9 common interior design mistakes to avoid, according to experts
Any element of home improvement and refurnishing can prove costly to get wrong, which is why it's so important to avoid the most common interior design mistakes altogether.
Because while it's easy to feel excited by the latest trends, whether it be contemporary kitchen trends or bold new bathroom trends, trend-led styles can end up as expensive mistakes if they're done badly or don't work in your home.
From choosing the wrong furnishings to miscalculating measurements, there are a surprising number of interior design mistakes that are all too easy to make.
BY TAMARA KELLY
Paint colours look different in every room and at different times of the day, ultimately changing the whole aesthetic of the decor throughout the day. So before you choose your living room paint or your bedroom paint colour, the correct prep is essential if you want to avoid a costly repaint on your hands.
"Narrow down your paint samples and paint up some white cards and place them on the walls you intend to paint," suggests Giverny, "make sure you observe those colours both during the day and at night in both natural and electrical lighting to make sure you are 100% happy. You’d be surprised at how many colours look completely different at different times of the day."
Rugs are valuable in any room, even more so when they fit accordingly to enhance the space rather than hinder it. "A major design flaw with an easy fix is selecting a rug that is too small for your space," explains Zara O’Hare, interior design specialist at Land of Rugs.
"Selecting a rug that properly fits within your room will make it feel more open, while a smaller one will section it off and make it appear smaller." A very useful tip when looking at how to make a small living room look bigger without expanding the space.
Zara goes on to advise, “A rug should be large enough to fill most of the space within a room, for a living room most of the time this means at least 8’ by 10’ unless your space is very small.”
"Rugs can be expensive, so if you are on a budget try looking for one that is a neutral colour and simple material that will still tie a space together without breaking the bank. Another option is to layer a more expensive one on top of your budget rug. This will allow you to have a nice material or pattern without accidentally sectioning off your space."
Balancing your favourite interior paint colours is key to creating a cohesive scheme, as opposed to a chaotic one. "Another issue we see with interior design is over-colouring a room. We all love colour but what we don't want are seven colours fighting against each other," says David, "because this will take away from the overall aesthetic you are trying to create."
"Start with two colours and build from these tones. Stay away from colours that clash and go with hues that flow well together. We want vibrance and brightness not a rainbow of mismatched colors."
That's not to say only use white paint colours for safety, merely that a few select complementary colours are generally more pleasing than lots of clashing tones. We are loving sophisticated pink paint colours paired with serene sage green for a subtle boldness that works beautifully together.
Before investing in must-have wallpaper trends, ensure you're not making this costly wallpaper mishap. "One of the biggest interior design mistakes is miscalculating the amount of wallpaper you need," explains Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, of Kelling Designs.
"We frequently have this problem, with decorators over-ordering and huge amounts of paper being wasted, so it's important that you (or your decorator) get this right." Offering advice on how to measure correctly Emma says, "Make sure you take the width and drops of the walls, get the width and the repeat of the wallpaper and the length of the roll of the paper. These simple, yet important factors and measurements can make all the difference to how much wallpaper you need."
"Always double-check the quantities and if necessary ask the supplier – they are often super helpful and will prevent you from making a costly mistake."
"Another thing is to always make sure that every roll of paper comes from the same batch. Most people don't realize that every printed batch will be minutely different from the next, but it is so noticeable when a different batch is hung next to an existing one. Remember, always keep a spare roll of paper in case of any damage in the future."
The layout and positioning of furniture are incredibly impactful for the sense of space and therefore a key interior design aspect to take into consideration when determining the feel of any room.
“Placing furniture around the edge of a room up against the walls is a very common interior mistake, perhaps due to thinking it creates the illusion of a larger space," says Amy. "However, this dated style can often have the opposite effect. Bringing sofas and console tables just an inch or two away from the wall can make a room feel much more luxurious and spacious. It is also a great way to break a larger room up into different functional areas whilst maintaining the open space feel.”
The importance of feng shui is most prominent when looking at how to arrange a bedroom because the layout can impact a good night's sleep.
Sure, walking into an interiors showroom and buying everything all matching and available is the easiest way to style any room in your home, but it will distinctly lack curation and personality so take the time to sit with your ideas before investing.
"The best way to create an individual style is to select each piece individually. It may be easy to pick everything to match and go out and purchase a full set of matching vases, but in reality, you want the character of the room to be embraced," advise the interior specialists at Living Cozy. "Never rush into decorating, buy piece by piece where you can and make it easier to switch pieces in and out further down the line."
Giverny agrees by saying, "We often look for a quick-fix and purchase furnishings to 'make do' instead of waiting to find pieces that are right for our homes. It’s best to wait until you find something you love, rather than buying the first somewhat suitable item you find, which could lead to unnecessary replacement purchases in the future."
Even maximalist decor has a sense of curation rather than chaos, which is an inevitable outcome when you lose sight of the style you want to achieve.
"Another sizeable gaffe we see when decorating is over-style-blending," says David. "What we mean by style-blending is bringing more than two design categories into one room. The concept of peppering in a bit of one style with another, when executed tastefully, can be simply gorgeous."
"For instance, dropping in a bit of 18th-century traditional with a soft contemporary design can work out to be stunning. Where we start to go off the rails is when elements from the industrial style are dumped on top of traditional while sitting in a transitional setting. This can be very confusing, you may end up asking yourself, what is the room or home trying to be?"
"With many designs, we want to start with a simple premise and build from that. Staying in one style category will make all of your design decisions much simpler."
Don't forget the ceiling, this can be a valuable space in any room if you are looking to add an interior design element with a difference. For many interior designers, the ceiling has become the fifth wall, a space that offers prime decorating space – an uninterrupted canvas to embolden the room.
Ceiling paint colours are becoming more creative and accepting of an alternative to stark white. There's even an unexpected wallpaper trend taking over ceilings according to Kerry McKenzie, co-founder, of wallpaper designers Brand McKenzie.
"While ceilings were traditionally ignored in favour of the walls, homeowners are now appreciating the impact that wallpapering a ceiling can have on a space. It creates an immersive look that adds a touch of character to any room, making it feel cosier or more playful, depending on the print you choose. Keep in mind that some patterns only work vertically, so geometric patterns are often a good option as they work in any direction."
There are a surprising number of home improvements that don't add value and therefore it can sometimes be a mistake to remodel if your intention is to recoup some of the money back.
Whether building an extension or simply remodelling a kitchen or bathroom it's important to remember that while you may see it as an opportunity to change your home for the better, others might not see it as a valuable improvement. Because it can be challenging to see a good return on investment once you start remodelling your home, any alterations need to be well considered.
Leading interior designers reveal the common interior design mistakes homeowners make, which can prove expensive to correct
Any element of home improvement and refurnishing can prove costly to get wrong, which is why it's so important to avoid the most common interior design mistakes altogether.
Because while it's easy to feel excited by the latest trends, whether it be contemporary kitchen trends or bold new bathroom trends, trend-led styles can end up as expensive mistakes if they're done badly or don't work in your home.
From choosing the wrong furnishings to miscalculating measurements, there are a surprising number of interior design mistakes that are all too easy to make.
BY TAMARA KELLY
Leading interior designers reveal the common interior design mistakes homeowners make, which can prove expensive to correct.
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