When it’s time for decorating your home, it’s easy to seek inspiration from magazines and the internet.

Often, we come across quite magnificent settings, but be careful about copying them because some solutions are indeed impractical!!! The home should be beautiful but, above all, functional!

Let’s look at some elements that may have the wow factor but can ultimately prove to be less convenient!

– WHITE SOFAS

White sofas are actually gorgeous to look at; for sure white is a timeless color that complements any style and palette.

Moreover, it certainly helps make the room feel more airy and bright.

The temptation, therefore, can be strong, but it’s genuinely not practical!

White gets dirty immediately, and you have to wash the covers very often, inevitably wearing them out!

Alternatively, you have to put unaesthetic sofa covers on them!

And on this matter, unfortunately, I speak from experience because my first sofas, I admit, were white!!

If you absolutely love white sofas, the advice is to buy ones with highly performant covers, like those water-repellent and stain-resistant.

Alternatively, an excellent compromise could be sofas in cream, gray, or ultra-light colors!

(Credits: Ikea; architonic.com)

– ARMLESS SOFAS

Armless sofas are very popular because they are linear and elegant, and without the bulk of armrests, they also appear more “lightweight”!

However, having arm support is much more comfortable and less rigid when sitting on the sofa!

If you don’t have an ottoman or a chaise lounge, you might still want to stretch your legs; if you have an armrest supporting your back, you can do it right on the sofa!

Even during a nap, having an armrest to rest the pillow on is undoubtedly more comfortable and “cocooning”!

In fact, the armrest somehow embraces you!

When buying a sofa, considering the investment, it’s essential to be clear about how you will use it because it’s actually a shame when sitting on it not to feel comfortable!

(Credits: 2modern.com; @la_muebleta)

– GLASS SURFACES

Glass greatly helps in brightening up a room; it’s relatively easy and quick to clean.

However, the downside is that it just takes a touch to get dirty, and dust is more noticeable on glass surfaces than on others!

So, especially if you’re not a fan of cleaning, carefully consider whether and what to get in glass.

If you love glass, you might consider getting frosted glass, which, being not transparent, will better camouflage dust and any traces!

The same goes for glossy black surfaces: they constantly need cleaning!

(Credits: bhdmdesign.com; leroymerlin.it)

– OPEN SHELVES AND NIGHTSTANDS

The concept of open shelves and nightstands has been popular for many years because it gives more breathing space to the rooms than closed furniture.

All the images featured in magazines or on Pinterest and Instagram are undoubtedly fabulous!

However, the reality is that most of the time, these setups are composed precisely for photographs.

In real life, things are not as they appear in the pictures!

Moreover, cleaning open bookshelves, shelves, and nightstands and removing everything each time is indeed impractical!

Does this mean having only closed furniture?

Obviously not, but there should be a few carefully chosen and decorated elements.

They should be well thought out and intentional, designed to showcase rather than “store.”

Let me explain further: there are books and objects worth displaying, creating unique compositions, and others that are not!

There’s also a practical aspect alongside the aesthetic one: everything that’s open and in plain view needs regular cleaning.

So, if you prefer to spend your time differently than constantly cleaning, think carefully about how much you want to keep open and on display!

(Credits: amazon.com; maisonblonde.com)

– VESSEL SINK

For a few years, the bathroom trend has included the vessel sink placed on a cabinet or shelf.

This type of sink can come in any size or shape, paired with a long or wall-mounted faucet.

Let’s admit it: there are some indeed lovely ones to look at, but they are not very practical!

In reality, the area where the sink rests on the cabinet or shelf will always be wet and dirty, requiring constant cleaning.

In the case of a faucet also resting on the cabinet, there might be difficulty in cleaning that area effectively!

If it’s a guest bathroom you don’t use very often, this inconvenience might not be so noticeable, but it will be evident in the case of the main bathroom!

It’s better to have a sponge nearby and clean after each use!

(Credits: Sceg Architetti; gaiamiacola.it)

– OPEN SHOWERS

Open showers are also an increasingly popular trend, with only one side glass wall covering half of the shower, leaving the rest open!

They are undoubtedly absolutely captivating, super minimal, visually perfect, especially in contemporary style, but decidedly impractical!

One reason is that no matter how careful you are, it’s inevitable to splash water everywhere!

It might work well if you have a huge shower with a glass wall that is actually long; otherwise, it can be very inconvenient!

However, another aspect may not be immediately apparent: since the shower is not enclosed, there won’t be a greenhouse effect, and therefore, there is a risk, especially in winter, of feeling cold!

(Credits: livcustomglass.com; galansobrini.es)

– SHAG RUGS

I’ve often talked about the importance of rugs in interior design: they bring textures and colors and can create defined areas by grouping elements together!

However, you must be careful about the type of rug you choose!

It’s easy to be drawn to shag rugs because they are visually appealing, but most importantly, they are super soft!

The problem is that they require continuous maintenance because they trap dirt much more and definitely become tangled and matted.

They should certainly be avoided in homes with pets, as their claws will easily damage the rug, and their fur will more readily get caught in the long fibers!

But in general, even high-quality shag rugs will wear out much more quickly than short-pile ones.

They might be suitable in low-traffic areas, but even then, given the vast range of other options, the advice is to avoid them!

(Credits: amon.com; @joanna.avento)

I hope this article has been helpful and enjoyable for you. If so, let me know in the comments!

Feel free to share it with anyone you think might be interested, I would be honored, and it will help me gain more exposure.

If you feel that your home, or any specific area of it, doesn’t reflect your personality enough, don’t wait any longer and book your consultancy!