Why Some Rooms Look Wrong Until They’re Decorated

One of the biggest aha moments that I have proved over and over since I’ve started doing my Decorate or Renovate!? one day styling makeovers is this: the more unfinished and naked a room is, whether it’s a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or living room, the more obvious all the clashing neutral undertones become. When there’s not enough furniture, texture, contrast, interesting shapes, lighting, art, and layered styling in the space, your eye goes straight to everything that feels off.

Colour conflicts disappear

I’ve been telling you to decorate to distract the eye FOREVER, but I don’t think I’ve ever spelled it out this clearly.

That’s why so many people assume they need a renovation when they’re looking at their undecorated rooms, because that’s all you see before the decorating and styling is added.

Often, what they really need is decorating.

Once the right pieces come in—lamps, art, pillows, chairs, texture, better scale, stronger shapes, warmth, personality—the room starts to settle down and make sense. Even finishes that once felt mismatched become far less noticeable.

Help! My sofa looks dirty

Here’s another makeover I did for the show:

This was Michelle’s living room makeover that I did after her daughter Melissa’s space turned out so well. She lived next door and wanted her room to have a look and a feel too!

Notice how I repeated the white wainscotting in her artwork and accessories to make it look intentional, we also have browns and copper tones in the accessories and art to take the eye around the room. We almost don’t notice the air conditioning unit because we have so much to look at.

Decorating a neutral room

Here’s another neutral living room for my longtime follower Cynthia: Both rooms went from drab to fab, and they’re still neutral!

And for a lot less than a renovation.

Neutral rooms, in the end, are not easier to decorate. They’re harder.

Because when you remove colour, every other element has to work harder: texture, contrast, silhouette, balance, proportion, and lighting.

Learn to decorate

That’s exactly why I created my YouTube show, Decorate or Renovate—to show homeowners how often decorating can take you much further than you think before spending tens of thousands on construction.

To be clear, I’m not selling cheap here, and I’m not saying you should never renovate. I’m showing how much further decorating can go to create a look and a feel in your home. After all, if you renovate, you still need to decorate to have a home that fills you with joy when you walk in the door.

Understanding undertones is key to creating a beautiful room, especially if you like to decorate with neutrals. If you would like to take a deep dive into undertones, here’s the breakdown of all 9 neutral undertones in my system from my latest YouTube episode.

And if you’ve ever thought, I’m just not good at decorating, that simply isn’t true. Decorating is a skill anyone can learn when you know what to look for and what to do next. That’s exactly why I created my Dream Home Club—to help you create a beautiful, timeless home with guidance, confidence, and support every step of the way. Sign up here.

Related posts:

Ask Maria: I Don’t Like my Paint Colour in Certain Lights

Decorate or Renovate: Simple Fixes for Your Dated Bathroom

Decorate or Renovate: 3 Simple Kitchen Fixes (When You Can’t Renovate)