Yesterday, accompanied by a group of decorator trainees, I worked on the home of an editor-in-chief of a national womens’ magazine. Her living room was tastefully decorated in traditional style with lovely artwork, seating covered in taupe damask, and tables made of mahogany. Although the space was not very big, nor naturally light, it had charm. And, as with most homes, it also had at least half a dozen of the 10 Most Common Decorating Mistakes.

The biggest issue amongst them was the limitations created by an awkward traffic pattern that cut through the room twice: first, on an angle, crossing from the bedroom hallway to the French doors into the kitchen, and then, from the entrance foyer going to the bedrooms.

If you, too, have challenges created by awkward traffic patterns, one of the best solutions is to bring in furniture pieces that offer flexibility such as ottomans and tables on casters or chairs on swivel bases, that can be moved or turned when needed. Both of these options can offset rigid architecture that has too many doors/ archways/ windows and sliders.

For the editor, the addition of a new, small-scale swivel club chair for her husband, along with a mahogany computer trolley and a narrow tufted leather ottoman/coffee table – the last two on casters – would correct several of the Common Mistakes and change the dynamic of her room, along with more and better lighting, rearrangement of artwork and accessories, new window treatment, etc.

If you already have furniture that meets your needs, just add the aforementioned mechanisms to the bottoms of your pieces, wherever possible. You’ll be moved by how much better your space will function.