Decor dos

Tuesday's story tackled style expert Karl Lohnes' top 5 decorating no-nos — which include artwork that's hung too high, supersized sofas and letting trends affect your choices for investment pieces.

As always, space was limited in print, so I had to leave out some of his tips. But, I figured that they could still come in handy around your house, so here you go:

Being stuck for seating doesn't mean you need to buy a larger sofa. Lohnes suggested respecting the size rule — no more than two-thirds the width of your room — and instead search for a sofa with a slimmer, smaller arms. This will give you more cushion space, and thus more seating, without eating up any more of your room.

And, he says, your area rug should share colours and value with your artwork. Like your art, area rugs are an investment piece tasked with tying your room together — so purchasing decisions should be made accordingly.

Speaking of area rugs, when you're looking one for one to dress up your dining room, it should be 45 centimetres (18 inches) larger on each side than the table top, allowing your chairs to sit on it when they're pushed in.

And, when you're looking to change things up around the house, Lohnes suggests looking down.

You see, "Flooring is the largest surface in our home other than our ceiling," he says. "Ultimately, the floor is the foundation" for the whole style and feel of our home. And, this space is far too often ignored.

So consider the vibe those worn carpets, drab colours and outdated styles are giving off — and start exploring your options.  Whether you're painting, resanding or staining existing floors, laying new carpet, or using laminates or cork tiles, there are many inexpensive options that will "instantly update the space."