Sometimes you can follow every interior design guide and use every tried-and-true methods and yet the space still doesn’t come together. On paper, everything should work – the colours, the textures, the patinas and yet it doesn’t… It’s a frustrating experience. It can be hard to fix the elements that aren’t working, but it can be even harder to figure out what’s throwing off the look. I’ve put together 7 reasons why your space is feeling scattered rather than harmonized and what you can do to fix them.

At the time of posting, all linked items are currently available to purchase at Coast Consignment. Browse our inventory online at coastconsignment.com or give us a call Tues-Sat 10am-5:30pm PST at 604-980-1110 

1.’Dishonest’ materials

Nowadays, a lot of furniture and home decor items are unfortunately made from some variation of plastic that is trying to behave like another material – fake wood, fake velvet, fake wool, even fake distressed rugs. These ‘dishonest’ items can leave your room feeling inauthentic and (for lack of a better word) cheap. You can easily choose ‘honest materials’ like real wood, metal, wool, cotton, glass, wicker, and more materials at affordable prices. No matter how simple the styling is, the space will feel more luxurious, authentic, and higher quality because you’re using true materials that aren’t pretending to be anything else.

In the image above, the live edge dining table is the focal point of the room. The quality and the authenticity of the table is immediate and obvious. I love the green velvet chairs with the table to add some softness and a bit of luxe, while the vintage rug provides a bit of pattern while staying neutral. The oversized vase on the table with some large branches adds a bit more life and lightness to the space. It all works together because it’s all being true to itself and yet it’s an incredibly simple space that’s been put together.

Shop the look: Hardwood Live Edge Dining Table, Set of 4 Melange Green Velvet Dining Chairs, and Antique Heriz Rug -9’x11’1

Such a simple yet impactful look and easy to recreate! We have a gorgeous live edge dining table in-store and the dark wood looks fantastic with the melange green velvet of the dining chairs. I love the organic shape of the table with the sculptural silhouette of the chair. I decided to go with this antique rug with some natural distressing to bring in some more colour and pattern into the space. It has faded beautifully over time and this kind of natural distressing just can’t be replicated. 

 

 

2. Zero personality

When everything is too uniform or overly done, the space feels flat. When all the furniture is from one place, the lighting is purely functional, and there’s no layering or personality, the space can feel boring and cookie-cutter. Add personality through meaningful layers, vintage finds, artwork you truly love, family heirlooms, or DIY projects. Incorporate pieces that tell your story and keep you home feeling authentic and timeless.

Personality shines through in this dining nook. I love the fun colours – the cornflower blue bench with the greens of the artwork and the pink flowers. It’s a simple space, yet feels playful and youthful without being overly colourful or complex. Not everything has to be patterned or deeply meaningful to add personality; a smart use of colour and shapes can create the same effect.

Shop the look: 47″ Round Knoll Saarinen Marble Table, Set of 4 Walnut & Ivory Dining Chairs, and Felted Green 56″ Bench

Let’s start with the basics – an iconic Saarinen tulip table. Our table has a marble top with some beautiful veining that will help add some extra visual interest. Next, mid-century modern inspired wood dining chairs with an upholstered seat – simple & timeless. Lastly, to add some fun, colour, and texture, we have this great felted banquette. I love the green upholstery paired with walnut and the white marble table helps keep the space a little lighter and brighter. These are pieces that can be found anywhere, can look good in any space, and easy to customize by choosing different fabrics, colours, and adding different decor pieces. 

 

 

3. Harsh Lighting

One of the quickest ways to diminish the atmosphere is with harsh overly bright lighting – especially an over reliance on recessed lights. This can make a home feel sterile and flat rather than warm and inviting. Thoughtful, layered lighting creates depth, mood, and intimacy which gives a more refined and sophisticated feel.  Start with surface mounts, pendants, or a striking chandelier for focal points then layer in sconces and lamps to create warmth and dimension.

The living space in the room above just glows and emanates a cozy and decadent atmosphere. The warm woods, patinas, and neutral shades work together so well to create an open and inviting space. Although the space has recessed lighting, the wall sconces and table lamps create a soft & warm glow that really adds to the atmosphere.

Shop the look: RH French Column Floor Lamp, Pair of William Switzer Oak Leaf Wall Sconces, and Glass Column Table Lamp

Keeping with the light and bright, I picked this RH floor lamp to mimic the straight lines of the floor lamp in the original image has. I love the simplicity of the floor lamp with the ornate William Switzer wall sconces. Lastly, I added this glass table lamp to mirror the floor lamp. Although it’s a larger table lamp, the glass column keeps it feeling lighter and not as visually heavy in the space. 

 

 

 

4. Matching furniture

As mentioned, furniture sets feel static and cold, like a showroom rather than a home someone lives in. Mix styles, finishes, and eras to bring life and give personality that’s been collected over time. Don’t be afraid to move things from room to room until the space feels right. Let it evolve. Avoid the urge of adding everything to your cart and instead acquire things over time. Not only will that create a layered more authentic space, but you’ll be sure to truly love the piece you’re buying and be excited to add it to your home rather than rushing to furnish a space.

