5 Living Room Mistakes Designers Say Are Making Your Space Feel Stuffy

Maybe your living room is fully furnished but still doesn’t quite feel as welcoming as you’d like. It could be that your space is simply too stuffy to feel comfortable and home-like, but there are ways to edit your space so that it is airy and more inviting.

“Many people decorate their living rooms in a formal and fussy manner just because they feel pressure to,” Erin Tripodi, the founder of Erin Tripodi Design, says. “Bravery in design doesn’t just mean being bold for aesthetics—it means having the courage to prioritize your family’s comfort and rhythms over outdated rules or outside opinions.”

Below, Tripodi and two other professional interior designers share their views on elements that contribute to a living room’s stuffiness. By making an effort to pare back on these features, you will be well on your way to creating a space that better suits your personality and aesthetic.

Heavy Draperies

Every window needs some sort of covering, but it’s time to officially consider heavy draperies a thing of the past, if you don’t maintain this outlook already.

“Bulky, ornate window treatments kill natural light and drag the room down,” Lisa Simopoulos, the founder of Simopoulos Designs, says.

Instead of adding layers of fabric galore to your living room, keep your window coverings nice and simple, the designer encourages, explaining that light linens or cotton panels will work just fine.

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Clutter

It isn’t just too much fabric that will make your living room feel stuffy—too many things in general will contribute to a lack of airiness, which is why you will want to curate your belongings for an less chaotic look.

“If you are a collector, edit ruthlessly,” Simopoulos instructs. “A few bold, intentional pieces beat a sea of forgettable knick-knacks any day.”

Too Many Traditional Touches or Antiques

Too many traditional design elements can contribute to a room’s stuffiness.

“While a few classic touches can add elegance, overdoing it can feel fussy and outdated rather than timeless,” Tripodi says.

She encourages people to instead embrace a mix of contemporary and traditional.

“Pairing an antique chest with a piece of spunky-modern art is one of our favorite ways to bring a sense of balance and freshness to formal living spaces,” the designer says.

Lauren Winsor, the founder of House of Winsor, agrees that there is such a thing as decorating with too many antiques. Although Winsor loves to add antiques to her designs since they bring a sense of history and patina to a room, she agrees that it’s all about a curated look.

Winsor emphasizes the importance of curating a room that feels fresh and storied.

Matching Furniture Sets

Tripodi and Winsor also agree that matching furniture sets, which are seen as a major designer no-no in general, can contribute to a room’s stuffiness.

“Nothing feels more sterile and stuffy than a brand new matchy-matchy furniture set,” Winsor says.

Rather than buying everything in your space from one retailer, don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit.

“Don’t forget to bring in some vintage pieces, too,” Winsor says.

Thick, Gilded Frames

A couple of thick, ornate picture frames in a room shouldn’t make the space feel too stuffy, but an entire wall of such frames filled with formal art pieces can contribute to such an effect, explains Simopoulos.

Plus, Winsor adds, anything that is overly formal and ornate can make a living room not feel all too livable, since it may just create a sense of worry.

“If it looks too precious and breakable, it won’t be a comfortable space for you to relax or to entertain guests in,” she says.

One way around this is to pare down this type of art and weave in other materials.

“Edit the wall, mixing in modern, relaxed pieces with clean-lined or natural wood frames that breathe life—and personality—back into your space,” Simopoulos says.