There is nothing more frustrating than carefully decorating a beautiful space, only to have certain items fall short on function—talk about disappointing and annoying.
I’ve compiled a list of some of the most common home decor annoyances that I’ve come across during my years designing spaces, and what you can do to fix them.
Home Décor Annoyance #1: Curtain Rings Don’t Glide Easily
Have you ever installed a curtain rod & hung your curtains, only to struggle with curtain rings that get stuck every time you try to close them? Lucky for you, I’ve been there too and have a couple of solutions to help with this common annoyance.
Curtain Ring Size
The issue could be the size of the rings; if they are too small, they will not glide easily. If you suspect this is the case, I suggest sizing up ½ to 1 inch in diameter to solve this problem.
Curtain Rod Glide Tape
I haven’t personally tried this solution but heard that it works amazingly well. Make sure that you place the tape all the way from one end of the curtain rod to the other for it to work best.
The tape comes in different widths, so I suggest getting one that will not pour over the sides of the curtain rod. The tape is clear, however, if you’re a perfectionist like me, you want to hide it as best as possible.
Home Décor Annoyance #2: Rug Slides Around
Most people know that every rug needs a rug pad—this provides cushion, protects your floor, and stops it from sliding around.
However, if you are adding a rug on top of a carpeted floor (yes, you can absolutely do this, in fact we encourage it!) you still need a rug pad, so it doesn’t slide every which way.
Typically, on a hard surface you would place the rubber backing of the rug pad against the floor, anchoring it in place.
The trick with carpeted flooring is to place the rug pad rubber side-up so the rug sticks to the pad, making it stay in place.
Home Décor Annoyance #3: Artwork Tilts to One Side
I’ve come across this issue a couple of times, particularly with antique or vintage artwork that has older picture hanging components.
You place your nails in the wall and, although everything is level and straight, the picture continues to tilt to one side.
You could replace the old hanging hardware with new components, but that takes a bit more time and does not work if you need an immediate result.
This is where rubber bumper pads (AKA rubber door stoppers) come into play. Simply adhere a rubber pad to each corner on the backside of the artwork. The bumpers create a bit of friction, making the picture stay in place.
Home Décor Annoyance #4: Fingerprints on Stainless-Steel Appliances
Ok, maybe stainless-steel appliances are not technically a “home décor” item, but this tip is just too good.
Fingerprints and smudges on stainless steel appliances can make you want to rip out your hair, especially if you have toddlers (they touch everything!)
One tip I read years ago when researching non-toxic, natural cleaning items for my kitchen is to clean your stainless-steel appliances with olive oil. Not only does this clean the appliance, but it acts as a protective barrier against future smudges. Not to say you won’t ever clean your appliance again, but every little bit helps.
Here’s my go-to process when I deep clean my appliances:
- Wipe down appliances with warm water mixed with vinegar to remove food residue. Let dry.
- Use a microfiber cloth dipped in olive oil; wipe in direction of the grain.
- If there’s excess oil, wipe with another clean, dry microfiber cloth to polish appliance.
Home Décor Annoyance #5: Décor Item Keeps Getting Knocked Over
Do you have a vase or piece of pottery that keeps tipping over? (Cat owners, you know what I’m talking about!)
If you answered yes, then museum putty is going to be your best friend. All you do is stick a small piece on the bottom of your coveted décor item and then place it back on the shelf. This is great if you have a piece of furniture that keeps getting bumped and you’re scared that your [insert favorite glass item here] is going to break.
Home Décor Annoyance #6: Tapered Candles Won’t Stay Straight
There is nothing more annoying than placing tapered candles in your beautiful new candle holders, only for them to look wonky.
To fix this, simply drip some candle wax into the candle holder opening and then place your taper back into the holder. The candle wax will solidify, keeping the candle in place.
Please use caution with this tip, as my fingers can attest 😉
We hope this list of common décor annoyances and how to fix them is helpful. If you have an issue that is bothersome, leave us a comment below.
This post handcrafted with care by an actual human in the Mountain West 🤎
