Interior design is a powerful way to express your personality, enhance functionality, and create a harmonious living environment. However, even with the best intentions, certain mistakes can derail your vision, leaving your space feeling incomplete or uncomfortable. Below, we’ve outlined some common interior design pitfalls and provided tips to help you avoid them.
1. Ignoring the Functionality of a Space
The Mistake:
Focusing solely on aesthetics without considering how a space will be used. For example, purchasing a gorgeous couch that’s uncomfortable to sit on or arranging furniture in a way that blocks natural pathways.
How to Avoid It:
Start with functionality. Consider the purpose of the room and how people will interact with the space. Prioritise comfort and accessibility—design should complement your lifestyle, not complicate it. A balance between beauty and practicality is key.
2. Choosing Paint Colours Before Furniture
The Mistake:
Selecting a paint colour first and then struggling to find furniture and décor that match. This often leads to mismatched tones or unnecessary compromises in style.
How to Avoid It:
Always choose your larger, more prominent furniture pieces (like sofas, beds, or dining tables) and rugs first. Once you’ve finalised these elements, select a paint colour that complements them. Paint is much easier (and cheaper!) to change than furniture.
3. Poor Lighting Choices
The Mistake:
Relying on a single overhead light or not layering lighting in a room, which can make the space feel flat or uninviting.
How to Avoid It:
Use a mix of lighting sources to create depth and ambiance. Combine overhead lights, task lighting (like lamps), and accent lighting (such as wall sconces or LED strips). Dimmer switches are also an excellent addition to adjust the mood.
4. Overcrowding the Space
The Mistake:
Filling a room with too much furniture or too many decorative items, making it feel cluttered and overwhelming.
How to Avoid It:
Embrace the “less is more” philosophy. Focus on a few standout pieces and ensure there’s enough negative space for the room to breathe. Measure your space carefully before purchasing furniture to avoid oversized items that dominate the room.
5. Forgetting About Scale and Proportion
The Mistake:
Using furniture, art, or accessories that are either too large or too small for the space. For example, a tiny rug under a massive sectional sofa can throw off the balance of the room.
How to Avoid It:
Think about scale and proportion. Choose furniture that fits comfortably in the space, leaving enough room for movement. When selecting rugs, opt for one that anchors the furniture (ideally, all front legs of your furniture should rest on the rug). For wall art, ensure its size is proportional to the wall and the furniture beneath it.
6. Ignoring the Importance of Storage
The Mistake:
Neglecting storage solutions, leading to a visually messy space no matter how beautiful the design is.
How to Avoid It:
Incorporate smart storage into your design. Opt for multi-functional furniture, like ottomans with hidden compartments or built-in shelves around your TV or bed. Bespoke solutions, such as custom wardrobes, can maximise space while keeping clutter out of sight.
7. Following Trends Too Closely
The Mistake:
Designing your space entirely based on current trends, which may feel dated in a few years.
How to Avoid It:
Use trends sparingly as accents rather than the foundation of your design. Invest in timeless, high-quality furniture pieces and bring in trendy elements through smaller, easily replaceable items like throw pillows, vases, or art.
8. Neglecting the Personal Touch
The Mistake:
Creating a space that looks like a showroom or magazine but lacks personality and warmth.
How to Avoid It:
Incorporate elements that reflect your personality, such as family photos, travel souvenirs, or heirloom pieces. These touches make your home uniquely yours and add character to the space.
9. Not Testing Before Committing
The Mistake:
Skipping samples and tests when it comes to paint, fabric, or furniture placement, leading to costly mistakes.
How to Avoid It:
Always test before committing. Sample paint colours on your walls and observe them at different times of the day. Order swatches of fabric to see how they feel and look in your space. For furniture, use painter’s tape on the floor to outline dimensions and visualise placement.
10. Forgetting About Cohesion
The Mistake:
Designing each room in isolation, resulting in a disjointed home that lacks flow.
How to Avoid It:
Think of your home as a whole. While each room can have its own personality, there should be unifying elements, such as a consistent colour palette or a common design style, to tie everything together.
Final Thoughts
Designing your home can be a rewarding process, but it’s easy to fall into these common traps. By keeping functionality, proportion, and personalisation in mind, you can create a space that’s not only beautiful but also practical and uniquely yours.
Remember, a thoughtfully designed home doesn’t happen overnight—take your time, plan carefully, and enjoy the journey of transforming your space into your dream home.