Things Make Your Home Look Tacky

6 Things That Make Your Home Look Tacky

We all want our homes to look sophisticated and expensive, but there are some items we put on display that could be preventing that. When we look at our home every day, it can be hard to identify what exactly makes it look not quite right. To help you elevate your home, here is a list of items that would be best not to put on display for everyone to see.

Bottles of alcohol  

bar cart with bottles and glasses
 Photo by Emma Bauso from Pexels​​

Alcohol is not decor, it is a beverage so treat it accordingly. This is common error for young people who love to entertain and drink. They put it up on their shelves like a collect. You may be proud of always having liquor on-the-ready, but they can actually make your space look cluttered and messy. It is especially distracting when there are many different types of alcohol with different sizes, colors, and labels. If you have a bar at home, you can put a few bottles on display but don’t put out your whole stock. You can place the rest under the counter or in closed cabinets. Another alternative is getting a bar cart. This way, the bottles don’t look out of place, and they blend into the space better. Of course, you should also incorporate some appropriate decor with your alcohol to dress it up some more. This will make your home feel more adult and make it look a lot cleaner.  

Novelty collections  

unicorn Funko Pop
Photo by Lucas Santos on Unsplash  ​​

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a collection of a special item that you enjoy. If it’s a hobby you really love, by all means, continue it. However, it does not always match your home’s decor. It can actually make a space look a bit tacky. Even if it is a collection of something aesthetically pleasing, having a large number of something will still make a space look overcrowded and cluttered. So, instead of having your collection on display in the common areas of your home like the living room, store them where it makes more sense. Your bedroom, home office, or entertainment room are great examples of places where you can proudly display your collection. It is somewhere you can see and admire it every day. It’s a private space where you can let your personality really shine through. And, when you do want to show off your collection to your friends, you can simply invite them to this room to view it. At the same time, the places where you usually entertain like the living room, dining room, and kitchen are kept pristine. There is nothing distracting people from admiring the overall theme of your home.  

Plastic kitchen rugs 

marble kitchen counter and long area rug
 Photo by Watermark Designs on Unsplash  ​​

People justify using plastic kitchen rugs because things get messy in the kitchen and plastic is easy to clean. However, these rugs often look very cheap because the design is printed. They lack texture or anything that can make it visually pleasing. Sacrificing the quality of your home for the small convenience of an easy clean-up isn’t really worth it. Plastic rugs simply do not look good, and they greatly bring down the look of the whole kitchen. Instead of settling for plastic rugs, go for stain-resistant rugs. Or, better yet, you can get washable rugs. You can clean them ever so often after occasional spills in the kitchen and they will look clean and new every time. To help hide stains that are hard to get out, opt for dark rugs and rugs with a detailed print.  

Metal folding chairs  

metal folding chair with white throw pillows
 Photo by Deconovo on Unsplash  ​​

Folding chairs simply do not have a place in a sophisticated home. They do not look like they belong indoors as part of your interior decor. Save them for picnics, cookouts, and other situations where you need to be able to move your chairs easily. Aside from being an eye sore, they are not comfortable either. So, you wouldn’t want them in your dining room where you’re supposed to enjoy your meals. You might be tempted to buy these types of chairs because they are cheaper than fancy dining sets, but you can opt for sturdier, more stylish chairs within the same price range.  

Stock images and generic artwork 

framed mixed media art and potted plant
 Photo by Sylwia Pietruszka on Unsplash​​

Art should absolutely have a place in your home, but you have to curate them. Do not just go on the internet and google a picture of your favorite landmark (or worse, a messy line drawing of your favorite landmark). Look for high quality images by talented photographers who are willing to share their work for free or a low price. We live in an age where we can get digital prints of artworks. This is great because not everybody can afford real paintings. We get to discover different artists and support them by purchasing their prints for a fraction of the price of their original paintings. You can be picky about what you put up on your walls because there are millions of images to choose from. Also, take into consideration the color and theme of your home when choosing your prints.  

Greenery that is obviously fake 

book shelves with hanging plants
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash  ​​

Let’s face it, those plastic vines that you hung from your ceiling does not look cute anymore. It’s time for it to go. Fake plants are not always a no-go, but they have to pass for real plants. Make sure the fake plants you are buying have a realistic color and texture. A way to make plants look more real (especially vines) is to put them in a pot and drape them in a way that looks natural. It also helps when you put them in high places like on top of a shelf or in a plant hanger. This way, they are too far away for people to catch the parts of the plant that do not look organic. Of course, opting for real plants is still the better option. They do not only are real, but they also help purify your air. But, if you have a black thumb, just be sure that your fake plants are disguised very well.                                                                                                                                                   

In the end, you have to do what makes you happy in your own home. However, having interior decor that is pleasing to the sight always help elevate your mood. Live your best life by making your home’s decor the best it can be.

 

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