Let me tell you a short story. Once upon a time, you decorated a room. It went well! But… something was off. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it, but something just doesn’t fit perfectly. 

This, my friends, is what we call the ‘almost right’ problem; when your furniture and styling choices are great, but not working together exactly as they should. Fortunately, these small missteps are easy to fix once you know what to look for. Here are some of the most common near misses, and how you can get them right.

The Rug That’s Too Small

One of the biggest styling mistake culprits in any living room is a rug that’s simply too small for the space. It might sit neatly under the coffee table, but that’s about all it does. If it doesn’t connect your furniture, it can make the whole room feel disjointed.

A well-sized rug should anchor the space, ideally sitting under at least the front legs of your sofa. This instantly creates a more cohesive, pulled-together look, and makes the room feel larger and more intentional too — benefits all around, really!

The Sofa That Overpowers the Room

Almost the reverse to our previous problem, when you think about it. A large, comfortable sofa is always appealing, but if it dominates the room, it can throw everything else off balance, and honestly, it can just be a tad impractical. Tight walkways, blocked light, and cramped corners are all signs your sofa might be too big.

Instead of focusing on size, think about proportion. Your sofa should suit the scale of the room, leaving enough space around it to move freely, even when you add in things like coffee tables and other furnishings. If you’re working in a smaller space, go for a compact design like the Bianca over a bigger corner unit to keep things comfortable without overwhelming the layout.

The Coffee Table That Doesn’t Fit

Believe it or not, your coffee table can be the linchpin that takes down a perfectly styled living room. Too small, and it feels like a hasty afterthought. Too large, and you’ve got the beginnings of an obstacle course in your sitting room. Neither option is ideal.

A good rule of thumb is to choose a table that’s about two-thirds the length of your sofa, with enough space to move comfortably around it. Height matters here too! Aim for one that sits (roughly, this isn’t an exact science) level with your sofa seat cushions.

Mismatched Heights and Levels

This leads us on nicely to our next furniture faux pas. You can have lots of pieces that look great individually, but together, their mismatched heights can disrupt the overall feel of the room. Think about it; a very low sofa paired with a tall, bulky side table? Awkward, unbalanced, and annoyingly impractical too.

Try to keep visual lines consistent. Side tables should sit close to the height of your sofa arms (think about reaching for a mug of something hot — you need to eliminate possibilites for scalding), while lamps and accessories should complement, not compete with, the surrounding pieces.

Getting the Little Things Right

Often, it’s the small finishing touches that make or break a room. The devil really is in the details. Too few cushions, artwork that’s hung too high, or lighting that’s too harsh can all contribute to that ‘almost right’ feeling.

Take a step back, and look at the room as a whole. Adding texture, adjusting placement, or softening your lighting set up can elevate the space and really tie it together! Examine how your furniture works in conjunction with everything around it, too. Is there a side table tucked into a corner where nobody can reach it from the sofa? Or an awkwardly placed mirror hung where it doesn’t reflect any light, or serve as a spot to check your hair? Fixing these little details can make all the difference!