Mistake #7: The Sea of Small, Pointless Objects
There’s a fine line between a curated collection and plain old clutter. A space filled with an abundance of small, disconnected decorative items—often called “knick-knacks”—creates visual noise. It makes a room feel chaotic and busy, which reads as unsophisticated. Each item competes for attention, and the overall effect is a devaluation of the space and the objects within it.
High-end design understands the power of negative space and intentionality. Every object in a well-designed room should have a purpose, whether it’s functional, beautiful, or personally meaningful. The goal is to edit, not accumulate. This is a core principle in avoiding the look of cheap decor.
The Sophisticated Solution: Think like a curator. Group smaller items together on a tray or in a bowl to give them collective importance. Vary the height, scale, and texture of objects on a surface to create a dynamic vignette. Most importantly, edit ruthlessly. Follow the “rule of three” for styling surfaces—grouping items in odd numbers is often more visually appealing. It’s better to have one large, impactful sculpture than ten tiny figurines.
—
