Overview: You have worked hard and spent a lot of money to make your new home look amazing. So, when it’s all said and done, why doesn’t it? The problem could be very easily solved, according to a recent Realty Times article.

Anyone who has watched one of television’s popular decorating shows knows that decorating is a fine art. Even though you have tried your best to incorporate the correct colors, textures, themes and flair, your home still may not have the look you were after in the first place. Luckily, there may be just one easy fix between you and a perfect room, as a Realty Times article discusses.

Bad planning. Even though that snazzy lamp or kitschy chair looked great in the store, it is becoming difficult to incorporate it into your décor. You should always have a plan for your decorating, and make sure it matches your lifestyle. For instance, if you love to entertain, make sure you have a large dining table and plenty of seating, however imaginative. If you have kids or pets or simply enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle, you should choose sturdy furniture with resilient fabrics and materials.

A little more conversation. Make sure you create a decent conversation area. Having furniture all grouped against the wall makes for a lot of shouting. An ideal conversation area might be made up of a sofa and two comfy and unique armchairs in close proximity. A coffee table and end tables should be placed within easy reach.

Lacking focus. Any good room should have an eye-catching focal point, whether it is the fireplace or a large piece of furniture that is interesting enough to be the dominant feature of the room. When possible, avoid making the television the focal point of a room.

Off-balance rooms. Placement and size of furniture is extremely important to the balance of a room. All low, bottom-heavy pieces will force the eye downward, for instance. Such items should be balanced out with taller furniture or accessories. Also, don’t crowd all of the large or small pieces on one side of the room. Mixing things up will create balance and harmony between your furnishings.

Bad lighting. Poor lighting can ruin the look of a room and make everything feel dim and repressive. Remember that a ceiling fixture alone is rarely enough lighting for an entire room. Supplement your house’s lighting by purchasing lamps (remembering that table or floor lamps will be better for certain activities, such as reading, than up-lighting torchieres), track lighting or recessed lighting. The latter types of lighting can be used to highlight artwork, in addition to brightening a room.

Sterilizing the room. Think about whether your rooms look like you live in them. You can surround yourself with the things you love and still have a stylish room. Putting your favorite books on the bookshelves, magazines in a rack by the sofa or a neat but functional blanket on the sofa will make your decorated rooms truly yours.

These common and simple mistakes can make all of your hard decorating work seem wasted. They are, however, easily and often inexpensively solved, making you well on your way to the perfect decor!