January 1, 2022, 5:14 am | Read time: 3 minutes
When I recently visited my friend, I was almost startled. Her new roommate, who has a penchant for flea market finds and used furniture, mixed her entire collection with the existing furnishings. The apartment turned into a dusty museum. Now, there’s nothing wrong with using selected vintage furniture and decor from flea markets to design a home. But please, in moderation—the dose makes the poison!
Yes, when designing your own four walls, a lot can go wrong if you don’t follow certain rules. After all, everyone wants a beautiful and stylish home where they feel truly comfortable. Often, you wonder what’s missing and what went wrong with the decor, as the apartment seems too outdated and could use an update. So, what are the tricks to avoid decorating mistakes? Our interior expert explains why an apartment looks outdated and how to change that.
Overview
1. Only Use Furniture from the Flea Market
Of course, it’s fun to go to the flea market and buy something for your home. But with all due respect, it doesn’t have to be the entire setup! Otherwise, it can quickly happen that the apartment looks outdated. Even though the vintage style is currently trendy, you can still overdo it.
So, if you don’t want your home to look like a furniture donation center, you should stick to this rule: It’s all about the mix! It’s best to mix new with old to create a fresher and lighter atmosphere at home that comes across as modern and not outdated.
Related: Why I Put My Vintage Furniture Back in the Basement
2. The Wrong Lighting Makes the Apartment Look Outdated
Dim lighting is great for Halloween. But in an apartment, it’s out of place. A poorly lit room can quickly become oppressive and gloomy, making the apartment look outdated. It’s good to incorporate several accent lights in the room. The motto here is: use indirect lighting to create more brightness in the apartment. You can position several small lamps to highlight stylish furniture or decor elements, making them more visible. This creates interesting accents, and the room immediately looks much more modern.
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3. Too Many Accessories and Decor Elements
Decor is all well and good, but you can overdo it. Porcelain figures stand next to old chocolate Santas, and books you’ve been meaning to sort out for ages pile up next to framed photos and other knick-knacks. I know it’s sometimes hard to part with certain “favorite pieces.” However, the golden rule “Less is more!” also applies here. Tip: Try to create more space by sorting out decor and home accessories, as this makes the apartment feel lighter and less outdated.
4. Placing Furniture Directly Against the Wall
Are you wondering why the living room still looks outdated despite modern furniture? Take a closer look–could it be that the furniture is neatly lined up against the wall? If so, here’s a weekend project. It might annoy the neighbors, but it will certainly do the living room good. How about positioning the furniture differently, perhaps even moving it away from the wall?
A sofa also looks good when it’s more in the room. This not only creates a sense of coziness but also divides the room into different zones. Just give it a try!