Avoid These 14 Interior Design Mistakes

interior design mistakes

Not every beautiful décor out there fits your home.

There are some terrible mistakes you don't want to make when designing your new home or when renovating.

To avoid errors, colors, sizes, arrangements, and lighting should get maximum attention. They determine whether you will make a good design or a bunch of avoidable errors.

Easy and avoidable errors such as no planning, wrong furniture size, and many more can mar your efforts to achieve a gorgeous interior design.

 

Interior Design Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you’re trained as an interior designer or not, you need to avoid these common mistakes.

 

1. No proper plan and budget

This is when you see a gorgeous sofa in the store and think it will be beautiful in the living room without a layout plan. Planning doesn't mean you must draw out the designs; you can just pen down a few guidelines.

Inadequate planning before designing is like traveling to an unknown place without a map. You’ll get to your destination but with so many wrong turns and wasted energy.

You must estimate your budget. If you want luxury, make sure you can afford it.

Proper budgeting will help you to avoid overspending on specific items and running out of funds. Know the design you wish to achieve, the décor items needed, and the estimated prices of the furniture. Then, purchase everything according to the plan. Planning and budgeting will make it easier and more productive.

 

2. Bad lighting

interior design mistakes

Never make the mistake of having only one light source. There should be different types of lighting so you can arrive at a brilliant design. They should also come from different heights like floor lamps, wall lights, and table lamps. This way, you can achieve the standard lighting plan, which includes ambient, task, and accent lighting.

Ambient lighting makes it possible to move around safely, task lighting can be used for tasks like cooking and reading while accent lighting is for artworks and architectural works.

 

3. Boring entry

interior design mistakes

The entry is the point where you create an impression on your visitors. They get to know what to expect from this point. So, avoid making the entry point dull. You can grace your entry with perfect light fixture and art, depending on how much space you have. If possible, put a dramatic upholstery that will "wow" your visitors and family. Your entryway can't be too small for a gigantic art, put something there to design it. Don't make the mistake of leaving it bare.

 

4. Excessive furniture

interior design mistakes

One thing that can also interfere with successful interior design is too much furniture. There should be some space; you must not fill up everywhere. Even a big room can be overcrowded and never look spacious.

Furniture should not intercept traffic flow. Don't place tables or chairs in such a way that people have to go around them to access the door. As essential as furniture is, having too much will break the design.

One other important thing is that you should not place your furniture right against the wall. It makes furniture too far from one another and creates unwanted space. Try as much as possible to put them together even if you have a small space.

 

5. Wrong rug size

Choosing the wrong size of rugs is a big mistake. Measure appropriately before making a purchase. You must not place a floating-rug in a room. It is better to have it bigger. Your area rug should reach the front legs of the chairs when used in a living room. For dining rooms, it must extend past the edges of the table so that anyone sitting at the dinning will place their legs on the rug.

 

6. Too big or too small furniture size

interior design mistakes

Get the right scale of furniture for your rooms. Many people just size up their space with mere eyes and dash to the store to get furniture. If this is your plan, please don't. Measure your space to avoid making such a mistake.

If you have ample space, don't fill it up with large scale furniture, else, it will be overcrowded. As much as you don't want your furniture too big or too small, avoid buying items that are of the same size. Your room should have a combination of furniture with different sizes, shapes, and heights.

 

7. Matching everything

Your rooms should have character and interest. Put in your style. Avoid using neutral colors all through and matching sets. Choose your decorative pieces individually. Your furniture sets don't have to match. It makes your design boring and predictable.

Don't rush. Stay calm and select your furniture and décor properly. If you are too much in a hurry and opt-in for sets to make it easier, you may end up having the same sets as your neighbor.

 

8. Hanging curtain too low and art too high

interior design mistakes

Avoid harsh fluorescents. Use soft white bulbs instead. Your curtains should not hang just above the window frames or even at the same level as the frames. This mistake makes the room look smaller and blocks natural light. It also makes the window larger.

As for art, they should not be too high up on the wall. This common mistake can make the artwork look off, no matter how beautiful it may be. Artworks should be hung 57 to 60 inches above the floor; you can push a bit higher if the ceiling is tall. Larger pieces are more appropriate behind the sofa than small ones. Place them 8 to 10 inches above the couch.

 

9. Clutter

Don't allow your clutter to be noticeable. Clutters are not so pleasing to the eye. Clear out the clutters you already have and avoid forming new ones. Your items, no matter how small, should be adequately arranged and tidied up. Clearing up will create more space and reduce stress.

Too many pillows and accessories in your home can make it cluttered. Your shelves don't have to be full. Take some of the books out of sight and create some space. There should be no exposed wires and ugly tangled cords. Try as much as possible to keep them out of sight. You can disguise them by painting them the same color as your wall.

 

10. Only neutral colors

interior design mistakes

It is good to be monochromatic, but don’t stick to neutral colors only. Holding to neutral furnishing and accessories was prevalent at a point in time but also dull. Know the right colors to use and where to use them.

Colors add a punch to your room. This doesn’t mean that you must use different bold colors all through in the room. You can simply paint a portion of the wall in the room a different color to brighten up the room.

Colors should not be avoided. Otherwise, there will be a break of design.

 

11. Choosing wall paint before furniture and fabric

This mistake gives you walls that don't go well with anything in your house. Never succumb to the urge to paint before moving into your new house. Paints come in a variety of colors, unlike furniture. You can mix colors to get the desired outcome.

When designing your home, start with choosing items that are bigger and occupy more space. For example, buy your sofa or area rug before others.

Make sure you have all furniture and fabric ready and let them guide your wall paint decision.

 

12. No accessories

interior design mistakes

Your wall should not be plain and bare. Hang a painting or photograph on your white wall and make the wall more attractive. If you can't afford an artwork or need a cheaper alternative, you can install wall paneling. Make sure that whatever you choose to hang on your wall should not stand out awkwardly. The item should fit your color scheme.

 

13. Forgetting plants

 interior design mistakes

Plants should be part of your décor. Now, we are not talking about fake flowers. These silk flowers are not so well accepted. If you must use them, make sure they look as real as possible. Better still, get a potted plant that produces flowers to bring life to your home. Add about three indoor plants if possible and let there be a greenery element in your home design.

 

14. Outdated accessories or design

Do you love to follow trends? Keep your love for trends aside and get personal when designing your home. Trends wear off with time, so if you strictly put up the most trending design, your home will look outdated when the model is out of trend. Then, you will have to change your accessories more frequently.

 

Final Words

If you want to proudly say "I designed it" when someone says "your home is stunning," you must avoid the mistakes listed above. If you have already made them, start fixing and correcting your errors.

Mistakes are inevitable but you must avoid them once you are aware of the damage. Design your home the way you love it but consider the rules of interior design. Color, light, size, and arrangement are vital factors in achieving a well-decorated and properly designed home.

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