The 3-Inch Decorating Mistake Everyone Makes

It's a common misperception that pushing all the furniture against the walls will maximize the space in a room. "Don't do this!" says Lee. "When the furniture, especially the sofa, is along the edges of a room, with a small rug in the middle, it actually makes the space seem smaller." Instead, use this visual trick: Hide the rug's edges under the legs of a couch or other piece of furniture; this position draws the eye wider and makes the room appear bigger than it actually is.