1. STOP USING EVERYTHING WHITE
Most of us, at one point or another, have lived in a rented apartment that was painted all white. White walls, white ceilings, and a white bathroom. Do you remember how that felt? It was probably a bit cold, and it felt like the place wasn’t truly your home, right? You probably disguised the whiteness with prints, paintings, and plants...
2. USING HARSH OVERHEAD LIGHTING
Another common mistake that will make almost any home feel sterile and cold, even if the decor is colorful, is harsh overhead lighting. If all of the lighting in your home consists of ceiling spotlights and they are all super-bright and cool-toned, your interior space will feel more like an office than a home.
3. GOING TOO MINIMALIST WITH LAYOUT AND FURNITURE PLACEMENT
There are two ways to go too minimalist with your home decor. One is by using too little furniture; the other is by only using furniture that is too ‘lean,’ as interior designer Artem Kropovinsky puts it. If you are a lover of Scandinavian decor, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about: furniture that has slender frames and little or no padding, often finished in blond wood.
4. USING TOO MANY HARD, REFLECTIVE MATERIALS
This next mistake is particularly important for smaller rooms. It can be tempting to use slimline furniture made from hard materials such as metal and glass or use mirrors to make a room look bigger. The result, though, most likely will be a room that feels smaller and colder than before.
5. LEAVING ALL THE WALLS EMPTY
The walls in your home are your canvas for creating a warm atmosphere. Leaving all of them blank can make a home feel cold and sterile. This is especially true if your walls are all the same neutral color.