9 things to stop buying if you want your house to look custom

If the goal is “pulled together,” some popular buys are quietly working against you. Save the money and skip these. Put it toward scale, light, and texture—the things that actually change how a room feels.

Matching furniture sets

A sofa, chair, coffee table, and media cabinet from the same collection reads catalog, not curated. Mix silhouettes and finishes so it looks like you chose pieces over time. Keep one throughline—wood tone, metal finish, or leg shape—so the room still feels related.

Tiny rugs

Small rugs make big rooms feel choppy and cheap. Layer a jute base and set your favorite patterned rug on top so front legs land on it. The footprint is what sells “custom,” not the brand name on the tag.

Short curtains

High-water panels chop a wall in half. Hang rods near the ceiling, extend them past the window, and let panels kiss the floor. If your panels are a hair short, add clip rings or a bottom band to gain the inch.

Flimsy hardware

Feather-light knobs and thin pulls cheapen solid cabinets. Choose heavier pieces that fit your hand and match the metal story you already have. Install with a jig so every screw lines up—crooked hardware ruins a good upgrade.

Art “sets” in three pieces

Triptychs with generic prints are an instant tell. Go larger and fewer: one statement piece or a collected gallery with matching frames. Hang at eye level and center over furniture so the wall reads finished.

Shiny, blue-white bulbs

Cool light flattens paint and makes wood look orange. Swap to warm (2700–3000K) and add lamps at face height. The right bulb temperature will make your existing colors look like you meant them.

Plastic storage you can see

Clear plastic is great behind doors. Out in the room, it screams utility closet. Use woven bins with lids for blankets and toys, and trays for corralled daily tools. Texture buys you warmth without adding visual noise.

Faux plants that fool no one

One dusty stem on a console pulls the whole room down. If you don’t have light for a real plant, use cut branches, fresh herbs in a pot, or skip greenery altogether. “Clean and edited” beats “fake and tired.”

Trendy smalls on every surface

A dozen little knickknacks don’t equal style. Pick one strong vignette per room—lamp or branch (tall), books (medium), bowl or frame (small)—and leave air. The empty space is part of the look.