Designing a beautiful, functional space isn’t always easy. Even the most experienced decorators can fall into some common traps that throw off the look and feel of a room. If you're in the process of designing your home or just want to refine your space, here are some common interior design mistakes—and how to avoid them.
1. Ignoring Scale and Proportion
Scale and proportion are fundamental elements of design, yet they’re often overlooked. The size of your furniture and decor in relation to the room’s dimensions can make or break the space.
- The Mistake: Using oversized furniture in a small room, making it feel cramped, or tiny pieces in a large space, which can make the room feel empty and out of balance.
- How to Avoid It: Measure your space before purchasing furniture. Choose pieces that are appropriately scaled for the room. For example, in a small living room, opt for a sleek, low-profile sofa rather than a bulky sectional. In larger spaces, use larger furniture or arrange smaller pieces in groups to fill the space proportionally.
2. Poor Lighting Choices
Lighting can dramatically impact the mood and functionality of a room, yet it’s often an afterthought.
- The Mistake: Relying on a single overhead light or not layering lighting, leading to a flat, uninviting space.
- How to Avoid It: Incorporate multiple layers of lighting, including ambient (general lighting), task (focused lighting for specific activities), and accent (decorative or highlight lighting). Use dimmers to adjust the mood and ensure that each area of the room is well-lit for its purpose.
3. Pushing All Furniture Against the Walls
Many people think that pushing furniture against the walls will make a room feel bigger, but it often has the opposite effect.
- The Mistake: Placing all the furniture against the walls, which can create a cold, uninviting space with too much empty floor area in the center.
- How to Avoid It: Float your furniture away from the walls and create intimate seating areas. This not only makes the room feel cozier but also encourages conversation and better traffic flow.
4. Choosing Paint Color First
It’s tempting to pick out a paint color before anything else, but this can lead to mismatched tones and an overall disjointed look.
- The Mistake: Choosing a paint color before selecting furniture, fabrics, and decor, leading to a room that feels disconnected.
- How to Avoid It: Select paint colors last, after you’ve chosen your key furniture pieces and textiles. This way, you can ensure the paint complements the rest of your decor. Always test paint samples on your walls before committing, as lighting can drastically change how a color appears.
5. Overloading on Trends
Trends can be fun to incorporate, but going overboard can make your space feel dated quickly.
- The Mistake: Designing a room entirely based on the latest trends, resulting in a space that feels more like a showroom than a home—and may soon feel outdated.
- How to Avoid It: Stick to classic, timeless pieces for your larger, more expensive items like sofas and tables. Use trendy accents like pillows, rugs, and decor items that can be easily swapped out as trends change.
6. Neglecting Functionality for Style
A beautifully designed room is great, but if it doesn’t meet your practical needs, you’ll soon find yourself frustrated.
- The Mistake: Prioritizing style over functionality, leading to a space that looks great but doesn’t work well for daily life.
- How to Avoid It: Consider how you’ll use the space before you start designing. Ensure there’s enough storage, seating, and workspace to meet your needs. Remember that comfort is just as important as style—especially in areas like the living room and bedroom.
7. Cluttered Decor
It’s easy to go overboard with decor, especially if you love collecting beautiful objects. However, too many items can overwhelm a space.
- The Mistake: Filling every surface with decor, which can make the room feel cluttered and chaotic.
- How to Avoid It: Practice restraint and choose a few standout pieces that you love. Leave some empty space on surfaces to allow your decor to breathe. Rotate decorative items seasonally to keep things fresh without overcrowding.
8. Forgetting About the Focal Point
Every room needs a focal point—a place where the eyes naturally land when you enter the space. Without one, a room can feel aimless and disjointed.
- The Mistake: Neglecting to establish a focal point, leaving the room feeling unanchored.
- How to Avoid It: Identify the focal point of each room, whether it’s a fireplace, a piece of art, a large window, or a statement piece of furniture. Arrange the furniture and decor around this point to create a cohesive and harmonious design.
9. Misjudging Rug Size
Rugs can anchor a room and add warmth, but choosing the wrong size can throw off the balance of the entire space.
- The Mistake: Using a rug that’s too small, making the room feel disjointed and smaller than it is.
- How to Avoid It: Select a rug that’s large enough to fit under all the main furniture pieces in the room, or at least the front legs. In a living room, the rug should extend beyond the coffee table and under the front legs of the sofa and chairs.
10. Overlooking Personal Style
While it’s important to consider design principles, your home should ultimately reflect your personality and tastes.
- The Mistake: Creating a space that feels impersonal or too much like a copy of a magazine spread, without considering your own style and needs.
- How to Avoid It: Infuse your space with items that have personal meaning or reflect your style, such as family heirlooms, travel souvenirs, or artwork you love. Don’t be afraid to break the “rules” if it makes the space feel more like you.
Designing a space you love takes time, attention to detail, and a bit of trial and error. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to creating a home that’s not only stylish but also functional and uniquely yours. Remember, the best designs are those that make you feel comfortable, happy, and truly at home.