Halloween is a time for playful frights, but your home should never be scary for the wrong reasons. Sometimes a room feels slightly off, and it’s hard to pinpoint why. Often, the culprit is not the colour or furniture, but small design missteps that unsettle the balance of a space. With a few thoughtful tweaks, any room can feel elegant, harmonious, and full of charm, never spooky.
Floating Rugs
A rug adrift in the centre of a room immediately throws off proportion. When furniture sits completely off the rug, the space feels disconnected and smaller. Rugs should anchor seating areas, with at least the front legs of key pieces, such as sofas or armchairs, resting upon them.
Tip: When in doubt, size up. A slightly larger rug defines zones, balances scale, and makes the room feel more spacious.
Curtains That Don’t Kiss the Floor
Curtains that stop short of the floor can make even the most beautifully furnished room feel unfinished. The abrupt line draws the eye downward, visually lowering the ceiling and interrupting flow. Full-length curtains that just brush the floor, by contrast, add generosity and height, soften architectural edges, and lend quiet sophistication.
Tip: Hang curtains higher and wider than the window frame whenever possible. This simple adjustment elongates walls, maximises natural light, and makes the entire room feel grander and more balanced.
Lighting Without Layers
Relying solely on rows of ceiling downlights can make a room feel flat and harsh.
Tip: Layer your lighting by combining table lamps, wall lights, and floor lamps. Choose warm-toned bulbs to create a glow that flatters both the space and its occupants.
Bare Walls
Even the finest furniture cannot disguise empty walls. Art, textiles, or well-curated objects bring life and story to a space, transforming blankness into personality.
Tip: Mix textures and shapes by combining framed art, mirrors, or sculptural pieces for depth and character.
Theme Overload
A theme can inspire, but imitation often feels forced. Take Kit Kemp’s pop-up Caribbean Suite, inspired by her time in Barbados. Seaside motifs appear in embroidered fabrics and playful colours, subtly evoking the coast without turning the room into a stage set.
Tip: Let themes whisper, not shout. Subtle references feel more stylish than literal ones.
Fake Books
Few things chill design lovers more than imitation books. Authenticity is the essence of good interiors, and real books invite curiosity and warmth.
Tip: Curate shelves with meaningful titles that reflect your interests. Real books add texture, soul, and a quiet sense of inspiration, turning a shelf into a true focal point.
Design magic lies in balance, proportion, and intention. When every element has purpose and personality, a home feels calm, confident, and alive. Halloween may celebrate the eerie and unexpected, but interiors should always enchant, never alarm.