12 Decorating Rules You Should Never Break (or Almost Never)

Follow these 12 decorating rules you should never break for a beautiful, balanced home that feels welcoming and cohesive.

Even the most beautifully styled home can benefit from following a few decorating rules you should never break or almost never. These timeless guidelines are not about chasing trends or starting over. They are about using what you already have and making thoughtful choices that bring cohesiveness, beauty, and flow to every room.

Good decorating is part art and part know-how. Small changes, like moving a chair, editing accessories, or refining your color palette, can make a big difference. Whether your design style leans traditional, transitional, or somewhere in between, these rules will help it feel comfortable, balanced, and pulled together.

I’m not an interior designer, but over the years, I have learned that these rules always lead to prettier, more welcoming rooms. They make decorating simpler, more intentional, and much more rewarding. Follow them and you will love how your home looks and feels every day.

Use What You Love

The best decorating rule is to surround yourself with things you truly love. When a home reflects your taste and the pieces that make you happy, it always feels welcoming and personal. Decorating is not about following every trend or having perfect rooms. It’s about creating spaces that tell your story and make you feel comfortable the moment you walk through the door.

If you love something, it will always have a place in your home.

Use What You Have

This is one decorating rule I never break. Before buying something new, take a good look around your home. Often, you already have what you need to make a room feel refreshed and beautiful. Move furniture, lamps, art, or accessories from one space to another to give them a new purpose and look.

Using what you already have keeps your home feeling collected and personal. It also helps you see your decor in a new way and appreciate what you own. A few thoughtful changes can make a room look updated and more pulled together without spending a thing. Using what you already have keeps you from making unnecssary purchases.

At Tanglewood, I’m always rethinking what I already have. A lamp from our white buffet now lives on a bar cart in the dining room. A drink table from the sunroom is a nice addition next to a chair in our living room, and a lampshade from the basement makes a lamp in our bedroom look new. Rearranging and restyling what’s already here keeps my home feeling current and collected without spending a thing.

Update What You Have

Sometimes a simple update can make something old feel brand new again. Paint, fabric, or new hardware can completely change the look of a piece. Updating what you already own helps your home evolve with your style and keeps it fresh from season to season. I love this!

Easy ways to update what you already have:

• Paint a mirror, lamp, vase, or small table in a fresh color
• Reupholster or slipcover a chair
• Replace hardware on drawers
• Switch out lamp shades for a clean new look
• Use leftover fabric or wallpaper to line drawers or trays

Making these small updates is one of the easiest ways to refresh your home and give it new life.

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Use A Consistent Color Palette

A consistent color palette is one of the easiest ways to make a home feel cohesive and calm. When the same colors repeat from room to room, your spaces flow together and look intentional. It’s less about using the exact same shades and more about keeping your colors related and balanced.

At Tanglewood, I’ve found that staying within a simple palette of neutrals and a few favorite accent colors helps every room feel connected. Pillows, art, and even flowers all work together because they share similar tones. If your home feels disjointed, look first at your colors. A thoughtful palette can make your rooms look instantly pulled together.

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Always Choose The Right Size Rug

The right rug can anchor a room and make it feel finished. A rug that’s too small can make even a well-decorated room look awkward. As a general rule, the front legs of your furniture should rest on the rug, or the rug should be large enough to define the entire seating area.

I’ve learned that getting the size right makes everything else in a room look better. At Tanglewood, our dining room came together only after I replaced a smaller rug with one that fit the space correctly. It instantly made the room feel balanced and welcoming. This is a rule I learn the hard way! But I’ll never make this mistake again! Let me be your cautionary tale, friend!

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Don’t Push All Furniture Against The Walls

One of the easiest ways to make a room feel more welcoming is to bring some of the furniture away from the walls, even just a little. Many home decorators tend to place furniture against walls to create more space. However, placing furniture such as sofas, chairs, and end tables closer together creates a room with a more intimate, conversational feel.

Leaving a few inches of breathing room can soften a space and make it feel more balanced. In smaller rooms where everything can’t be pulled out, try moving one or two pieces forward to create a sense of depth. Items like a drink table can be floated next to an accent chair, or a piece of furniture can be angled away from a corner just a little.

Small adjustments can make a big difference in how a room looks and feels. It is less about floating every piece and more about giving your furniture room to breathe.

Choose The Right Scale

Getting the scale right in a room is one of the most important decorating rules to follow. The size of your furniture, lighting, and art should all feel in proportion to one another and to the space they fill. When something is too large or too small, it can throw off the balance of the entire room.

If a room feels a little “off,” look at the size of what’s in it. A lamp might be too tall, a table too small, or a piece of art hung too close together. When the scale is correct, everything feels balanced and comfortable.

