The Paint Mistake Everyone Falls For (Plus 5 More to Avoid)
Two interior designers explain a few blunders that are easily fixed—from a typical first-timer's goof to an error even seasoned pros occasionally make.
By Libby Follis and Drew Ebbing
Photo: Martin Barraud/OJO+/Getty Images
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Mistake #3: Picking the Prettiest Chandelier
Reason why people do it: Lighting stores often have high ceilings and tons of inventory—a combination that can fool the eye.
Reason why it's a mistake: The "Too's"—a fixture turns out to be either too big for the table, too small for your room, or hung too high or too low.
What to do instead: A handy rule of thumb for choosing a dining room chandelier: Add the room's length and width in feet and convert to inches, so a 12-by-15-foot room would give you 27 feet, which means the diameter of your chandelier should be approximately 27 inches.
One extra tip to keep in mind: A chandelier should be hung 30 to 36 inches above the table.
Published 06/09/2014
