I’m an interior designer…the 6 things making your home look cheap & fairy lights belong on a Christmas tree for a reason

WHEN it comes to decor, everyone's got their own personal style and taste.

But according to interiors expert Kate Conrad, founder of Madison and Mayfair, there are six things that could just be making your home and garden look "cheap" or tacky.

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Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, she explains why garden gnomes should be limited and and warns that fairy lights should only be used in December.

FAIRY LIGHTS

"Poor outdoor lighting can make a garden look cheap - and less easy on the eye," Kate explains.

"Fairy lights are a big no-no. There’s a reason why they belong on a Christmas Tree in December, not draped round bushes in July!"

The interior design whizz goes on to note that good lighting not only makes a garden more pleasant to sit in, it can also act as a security boost too. 

GARDEN GNOMES

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Kate advises kicking clutter into the gutter when working on your outside space and warns that this is especially important if you have a small area you're working on.

"Don’t overfill it with too many ornaments," she says.

"Do you really need a dozen garden gnomes and a collection of buddhas? They can leave an area looking cheap.

"One or two eye-catching feature ornaments is likely to work much better."

Fairy lights are a big no-no. There’s a reason why they belong on a Christmas Tree in December, not draped round bushes in July!

Kate Conrad Interiors expert

OVERCROWDED PLANTS

While it can be all too tempting to add a pop of colour into your garden, Kate warns not to cram in too many plants.

"Many people redesigning a garden fall into the trap of filling the space with lots and lots of plants," she explains.

"They’ll buy in bulk by piling their trolley up with the cheaper plants you often find stacked high at the entrance to garden-centres."

However, according to the interior design guru, they're cheaper for a reason - and it tends to be because they don’t live very long.

"Within a few weeks you risk having a garden full of flowers which are wilting and looking very sorry for themselves," she says.

Instead, Kate advises focusing on a smaller number of higher quality plants which will stay in bloom all summer long. 

Decking disaster

Kate explains that decking can be a great addition to a garden - but only if done right.

"If you are opting for wooden decking, have you planned for the yearly upkeep?" she asks.

"You need to remember about cleaning, stripping and repainting the boards with wood protection.

"If not, the timber will rot and become dangerous and it will also look awful."

Do you really need a dozen garden gnomes and a collection of buddhas? They can leave an area looking cheap

Kate Conrad Interiors expert

She goes on to note that alternative materials made from composite plastic are built to last longer without high levels of maintenance.

Alternatively, the interior design whizz points out that look-a-like porcelain decking tiles make an attractive alternative.

PLASTICS

Kate strongly recommends avoiding the use of plastic completely.

"Even if it would act as a functional element in your garden, its appearance would heavily deflect from all of the other admirable features in your outside space," she says.

“Natural materials are a more suitable option, avoiding any connotations of looking cheap or tasteless, such as woods or wicker, all softer in nature and less harsh amongst your flowers.” 

Hot-tubs

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And last but not least, the interiors expert notes that hot tubs can be great, but warns that the space and setting has to be right.

"If you have a tiny back garden the likelihood is that a hot tub might look out of place," she says.