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' house.
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.
Even if you're single or sleep alone, why not add another bedside table? It'll make your room look more symmetrical, make your guests feel more invited, and not to mention, you've got a full extra space to store your books and mugs of morning coffee.
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.
Not to mention, 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.
Linoleum flooring
Linoleum is durable, it's inexpensive, and comes in lots of colors and patterns. It was a favorite material for kitchens and bathrooms from the 1930s through the 1960s. But when it ages, linoleum is downright ugly.
It can develop dark brown cracks that run in all directions and ruin the appearance of your floors. If your linoleum is curled up at the edges, it's probably curling itself into a coffin for the germs underneath, which may make your house unpleasent to visit.
Moss
Your walkway or driveway can be the first impression of your house and it sets the tone for the whole experience. If you want people to enjoy their time at your house, you should do what you can to make it easy for them.
If you've got moss growing everywhere, it attracts bugs and makes everything look kind of gross. With a power washer, you can get rid of all that overgrown foliage with minimal work on your part.
Creaky floors or stairs
The squeaky floorboards and the creaky staircases in your house can be a source of anxiety for you and your family. What's worse, they're also a pain for guests.
No one wants to think about all the weight they're putting on their house when they step onto a creaky floor or go up the stairs.
Mismatched flooring
You've heard the saying "Less is more." It applies to decorating as well. If you have different types of floors in your house, it makes the place look disjointed and dated.
This kind of setup makes it seem like your house is a collection of rooms rather than a well-thought-out home and can make guests feel uncomfortable.
Mismatched furnishings
It's possible that your place is full of eclectic pieces picked up from all over the globe, but it may not be making your home feel warm and welcoming.
However, if things aren't cohesive, if you walk into a home and everything seems mismatched, that immediately creates an uneasy feeling. Even if it's just a doorknob that doesn't match the rest of the home, it gives off an air of "disrepair", which is unsettling when entering someone else's home.
Fluorescent lighting
Chances are, your kitchen is the first room people see when they come to visit. What's the first thing they see? Your ceiling light. If that's a fluorescent fixture, we're sorry - that's probably not a great first impression.
Fluorescent lighting can make you feel like you're trapped in an interrogation room or a waiting area at the DMV - or even worse, your high school biology lab. This might be why your guests hate coming over.
Rainfall showers
Rainfall showerheads are rather extravagant for residential use. You might be thinking that the water will feel more like a warm summer rain, but it really doesn’t. The water droplets are about the size of a pea, and they fall down more like a trickle than a flow.
Instead of being able to enjoy rainfall showerheads, we find ourselves wishing they were regular showerheads so we could actually be clean!
Tile countertops
Like other popular kitchen trends from the ’70s and ’80s - like avocado appliances and brown cabinets - square tile countertops are a style that's considered "totally yesterday."
Tile countertops are built with grout between the tiles, which can get dirty over time. It requires special cleaning products and a lot of elbow grease to keep them looking shiny and new.
Word art
There are plenty of generic wall decors out there - plaques with words like "Family," "Home," or "Love." It's easy to grab one and slap it on your wall, but is that really the best choice for you?
A lot of people think these types of plaques are a clever way to inject personality into their home, but they ultimately end up being distracting and tacky.
Vertical blinds
Vertical blinds are such a pain in the neck. They get caught on everything, the cords get tangled in everything, and it's impossible to keep them open to the right size.
If you want some natural light in, but still want some privacy, curtains are an excellent choice. They come in many different styles and fabrics that all have their own benefits.
Bean bag chairs
You may think that a beanbag chair is a great, inexpensive addition to your home. They're certainly comfy! However, a beanbag can help make a home look comfortable and cheaper than it actually is.
As an adult, you should make sure that your guests aren't struggling to stand up in their outfits because of the furniture you have in your home. So, if you have friends over or are entertaining for any reason, make sure there are chairs around where they can be seated comfortably.
Fake fruit
Faux fruit was all the rage in the '90s, but many of us have since ditched the plastic for real. It's not hard to see why: fake food can be a bit tacky, and there's nothing more grim than wiping the dust off a bowl of faux apples and oranges after years of neglect.
Not only does the fake food look bad with all of the dust collecting on it, but the dust itself was often a mix of dead bugs, dirt and pet hair. If you ever wanted to sneak a taste of your fake grapes, you were in for an unpleasant surprise.
Monograms
If you're the kind of person who loves to have your initials, name or other personal message on everything from towels, sheets and pillows to mugs and jewelry, that's all well and good. However, putting up letters everywhere in your home can be a little odd for guests.
