curtains that hang till the bottom of the windowsill, and not the floor, look a bit odd,' says Bethany Adams, founder of Bethany Adams Interiors. 'You can add drama to your space by placing the rod between the top of the window trim and ceiling (or crown molding) and hanging your draperies so they touch the floor. Also, stay away from mini blinds; they're dated and collect so much dust.'
3. BRIGHT WHITE WALLS
Decorating with neutrals can feel expensive, but it depends on the shade you choose. 'Be careful with bright white; if your walls aren't perfectly flat white, you can draw attention to every flaw, (and every fingerprint) in the home,' warns Bethany. ' For a luxe look, choose dark colors. Dirt and grime won't show and neither will the cracks and smears in imperfect walls.'
4. WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING
'Plush living room carpet in a wall-to-wall format is outdated,' says Jane. 'This style was popular in the 1980s through the late '90s but it is difficult to maintain over time. Today, most carpets are area rugs on top of solid surfaces that form the flooring in homes.'
5. OVERCROWDING THE ROOM
In small living rooms, the right layout and the number of furniture pieces is an important consideration. Too many pieces can crowd the room and make it feel even smaller. There's something effortlessly luxe feel about a more minimalist outlook in a living room.