Stressful color scheme
We all have our own ideas about what makes a house a home. But one thing we often overlook is the effect that color can have on our wellbeing. Studies have shown that color has a huge impact on how we feel, so if the colors in your home are leaving people stressed out, fatigued or uncomfortable, you might want to re-evaluate your choices.
Not hiring an interior designer
If you want your home to feel inviting and warm, it helps to have a professional’s opinion, even if you’re not planning on doing any major renovations. If you’re not sure about what makes for a well-designed space, or even where to start when redesigning your home, just ask for some advice from an interior designer.
Too many indoor plants
Although you may enjoy the green in your home and love to nurture houseplants, you don’t want your home to look like a botanical garden. You likely have more houseplants than any one person needs, and they will take up visual space that could be used for things that are truly special. If they’re overgrown or ugly, consider tossing them out or giving them away.
Offensive décor
Of course, it’s fine to have a little stash of politically incorrect humor in your house that only you and your close friends can appreciate, but when people come over to visit, you don’t want to distract them by making them feel uncomfortable. So, if you have any artwork that could be potentially controversial, it’s best to put it away when company comes.
Cluttered countertops
Most of us don’t live in a Zen-like, clutter-free oasis. But if you want guests to feel welcome in your home, it’s important to make it easy for them to set their belongings down. You don’t want them to have to dig through stuff on the counter just to find a place for their keys or smartphone.
Too many rugs
Rugs are great for adding warmth and color to a room, but they can actually make a room look smaller and more cluttered. It’s also possible that a rug may clash with colors you’ve used on your walls or furniture. So, if you do want to use rugs, keep this in mind when choosing colors.
Unpleasant odors
Pet owners, be aware! If you want to welcome people into your home with open arms, you need to make sure that the first thing they encounter isn’t a putrid smell. Keep your pets clean, keep the litter pan clean, and take the dog outside regularly. Make sure your trash is always taken out on time. And finally, open some windows.
Lack of light
You know the old cliche about how a dark house is an unwelcoming one? Well, it’s true. You don’t even have to be home to put the lights on: some smart lights turn on and off at different times during the day, or you can have light switches that can be programmed. Either way, your house will feel warmer and safer for you and your family.
Messy yard
There’s a lot of pressure to have a beautiful yard. But it’s not just about making your home look good – it’s also about making sure that your property is safe and clean. Having a neat yard sets the tone for the kind of visitor your home will attract, and it will make sure they’re comfortable and happy once they get there.
Carpeted bathrooms
Carpeting in bathrooms is a decision that can cause even the most level-headed of people to scratch their heads and ask, “Why?” It’s just not a great idea. The biggest reason to replace it with something else? It’s gross. Carpet holds on to dirt, germs, and moisture like nobody’s business – the last thing you want under your feet when you’re drying off after a shower.
Infestations
If you’re startled by fleeing creatures when you turn on the lights in your home, just imagine how guests will feel when they encounter these critters! Now’s the time to say goodbye to all of these unwanted and unwelcome creatures. You can keep them out in the long run with a little preparation and preventative maintenance.
Popcorn ceilings
Even if you aren’t concerned about the dangers of asbestos, most people agree that popcorn ceilings are ugly. But if your home was built before the mid-1980s, it may have them. They’re also outdated and don’t allow for easy cleaning, so it’s best to get rid of them to avoid the potential health hazard lurking in your ceiling.
Uncomfortable temperature
Whether you prefer to keep things cool or like it on the hot side, the temperature of your home is one of the most important things that will make your guests feel comfortable. If you have a smart thermostat, it can help you to adjust your settings so that everyone feels at ease.
Too much external noise
Whether it’s the busy main road outside your apartment or your loud neighbours around the corner, noise can be a real nuisance. Luckily, there are ways to help dull the din and bring peace and quiet to your home. This is especially important if you’re having guests staying over at any point – you’ll want them to have a pleasant stay where they can relax.
No food or drink available
As soon as someone arrives, it’s important to offer them a drink and snack – even if you’re not hosting the type of event that allows for full-on food service. The goal is to make sure your guests feel welcomed right when they arrive – and having something to eat or drink can go a long way toward making people feel comfortable enough to relax.
Hostile pets
Whether it’s a brand-new puppy or a long-time family member, pets can be messy, smelly, and sometimes a bit unruly. Even if you love them to bits, sometimes it’s hard to remember that your friends and family who don’t live with pets might not be as accustomed to the nooks and crannies of pet ownership.
Too much dust
When your guests come to visit, they don’t want to spend time in a space that feels dirty. Your home should be welcoming and comfortable for them and should be an indication that you care about their comfort. A sparkling clean home will help set the right tone for your friends and family’s visits, and it will ensure that they have a pleasant stay.
Uncomfortable seating
The most obvious comfort mistake you can make is to have uncomfortable seating options. You want your guests to be able to relax and enjoy themselves without feeling like they’re going to fall off their seats or that their bodies are in pain. If you have uninviting sofas or bar stools instead of dining chairs, this could be a problem for you!
Too impersonal
If your home feels cold and uninviting, there’s a big chance it’s because you haven’t injected much personality into it. Even if you’ve done a lot of decorating to spruce up your abode, if you don’t have any personal touches around, it can feel just as impersonal as when you didn’t have any decorations at all.
Too minimalist
When it comes to entertaining, a minimalist aesthetic might not be the best option for a home. The bare-bones look can feel stark and cold, and some guests may feel too restricted in a space that is so clean and tidy. If you’re looking to create more warmth in your home, consider using color to your advantage.