To avoid this, try and keep your monogrammed items limited to just one or two places Also, try and avoid having too many items with your name on them in areas where guests will be.
Glass furniture
It's no wonder that so many people have at least one glass table in their apartment: they're elegant, modern and versatile. But they still require constant care and attention (ie. wiping down) to keep them looking good for the long term.
If you have frequent guests, maybe swap out your glass table in the common areas for something more durable – especially if your guests are always on edge trying not to smudge the surface.
Floating stairs
Floating stairs are an oft-used (and often hideous) mechanism for the lofted areas of a home, but they're a lot more dangerous than you might think.
If your guests are walking up and down these stairs, they’re not only risking their lives by teetering on the edge between life and death with every step, but they’re also exposing themselves to unnecessary stress.
Too many statement pieces
This isn’t to say that statement pieces are always bad choices. They’re really nice for adding a focal point to otherwise minimalist spaces.
However, all of these statement furniture pieces may look great in pictures, but in real life, they actually make a room feel shapeless and disjointed.
High-pile rugs
A high-pile rug is fantastic for adding a cozy, lived-in touch to your home, but there's no getting around the fact that they're a pain to clean.
The long, shaggy fibers attract all kinds of filth from your bare feet as you shuffle across the room and from your pets as they traipse in and out of the house. They attract dirt-like magnets, which offer any guests with allergies a sneezing fit.
Outdoor cushions
Why would anyone choose white outdoor cushions, knowing they'd be a pain to clean and keep looking nice? It's because of the timeless elegance of their look.
White cushions go with a variety of styles, from traditional to contemporary. They're an easy way to make your surroundings feel fresh and clean. But in reality, white isn't always white — it can start looking dingy after only a few minutes on the sun-soaked patio!
Open-concept bathrooms
Open-concept bathrooms are the worst. Unless you're an exhibitionist, there's no reason to have your toilet and bathtub in plain sight of where you sleep.
If your guests are forced to sleep in this situation, it could easily leave them feeling grossed out or like they didn't get as much privacy as they would have liked. There's also the potential for some awkward moments during their visit.
Mirrored furniture
Mirrors are great in some settings, but in the home, they can be tricky. That's why designers say to use them with care. When it comes to furniture design, mirrors on dressers, tables, desks and nightstands are an outdated trend that is more likely to be considered tacky than tasteful.
If you're still tempted to add some bling to your home with a mirror or two: consider doing so with a light fixture by using crystal pendants. It's still a shiny and glamorous effect, but it's less tacky than actual mirrored furniture.
Round beds
Round beds are one of the more bizarre design trends to come out of the 60s. First popping up in futuristic showrooms, they were never really meant for daily use.
A survey in the United Kingdom found that 17 percent of people voted round beds as one of the worst design trends in history.
Furry toilet seat covers
Surprisingly, there's a lot of variation in what people think makes a bathroom ugly. That said, one thing is universally hated: the fuzzy toilet seat cover.
Not only do they look like someone left a giant matted hairball on your toilet seat, but they're just as unhygienic and hideous!
Carpeted walls
If you've ever been to someone's home and noticed that the walls were carpeted, you might have asked yourself, "Why would people do this?"
Carpeted walls are kind of gross, and not just that they're difficult to vacuum. If you want your home to be a space where you can entertain guests without feeling self-conscious about the decor, consider getting rid of those carpeted walls.
Ruffled bedding
In the '80s, everything on your bed was covered in ruffles. From the sheets to the comforter to the pillows to, yes, even your bed skirt.
The goal was to look like you lived as a Victorian family would - minus all of the germ-ridden beds they used to sleep on. If this isn’t the vibe you want to portray to guests, consider ditching the over-abundance of ruffles.
Tribal décor
While tribal decorations may be super trendy right now, mass-produced products don't do much to showcase the culture of the tribes they're meant to represent.
To avoid being accused of cultural appropriation, it's best to go for tribal prints that are more artisan-made or at least craftily put together. Better yet maybe visit the countries and learn about the culture before displaying it on your walls.
Taxidermy
Taxidermy has been around for centuries, and it's still going strong. While this art form that involves stuffing animal carcasses to make them appear alive has become increasingly controversial in recent years, it hasn't completely lost its appeal.
A survey found that taxidermy is the second-most hated décor trend of all time, and it's easy to see why. Some people find it gaudy or creepy; others just think it's outdated.