The office in the photo above brings in pieces from many different styles – the overall look is warm, cozy, and a little masculine. I love the contemporary desk with acrylic legs paired with the traditional bergere chair used as an office chair. The leather armchair and the cowhide rug keeps the space casual, even with a more formal feeling desk chair.

Shop the look: Bensen ‘Homework 2’ Desk, William Switzer Louis Chair, and Vitra ‘Grand Relax’ Armchair & Ottoman

I love the pairing of a contemporary desk and an unexpected chair with a classic silhouette.  The Coast Consignment version pairs this stunning Bensen ‘Homework 2’ desk, with a similar coloured wood tone as the original image, with a contemporary chrome base and glass top. For the chair, I chose this Louis Bergere that has a subtle pattern in the fabric. Lastly, this matching leather armchair with ottoman adds a casual corner to lounge in. 

 

 

5. Undersized Art and Mirrors

Art  or mirrors that are too small can look awkward, like a singular idea or an afterthought rather than part of the story. A key element of an elevated home is the subtle but clear connection between all the elements from a wall colour to coffee table book, from a sofa to a lamp. The proportion of art, mirrors, or other wall decor as it relates to surrounding furniture is just as important as the colour, style, and content of the piece.

Everything is oversized in the image above and the effect is immediate & obvious. The simple smooth stone console table lies overtop of an intricately carved wooden chest. I love the symmetrical oversized table lamps that are covering just a bit of the oversized painting with thick gilded frame.

Shop the look: Parrot Tulips Original Artwork, Claud Di Papa ‘Metamorphose II’ Print, and Large Indonesian Mirror

Instead of recreating the look, I wanted to showcase the large artwork and mirrors that we have in-store. 

 

 

6. All White

All white can feel chic, but can also feel flat, cold, and uninviting. If you like an all-white or neutral aesthetic and want to preserve the brightness and airiness it provides while making it cozier, add some contrasting hues to help balance it out and evoke a sense of luxury. Brilliant white everything can feel disconnected, so even neutral schemes benefit from white with subtle undertones (like yellow or blue) that complement architecture and surrounding colours.

While maintaining an all-white aesthetic, the living room in the image above isn’t sterile due to the warmth and earthiness brought in through the wood sideboard, the black legs on the coffee table, and the organic-ness of the stone side table, chandelier, and floor vase.

 

 

Shop the look: Barrymore Linen Loveseat, LH 5th Avenue Coffee Table, and Jeremy Cole ‘Flax’ Chandelier

I wanted to keep the original aesthetic of the inspiration photo when recreating it with pieces currently available in-store. To start, we have this Barrymore love seat to echo the sofa in the image. Although they’re both neutral slipcovered sofas, the straighter edges to the Barrymore gives it a more contemporary edge which I used as a jumping off point for the other two pieces. The marble top LH coffee table is a much more contemporary shape to the one in the image, but I liked the juxtaposition with a more timeless silhouette (the slipcovered sofa) while still stying true to the original idea in the space. Lastly, I would argue that this Jeremy Cole chandelier is a bigger showstopper compared to the original chandelier in the image, but with each leaf being a handmade ceramic it still emulates a similar organic feel. 

 

 

7. Themes and Trends

Leaning too hard into one theme or trend (like coastal/nautical, farmhouse, rococo, etc) can date a home quickly if taken too literally and taken to the extreme. Instead take inspiration from it – pull elements you love and blend them thoughtfully with other styles for a more collected, personal look. When styling trends, try incorporating just a few pieces like a lamp, a chair, or some artwork before going all in.

The living space above is a nautical oasis, the soft colour palette keeping the space light and bright. The coastal theme shines through with the artwork and wall hangings, but they aren’t overwhelming the space or the eye. The organic shaped glass table lamps and wicker accents keep it with the beachy theme but can also work within many spaces.

Shop the look: RH ‘Maxwell’ 2-Cushion Linen Sofa, Charme Tan 47″ Leather Square Ottoman, and Map of Desolation Sound

The original image paired a large sofa with a large ottoman and I wanted to do the same. I love the contrasting materials of two pieces, the soft linen of the sofa with the structured leather of the ottoman, yet both natural and more casual materials. These two pieces are so versatile and can work with so many styles and can be a great jumping off point to add some more personal pieces or trendy pieces as mentioned above. With that being said, to keep with the coastal theme I added this amazing vintage map of Desolation Sound with a contemporary light wood frame. 

---

Do you have any tips for creating a more harmonized space? Let us know in the comments below!

Links:

• Homes & Gardens: The 7 Design Details That Make a Home Look Less Elevated – And How to Fix Them
• Room for Tuesday: Common Home Decor Mistakes that Make Your Home Look Dated – And How to Fix Them
• byrikkilee: Why Your Room Feels Cheap & Scattered Part 1