Lack of privacy
The privacy of your home can be an important factor in whether your friends and family are comfortable visiting. If you’re worried that the lack of privacy in your home might be a factor in inhibiting friend activity, you have some solutions at hand. One way to tackle the problem is by implementing privacy measures, such as installing curtains, blinds, or shades on windows.
Thin walls
The first step in providing a relaxing environment for your guests is to consider how sound travels through your home. In houses with thin walls, sounds can travel easily from one room to another, especially if the two rooms share an adjoining wall. If this is an issue, you can minimize sound transfer by adding soundproofing material or another layer of drywall between the rooms.
Too much furniture
When choosing furniture, there are two main factors to consider: the layout and the arrangement. The layout is the spatial organization of all the furniture in the room, while the arrangement is how you arrange how it’s going to be used. For a comfortable environment, your furniture should be laid out in such a way that there is plenty of space for people to move around.
Vessel sinks
If you’ve ever had the luxury of a clean, clear sink to wash your hands in, you can understand why having an easy-to-clean sink is so important. However, it can be hard to clean around vessel sinks and they’re not user-friendly for most, especially short people, seniors, or those who have disabilities.
Pet hair
If you have your friends over for dinner and their clothes are covered in dog hair when they leave, they’ll probably be a little grossed out. It may even make them think your house is dirty. If you do own pets, it’s important to keep up with regular cleanings and vacuum maintenance so you don’t end up with pet hair all over your stuff.
Leather sofas
If you’ve got friends who don’t like hanging out at your house, it’s possible they’re not fans of your upholstery, especially if you’ve got leather couches, leather chairs, or even a leather sectional. Leather tends to be an uncomfortable material to sit on for most people. It sticks to the skin and can be heard all over the room just from someone shifting in their seat.
Knockoffs
When you buy knockoff designer pieces to show off your rich taste, you might fool some people into thinking you have the money to buy the real thing. But when you display your knockoff in your home, it gives off a totally different impression: that you’re trying too hard to look like someone else and will do anything to get attention.
Old-fashioned décor
When you get antiques passed down from family, you may feel like you have to display them, but this could be why your friends hate your house. Nobody wants to feel like they’re hanging out at their grandparents. If you’re reluctant to get rid of anything, at least hide it away in a box in the attic.
One bedside table
The lack of nightstands on both sides makes the bed feel lopsided and unbalanced. Walking into a bedroom with two nightstands on one side creates an impression of welcome and hospitality, but walking into a bedroom where there is only one nightstand creates a feeling of being forgotten or overlooked as if you’re not important enough to accommodate.
Too much coordination
When you’re decorating your home, the appeal of a matching set is undeniable. With one purchase, you can fill out your rooms and create a cohesive look. The problem with total matching is that it can come off as being too coordinated or too planned out, which can make your space feel cold and sterile.
Pullout beds
We all know the story: you invite your friends to a sleepover, and they tell you they can’t because there’s only one bed. You don’t want them to just go home, so you offer up your couch bed, but it’s uncomfortable and hard to sleep on. Your guests try their best to be supportive but it’s obvious that you’ve let them down.
Mismatched appliances
The last thing anyone wants to see in a friend’s home is a bunch of random appliances in different finishes. It can be ugly and unappealing, and the different hues can clash. They can also seem like an afterthought, especially if they’re not integrated with the décor, making the entire room seem like a mishmash rather than a cohesive look.
Themed rooms
We love a theme as much as the next person – the best part of decorating is that you can make a room exactly reflect your personality. But if you go too far with the theme, you risk making it look like you’re trying too hard, or worse, that you’ve already outgrown your decorating tastes.
Furniture against the walls
Ah, the classic dilemma: should you pull your furniture away from the walls or have it right up against them? Furniture against the wall might seem like a more logical choice. But in living rooms and family rooms, it can be tough to create an intimate atmosphere when there’s so much space between each piece of furniture.
Open shelving
Open shelving is a major trend in modern kitchens, but it often looks better on Instagram than it does in real life. Keeping things out in the open makes them more susceptible to dust and other mishaps. Not only will it make your otherwise beautifully styled kitchen look messy, but it can also be dangerous if you leave out sharp or other potentially dangerous tools.
Dining benches
Dining benches are a perfect way to get that rustic aesthetic without having to build heavy-duty, bulky wooden furniture. But they also have some major drawbacks – not the least of which is how incredibly uncomfortable they can be. It’s one thing to sit on a bench for a few minutes, but it’s another entirely to settle in for an entire meal.
Barn doors
Sliding barn doors are popular for their aesthetic value, but when it comes to actually functioning as a door, they’re lacking. Unless you live on a farm, that is. Sliding barn doors don’t actually do much to enhance privacy or noise control, and they aren’t effective at blocking out light, odors or preventing drafts, which can potentially make things awkward if you have guests staying.
Living walls
Living walls are a great idea in theory – they add greenery to the home without requiring a yard or garden space. They’re also aesthetically pleasing, with bold burst of color and texture. But in practice, living walls can increase the potential for mold, allergens and insects, so not everyone will appreciate these vertical gardens.
Fake plants
If you’re looking for a quick and affordable way to spruce up your home’s aesthetics, adding a fake plant or two can be a great option. Unfortunately, fake plants are typically made with sub-par materials that harbor dust, resulting in an unsightly mess over time and causing issues for any of your friends with allergies.
Mismatched exterior and interior
There is an unspoken custom in our society of matching the exterior design of your home with its interior. If your house looks like it belongs on a farm, then you are expected to have country-styled furniture and decorations inside. If you are going with a certain exterior theme, make sure you follow through with it when designing your interior. Otherwise, people will be confused.