Plastic furniture covers
Plastic furniture covers are a necessary evil for most of us. They prevent ugly stains and scratches on your good furniture, but they’re not exactly comfortable or attractive.
It’s an awkward look — not to mention an uncomfortable one — to see everyone who sits down in your living room sink into the plastic cover instead of having a nice, plush cushion to rest on. The plastic just makes your guests feel like they aren’t allowed to relax and be themselves in that space.
Inflatable furniture
Inflatable furniture seems like a great idea on paper. It’s light, it’s portable, it takes up little space when not in use. But inflatable furniture has some flaws that make it more trouble than it’s worth.
Most inflatables are made of plastic, which means they get hot to the touch in an enclosed space. They are also uncomfortable for your guests to sit on. Finally, there's the hassle factor - they require hoses and pumps to inflate and deflate.
Hunting trophies
Even people who eat meat don't like to look at dead animals on their walls. Many, if not most, of your guests will have some level of discomfort or unease when confronted with the disembodied heads and hides of creatures - and it may be enough to turn them off from visiting your home in the future.
Keep hunting trophies to a minimum, keep them out of plain sight, and make sure they represent only a small part of your interests. Nobody wants to see someone's prized boar head staring into their bedroom as they get dressed for work in the morning.
Edison bulbs
Vintage Edison light bulbs were all over the home decor scene in the early 2000s, and many people still have them in their homes. They're a relic of a time when glowing light bulbs were cool.
But they're not cool anymore - they don't fit with today's decor. And if you're still using them, you might be doing yourself a disservice.
Children's toys on the floor
There's nothing worse than stepping into someone's house and having to keep your eyes peeled on the carpet to make sure you don't get a nasty Lego-shaped surprise impaling the bottom of your foot.
If you've got guests coming over, please, please make sure that you pick up every last toy off the floor.
Moldy ceilings
The large, green damp spot on the ceiling will undoubtedly catch the eye of any visitors that you are hosting.
Also, it's going to be detrimental to your health in the long run, so you should get it sorted as soon as you can. Oh, and don't just paint over it.
Too many mirrors
It's not fun to keep catching stray glimpses of the back and side of your head when you're trying to have a nice time at a dinner party.
You may well have read articles that tell you strategically placed mirrors can increase a room's perceived size, but that doesn't mean you should be covering entire rooms with them.
Loud music
It's not a bad thing to put a little music on in the background to set the mood for the evening.
Just keep it to a fairly low volume, you don't want to have to be shouting over it or straining to hear other people.
No toilet paper
Checking whether you have a toilet roll, maybe a spare too, in your house's main toilet is super important when hosting guests.
It will save any potential embarrassment on their end, and save you that shame when you go into that toilet when everyone is gone and realize what you've done.
Lack of parking
You'll likely notice a drop-off in visitors if your house doesn't have adequate parking, or requires guests to park in an expensive public car park 10 minutes down the road.
This is a tough thing to try and change, but nevertheless, it will make people apprehensive about coming round to your house.
Loud ticking clocks
Manual clocks can be a great decoration in the house, but also a major distraction if they tick too loudly.
It's the sort of noise you've probably become accustomed to if you live in a clock-heavy house, but it's something that could likely annoy your guests.
Not having any dairy milk
If you're an alternative-milk drinker, it could help you if you buy a carton of the normal stuff for when your guests come round.
Not everybody will be a fan of having oat milk, soy milk, or goat milk in their cup of tea. Veganism is admirable, sure, but it's not for everyone.
Persistently offering more food
If somebody says that they are full up after you've cooked them a meal, don't try to force even more food in their face.
Persistent questioning about whether somebody wants any more food will soon become annoying and leave your guest, or guests, feeling uncomfortable.
Flashing lights
If you've got a lot of electrical items in your house, there's a high chance that you'll have an abundace of small flashing lights dotted around the place.
These will largely go unnoticed by the homeowner but can be infuriating for guests, especially those who are staying for the night.
Dolls on display
One way to deter people from wanting to enter your home is by having creepy dolls chilling out on the windowsill, mantelpiece, on a shelf, or anywhere in the house.
Even if you have inherited them from a dearly missed relative, or they make you feel young again, horror movies have ruined their once-good-natured reputations forever.
Overly formal atmosphere
You may want to put on a great spread that your guests will remember, but you don't have to do this in an overly formal way.
A great atmosphere is 90% of a successful dinner party, so make your guests feel relaxed and welcome.