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Don’t Forget Negative Space

Negative space is simply the empty space around your furniture and decor. It gives the eye a place to rest and helps a room feel calm and balanced. When every inch is filled, even the prettiest spaces can look cluttered or busy.

Editing a room is just as important as decorating it. If something feels crowded, try removing one or two items. You will be surprised how much better a room looks when it has a little breathing room.

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Edit, Don’t Clutter

Editing is one of the best decorating habits you can develop. Every room looks better when it has a little breathing space. When too many things compete for attention, even beautiful items lose their charm.

Keep the pieces that serve a purpose or bring you joy, and let go of the rest. Fewer, well-chosen items make a room feel peaceful and put together. Sometimes removing one thing can make everything else look better.

I often use my phone to take pictures of a room when I’m editing. It’s amazing what those photos can reveal that I might not notice in person. Seeing a space through a lens helps me spot clutter, awkward arrangements, or things that just feel off. Think of your phone as a decorator’s assistant that gives you an honest second opinion before you start moving things around.

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Let Every Room Have A Focal Point

Every room needs one main feature that draws the eye to it and sets the tone for the space. It could be a fireplace, a large piece of art, a beautiful window, or even a statement mirror. A clear focal point keeps a room from feeling scattered and helps everything else fall into place.

Once you identify your focal point, decorate around it. Arrange furniture to highlight it and keep other elements supportive rather than competing for attention.

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Hang Curtains The Right Way

Curtains can completely change how a room feels. When they are hung correctly, windows look taller, ceilings appear higher, and rooms feel more polished. The most common mistake is hanging curtains too low or too close to the window frame.

Hang your curtain rods several inches above the window and extend them past the sides of the frame. This lets more light in and gives your windows a grander look. Choose panels long enough to just touch the floor for a tailored and finished appearance.

Balance Old And New

A mix of old and new pieces gives a home personality and depth. Rooms that have only new furnishings can feel flat, while too many vintage items can look dated. The right balance makes a space feel curated and interesting.

I don’t have any cherished family furniture that’s been passed down. So, I’m carefully collecting vintage pieces that will become treasured home decor. Right now I’m looking for an antique table for our foyer. Take your time: if you need a few older items to personalize and create a storied look in your home, choose things you love and, hopefully, pass on to your family.

When adding something new, pair it with an older piece to create contrast and character. The mix keeps your home from feeling one-note and makes every room more inviting.

Other Rules To Pay Attention To

These extra decorating rules might not make the main list, but they are worth keeping in mind. Each one can make a quiet difference in how your home looks and feels.

Other rules to remember:

• Measure before you buy. Always check dimensions so furniture and rugs fit the way you expect.
• Mix textures and materials. A combination of wood, glass, metal, and fabric keeps a room interesting.
• Be careful with trends. Add them in small ways so your home stays timeless.
• Consider the view from room to room. Coordinating colors and styles helps your home flow beautifully.
• Add something natural. A plant, basket, or branch adds warmth and life to any space.
• Hang curtains correctly. Mount curtain rods high and wide to make windows appear taller and rooms feel more spacious.
• Add layers to every room. Combine lighting, textures, and materials to make a space feel cozy and complete.
• Include something personal. Let your home tell your story through meaningful pieces, heirlooms, or art that speaks to you.
• Balance function and beauty. Choose decor that looks lovely and also fits how you live every day.
• Avoid over themed rooms. A few thoughtful nods to a theme look beautiful, but too much can make a room feel dated or predictable.
• Pay attention to lighting. Good lighting creates warmth, balance, and comfort in every room. Use a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting for the best results.
• Hang pictures at eye level. Art that’s too high or too low throws a room out of balance. As a general guide, hang artwork so the center of the piece is about 57 inches from the floor, or at the average viewer’s eye level.

Good decorating is not about perfection. It is about creating a home that feels right, looks welcoming, and reflects who you are. These simple rules are meant to guide, not limit, and they can help every home feel more beautiful and personal.

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FAQs: Decorating Rules You Should Never Break

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Good decorating isn’t complicated. It’s about paying attention to the details that make a home feel balanced, comfortable, and personal. These decorating rules aren’t meant to limit you but to guide you toward choices that always work.

When you follow a few tried and true principles—and use what you already have and love—your home will reflect your style in the most natural way.

Take a walk through your rooms with a fresh eye. Notice what feels right and what might need a little change. You’ll be surprised how small adjustments can make your home look more pulled together and welcoming every day.

If you found this post helpful, I’d love for you to save it to Pinterest or share it with a friend who loves decorating too.

Happy decorating, friend..