I was just looking through pictures of a living room submitted by a new client and here’s what I thought: “I can easily spot an over-decorator.”
Her space told me everything I needed to know. Every time she goes into a HomeSense or HomeGoods, she’s walking out with at least one or two new pieces of décor. A vase here, a candle there, a stack of coffee table books she wasn’t planning to buy… all layered on top of what she already had.
Now, I’m not saying this to shame anyone. Believe me, I get it. Back in my corporate career days, I worked right upstairs from a HomeSense store. On stressful days, I’d take a walk through the aisles just to unwind. And yes, I almost always left with a bag in my hand. It was part stress relief, part retail therapy, and it felt harmless at the time.
But here’s the catch. More décor doesn’t always mean better design. In fact, that’s usually when a room tips into feeling cluttered or “off.” The real secret isn’t about adding endlessly. It’s knowing when to stop. And that’s what I want to help you figure out today.
Images via Pinterest.
Why It Feels Like Something’s Always Missing
Here’s the trap I see so many people fall into: I call it the Endless Decorating Loop.
It goes like this: you decorate, step back, and think, “Hmm… it’s nice, but something’s missing.” So you buy another vase. Or another pillow. Or swap out a lamp. Then you step back again… and it still doesn’t feel quite right.
So you add more. And more. And more.
But the room never hits that finished, pulled-together feeling you’re chasing.
Sound familiar? Most homeowners end up in this loop at some point. The reason it happens isn’t because you haven’t bought the right piece yet. It’s because the space is missing clarity, balance, and editing. And definitely not another shopping trip.
The Problem With Over-Decorating (More Isn’t Always Better)
The trouble with the Endless Decorating Loop is that it tricks you into thinking the answer is always more. More pillows. More vases. More art. But here’s the reality. At a certain point, adding more doesn’t solve the problem. It actually creates a new one.
When there’s too much décor, a few things start to happen:
- Your eye doesn’t know where to land. Every surface is competing for attention, and nothing feels special anymore.
- The room starts to feel busy instead of beautiful. Instead of creating calm, you’ve layered in visual noise.
- Your personality gets lost. With so many things, the room starts to feel like a collection of store displays rather than a reflection of you.
This is why restraint is one of the hardest, but most powerful, design skills to master. Editing is just as important as decorating. In fact, it’s often what separates a room that looks “nicely done” from one that feels effortless and elevated.
The good news? There are clear signs that tell you when your room is actually done.
Images via Pinterest.
5 Signs Your Room Is Actually “Done”
So how do you break out of the Endless Decorating Loop? The secret is knowing how to spot when a room has reached that sweet spot — complete, cohesive, and polished without tipping into “too much.”
Here are five signs your room is truly done:
- The layout flows naturally. You can move through the space without bumping into furniture or feeling like something is in the way. Everything has a logical place.
- The colour palette feels balanced. Instead of throwing in every shade you love, the colours work together in harmony. There’s just enough variety to keep things interesting, but not so much that it feels scattered.
- Surfaces have breathing room. Not every shelf or tabletop needs to be covered. Negative space gives the eye a place to rest and lets your favourite pieces shine.
- There’s rhythm and repetition. A fabric pattern, a finish, or a shape shows up more than once, creating subtle connections that make the room feel intentional.
- The room reflects you, not just trends. The best spaces don’t look like they were copied straight from Pinterest. They have pieces that mean something to you, layered in with style, yes, but never at the cost of personality.
If you can check off these five signs, congratulations, your room is finished. You can stop shopping, stop second-guessing, and finally enjoy the space you’ve created.
How Designers Know When to Stop Decorating
Here’s the thing. Even as a designer, I’m not immune to the Endless Decorating Loop. The difference is, I’ve learned how to hit pause and step back. And that’s exactly what I’m practicing right now in my own home office. Yep, I’m redecorating my home office.
I just finished redoing the flooring in this space, and as I was setting the room back up, I noticed something. I have a lot of table tops. And every single one of them was already full of décor. Which left me with a choice. Do I keep adding, or do I edit?
Instead of running out to shop, I decided to embrace the art of editing. I asked myself three questions:
- Which pieces do I still love and want to feature in this new look?
- Which pieces could work better in another part of the house?
- And which pieces is it time to let go of altogether?
By getting intentional, I started curating rather than just collecting. And I’ll tell you, I knew exactly what I wanted when I went into the store and my space immediately felt more polished, and much more me.
That’s the secret. Designers know when to stop because we know that less can actually highlight more. It’s not about filling every corner, it’s about creating balance, flow, and meaning.
Images via Pinterest.
What to Do If You’re Still Unsure
Even with all of this in mind, it can still be tricky to know when your room is truly finished. You’ve lived with the pieces for so long that it’s hard to see the space with fresh eyes. And that’s usually when the doubt creeps back in: “Do I need another lamp? Should I add more art? Maybe just one more pillow…”
If you find yourself in that place, here’s what I recommend:
- Step back and look at the room as a whole. Don’t focus on one table, one wall, or one corner. Ask yourself how the space feels overall.
- Check it against the five signs. Does the layout flow? Does the colour palette feel balanced? Are there areas of breathing room?
- Ask yourself how it feels. Do you feel calm and at ease when you walk in, or restless and unfinished?
And if you’re still second-guessing, that’s exactly what Room Rx was designed for. It’s a professional “prescription” for your space. I’ll review your photos, listen to your goals, and give you a clear, methodical diagnosis of what’s working, what’s not, and where you can stop.
Sometimes the best investment isn’t in buying more décor. It’s in having the confidence to know your room is complete.