Playing too many games
Sometimes guests want to relax and chat, not be pestered into playing the eighth game of charades that night.
If you try too hard to get people to play along with you, it will not only look desperate, but it will make your guests feel highly uncomfortable.
Decorative mottos
In the year that we are in, you shouldn't have to be told that the phrase Live, Laugh, Love has lost all its weight and meaning.
So don't have it plastered around the house on various decorative items, and certainly don't have it painted on the wall in some calligraphic font.
Lack of seating
Getting everyone sat down and comfortable is the first important task for every host, which will be a struggle if there isn't enough adequate seating in the house.
It's also really uncomfortable for guests if one person is sitting on the floor, or if there is a small huddle of people standing up.
Faulty/no doorbell
Guests don't want to be banging on your front door like a disgruntled debt collector just to be let in to your house.
Make sure your doorbell is in good order before they arrive, or at least let them know beforehand if it's broken, so they can drop you a message when they arrive.
Small rugs in big rooms
Both rugs and rooms come in all shapes and sizes, so the least you can do is match them as best you can.
Having a tiny rug in a small room will look off-kilter as if you've decided to put the rug through the washing machine on an ultra-hot cycle.
Huge self-portraits
Some self-portraits will work in the home if they are placed in the correct places and if they are of a modest size.
Hanging a huge self-portrait in your home will make you look vain, as though you are trying to be a Tudor monarch.
Too many Christmas lights
One of the nicest parts of Christmas is hanging up your decorations, making the interior and exterior of your home look charming and festive.
However, it's important not to go overboard with the lights, as you'll keep your neighbors awake at night, rack up a huge electricity bill, and potentially lure landing aircraft off their flight path.
A glaringly obvious trophy cabinet
You might get away with having a showpiece trophy cabinet in your house if you're an elite athlete or a Grammy Award-winning musician.
If you're just wanting to show off your college spelling bee awards or your employee of the month plaque, it won't have the same effect.
The house is difficult to find
This is a hard one to change on a whim, unless you live in a mobile home, of course.
However, your friends will be unenthusiastic about coming to your house if they have to cross three borders, traverse a farmer's field, and enter through a magic wardrobe to find it.
Wonky art pieces
In an age where you have access to spirit levels on your mobile device, there is little excuse for your art pieces to be wonky.
Even an inch deviation can throw off the look of a room, as well as reduce the credibility of your new-found love for Renaissance-era art pieces.
Runaway rugs
One of the key gadgets anyone needs in a home is anti-slip rug stoppers that prevent your rugs from moving underfoot.
Not only will they keep your rug in the place where you think it looks best, but they will stop your guests from slipping and sliding around like inexperienced skateboarders.
Uneven table legs
At some point in time, everyone has experienced the frustration of the uneven table leg, rocking your dinner plate around like a low-magnitude earthquake.
Don't resort to slipping a bit of paper underneath the offending table leg. Put in the hard yards and fix it properly, or check the decor budget to see if it's time for a new table.
Celebrity shrines
You may be a great fan of Joey from Friends, or you may have a huge crush on your favorite singer, but you don't have to taint your house with an outward show of appreciation.
Put away the tealights, slide the posters back underneath your bed, and lock away your undying love in the safety of your heart.
Four-poster beds
Princess Fiona called, she wants her bed back. Four-poster beds are not a demonstration of luxury, they make your room look like you've been locked away for years waiting for Prince Charming.
There is no need for your bed to be held together by four seven-foot wooden poles, it's overbearing and pretentious.
Elaborate soundsystems
Having an elaborate surround-sound speaker system is all well and good, until you start telling everyone you've ever met about it.
People generally won't be as impressed as you are, even less so your neighbors, who will quickly grow frustrated with hearing Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits on repeat.
Mega TVs
Sorry film bros, but Jean-Luc Godard's pioneering work during the French New Wave movement of the early-to-mid-'60s will still look good on a regular-sized screen.
Televisions can easily overpower rooms if they are too big, especially if the room they are in isn't huge.
Clothes rails
Having a clothes rail in place of a wardrobe sneakily slipped itself back into fashion in recent years while nobody was looking.
The minimalist metal structure will make your bedroom look like a clothes shop, and will likely result in your friends trying to purchase your favorite outfits from you.
Half-empty bookshelves
It makes for upsetting viewing when you only own half a shelf's worth of books, and they're sprawled out like fallen dominoes.
If your budget won't stretch to gathering the remaining books required to fill the shelf, insert some bookends and keep your literature upright.