Online DIY tutorials and décor “hacks” make it easier than ever to transform a room in a weekend. From peel-and-stick finishes to viral trend makeovers, social media is full of quick solutions that promise high-end results.
However, not every design shortcut translates well beyond the screen. In practice, some of these fast fixes can make a space feel less refined—or even unintentionally tacky.
Here, we asked design experts to explain which décor shortcuts miss the mark and why thoughtful choices almost always age better.Peel-and-Stick Finishes
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Getty Images
Peel-and-stick upgrades are everywhere online, promising dramatic results without long-term commitment. But what looks convincing in a quick DIY video can feel far less polished in real life—especially in bright, everyday spaces where imperfections are hard to hide.
“Once you begin to see seams lifting, patterns out of alignment, and edges beginning to curl, it’s no longer perceived as a temporary fix,” says Rich Kingly, home improvement expert at Driveway King. Designers caution against using these materials in high-traffic living areas, where wear becomes quickly visible.
Similar issues arise with adhesive finishes. “Self-adhesive tiles often look cheap and tacky because their fake seams are very visible, they don’t have the same shine, and their pattern doesn’t look natural,” says Evelina Juzėnaitė, principal interior designer at Planner 5D. The issue isn’t the product itself but rather the attempt to replicate something more permanent.
Faux Luxury Surfaces
“Many of us have seen faux marble, faux wood, and other synthetic finishes that are designed to replicate the look of natural products,” says Kingly. “These designs all too frequently fail due to their lack of character and variety … they will appear flat, shiny, or repetitive.” Instead, he suggests “selecting an honest product … which will always age better than its fake counterpart.”
From a psychological standpoint, these materials can also subtly disrupt how a space feels. “The moment you apply fake marble contact paper or plastic beams designed to look like real wood, your brain sends a subconscious message of inauthenticity,” says Eleni Nicolaou, art therapist and creative wellness expert.
When the finishes try too hard to pass as something they’re not, then the effect is often the opposite of elevated, revealing the shortcut instead of concealing it.
Related: Interior Designers Are Saying Goodbye to This Home Trend for Good
Matching Furniture Sets
When everything in a room matches too perfectly, the result can feel more like a showroom than a lived-in space. Uniform furniture sets and identical accessories may seem like an easy way to create harmony, but they strip the room of character.
“Too much of anything is always too much—including matching everything in your home,” says Kingly. “Buying matching furniture sets, identical throw pillows, and decorative items makes it look like you’re trying to create a staged home versus an actual living space.”
Instead, designers aim for cohesion without duplication. “Using a variety of different textures, finishes, and tones that match each other will give you a far more dimensional and visually interesting design,” he says.
Generic Wall Art
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Getty Images
Mass-produced art may fill a blank wall, but it rarely creates a sense of belonging. In many cases, it functions as visual filler, rather than something that reflects the people who actually live there.
“One of the worst shortcuts that ruins a space is generic, mass-produced wall art with no significance to the person who lives in the house,” says Nicolaou. “Many people will purchase a mass-produced item, such as a ‘Live Laugh Love’ print or a generic beach sunset painting, simply to fill the space on the wall. However, that piece of art has no meaning to the individual, so their brain recognizes that lack of connection each time they pass by it.»
Art should anchor a space, not simply fill it. And when décor lacks meaning, a room may appear finished, but it won’t truly feel lived in.
Related: How to Hang and Arrange Pictures—From a Single Frame to a Gallery Wall
Incorrect Scale and Proportion
Poor scale is one of the fastest ways to make a room feel unfinished.
“Using furniture that’s too small, rugs that don’t properly anchor a room, or artwork that’s undersized is a very common way to create an unbalanced feeling,” says Kingly. “Often, these cuts are made due to cost savings; however, they frequently result in a feeling of incompleteness.”
The rug reveals the issue first. “Rugs that are the wrong size are tasteless because they make the room look smaller and the furniture look wrong too, as if it has been arranged incorrectly,” says Juzėnaitė.
When proportions are right, a room feels grounded and intentional. When they’re not, even beautiful pieces can seem misplaced. Investing in fewer, properly scaled elements typically has a stronger visual impact.