Interior Designer Shares What She Would By no means Have in Her Dwelling

  • Insider requested an inside designer about what matters she wouldn’t have in her residence.
  • Small add-ons or gallery partitions with tiny items can insert litter to rooms. 
  • Instead of wall-to-wall carpet, opt for hardwood flooring throughout your place.

Insider spoke with Cathy Hobbs — a celebrity interior designer and owner of dwelling-staging company Cathy Hobbs Layout Recipes — to find out which traits and types she’d never ever have in her personal space.

Dried, artificial flowers can make a residence truly feel dated 

Dried, gray-ish fake flours in lit up shelf

Other dried plants can do the job much better.

Dzmitry Kaprusynka/Getty Photographs


While greenery — which includes fake choices — can incorporate lifestyle to your space, Hobbs stays absent from artificial dried flowers when coming up with her house. 

“These usually really feel dated and previous-fashioned in a modern decor plan,” she explained to Insider.

She rather proposed opting for artificial palm leaves, grasses, or succulents. 

The designer stays away from framed posters

When incorporating artwork into your dwelling, don’t basically body cheap posters. In accordance to Hobbs, that appear can carry down your room.

She said you can opt for an affordable wall hanging or framed photograph if you are unable to find the money for canvas artwork. 

You will never come across acrylic or plastic decor parts in her residence

Hobbs stays absent from acrylic and plastic furnishings or equipment, even although they are cheap.

“Not only do these products generally crack, but they also are likely to look ‘milky’ around time,” she instructed Insider.  

She encouraged on the lookout for a long lasting alternate, such as a product which is ideal for both equally indoor and outdoor use.  

She avoids gallery partitions total of compact pieces

A neutral-toned living room with a gallery wall of art

Gallery partitions usually are not often wonderful for anchoring your area.

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock


While generating a “wall of small issues” — or an eclectic gallery wall — may possibly be an effortless way to fill up blank area, you will not likely discover this decor option in Hobbs’ house.

In its place of a wall with frames and mirrors of a variety of dimensions, the designer proposed heading for large, daring items to better anchor your space. 

Tiny parts and components can search like clutter

In the same way, household equipment, accents, and other items that are much too little frequently generate visible clutter, according to Hobbs. 

She as a substitute advised choosing out bigger decor pieces that’ll support to floor your place without the need of becoming a visible distraction. 

Hobbs would not overcrowd her bookshelves

Living room with sofa, art, and clean wooden bookshelf

Preserve house open up on your bookshelf for a minimalist search.

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock


Even nevertheless bookshelves are wonderful for storage, you should not overfill them with all of your textbooks and trinkets. 

Hobbs prompt leaving some cabinets empty for a minimalist search.  

She avoids the ‘overworked’ seem in household places of work

According to the designer, there’s no motive to go away your workspace cluttered when you happen to be not making use of it. 

“Clear the clutter, and opt for a workspace in which function can be tucked away when not in use,” she said. 

You can decide on a desk with drawers or stow your goods in bins.

Blank walls in extensive hallways are a squandered decor chance

Hobbs will make positive to increase style factors to prolonged hallways and will at times use mirrors to elongate them. 

“Hallways seldom have windows or get considerably gentle,” she explained. “Adding mirrors can aid make these slim areas feel broader.” 

She swaps out wall-to-wall carpeting for hardwood floors 

White kitchen in home with hardwood floors

Hardwood floors are a popular decision.

Breadmaker/Shutterstock


The designer avoids wall-to-wall carpeting, regardless of how it can develop a seamless seem.

“The actuality is that for lots of, wall-to-wall carpeting sends a visible signal of ‘outdated,'” Hobbs advised Insider. 

She explained it is in your very best fascination to opt for hardwood flooring since most homebuyers want it. 

Vivid and stylish household furniture can go out of design and style

Though bright shades are undoubtedly pleasurable for main home furnishings items, Hobbs informed Insider that it really is ideal to stay neutral. 

“Alternatively of deciding on home furniture that might sense fashionable, opt for those people that will stand the exam of time,” she said. “Grey and cream are great foundational colors when deciding on major pieces such as sofas.”