You might want to rethink those floating shelves.
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Theres nothing that elevates a home quite like the touch of an interior designer.
Professionals know how to make spaces feel unique, complete, and sleek.
Photo:Izusek/Getty Images
Here are 14 things that interior designers would never have in their own homes.
Synthetic Carpeting
Bethany Adams ofBethany Adams Interiorssays designers never install synthetic carpeting in their homes.
I get itcarpeting is expensive!
Wool carpet is naturally flame-resistant, which makes it a safe choice for nurseries and kids' rooms.
If wool carpet isn’t quite in your budget, wait for a sale oropt for an area ruginstead.
She adds that “a towel bar over a toilet is a big no-no.”
All good design needs to be anchored and grounded within a space.
The trend of randomly floating shelves in a room feels very disparate from the other pieces in the room.
Instead, opt for a thoughtfully designed etagere or built-in bookcases.
Plain Ceilings
Don’t forget about the fifth wall!
Not doinga special treatment on the ceilingcan really make a room look lackluster.
This also has the effect of opening up the room.
The sky (or the ceiling!)
is the limit so think beyond paint if you’re feeling experimental.
Patrick recommends wallpaper or even gold leaf to really jazz things up.
Clunky and cumbersome, barn doors should be regulated to their original use.
I don’t like design that doesn’t fit within the original architecture of a space.
Velten prefers traditional work tables, cozy banquette nooks, and even custom pieces, over large structures.
Fortunately, its an easy fix.
Nice hardware can be purchasedfairly inexpensivelyand requires just a screwdriver to install.
Adams particularly dislikes builder-grade brass-plated door hardware.
Exposed Wires
A flat-screen television can look sleek, but hanging wires ruin the look.
Wires should be installed behind the wall.
“Do not use these for your kitchen dishtowel or entryway tote bags!”
But a plastic curtain alone, no matter the design, is never chic."
