It's difficult to have perspective when you're decorating your own house.

If you've been in a space for years and years, it seems like you end up collecting more and more "stuff" that piles up until you really have no clue what your original design motif was in the first place, if you even had one.

If you're getting worried that your friends are starting to snicker when they come over to visit, it might be time to re-evaluate your décor and eliminate any unsightly faux pas.

With this in mind, I decided to go to the experts and have them create a list of the top ten decorating faux pas, to help put it all back in perspective.

This list was created in a brainstorming session with the Interior Design students in ID 392 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The contributors include the instructor, Laura Bunselmeyer; and students Jamie Dodd, Stacey Farrar, Jessica Grafton, Jennifer Grandchamp, Tasha Harris, Katie Heins, Jasmine Henry, Jessica Iskrzycki, Traci Kahre, Brock Navarro, Jessica Nollman, Melissa O'Brien, Joanne Steffens, Kendra Swartz and Brittany Walls.

Less is more

Remember that not every knick-knack from loving children, spouses, friends, relatives, neighbors, church members, or holiday party gift swap need be on display in the curio cabinet or on open shelves. Editing what is on display allows people to better enjoy the special items that mean the most to you.

Identity crisis

Spaces that accumulate items over time end up having a mishmash of styles. Eclecticism is "in" right now, but no matter what the design shows might say, not everything goes.

If you are mixing styles or time periods, particularly with furniture or framed art work, try to keep a unifying theme such as scale, wood tone, or fabric color/pattern.

Color matching

Green is not green is not green. Color hue (the term for basic "colors" as we know them) can vary widely. If you are trying to match drapes to a specific color in the sofa print, take a swatch of the sofa print with you to the store. Most people have difficulty with "color memory" and simply grab the first green set of drapes they like, only to find they do not match that darn sofa at all when they get home!

Test the paint

Color looks very different under fluorescent, incandescent, or day light (sunlight). So before you buy gallons and gallons of Passionate Pink, get a tester packet (many paint stores now have very small test sizes available) or a quart size can and paint a sizable swatch (3 feet by 3 feet) in a spot that will see both day light and artificial light. It is the only way to know for sure just how passionate that pink will be.

Window treatment

Plastic mini-blinds, while inexpensive and functional, are not the answer to all of life's window openings. Even if fabric draperies are not a desirable option for you, try upgrading to a roman shade or wooden slat blinds. Even a small upgrade in window treatment can make a big difference.

Theme overdo

Having a consistent style or a common unifying theme is a good thing. But buying every kitchen item (toaster cover, hot plate cover, cutting board, tea pot, oven mitt, floor rugs, tile backsplash or the paper boarder at the ceiling line with that attractive ivy design can become a bit overbearing visually. Try to limit yourself to a few key items of focus to carry the theme.

Scale

A large expanse of wall with a great big oversized sofa along its length shouldn't have only one little bitty piece of art hanging above. While a variety of art is recommended, make sure the scale of the art works with the furniture and walls. If you have a collection of smaller art pieces, arrange them in a group to give the impact of a larger art piece.

Even lighting

Many rooms have only a single overhead light in the center of the room. This might be adequate to provide basic light in the space, but overhead lighting tends to give harsh shadows and often leaves the corners of room dark and dim.

Try placing lamps in key areas throughout the space to create an even level of light. Lamps have the added benefit of allowing you to create a variety of light levels which can impact the overall mood of a space.

Breathing room

The design shows on television speak about this a lot, but that's because so many of us do it.

We push all the furniture right up against the walls leaving a wide open "no man's land" in the middle of the room (that usually becomes the main traffic path!) and make it difficult for our guests to interact or our spouses to watch the game on Sunday.

Give the furniture some breathing room, pull it away from the wall and try arrangements that allow circulation around the space, not always straight down the middle.

DIY

There are a lot of decorating and home improvement shows on television these days; many of them providing great ideas and tips that the average homeowner can utilize to save money and upgrade home aesthetic. But, beware. A little DIY can go a long way and it is good to be honest about your level of time commitment and general ability when tackling jobs around the home.

ometimes it really is best to let the professional's help you hang those kitchen cabinets or renovate the bathroom. It's OK; no one will think less of you, we promise!

brent.stewart@thesouthern.com / 351-5074