Common Interior Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In some cases, people just make a few small mistakes that have the ability to completely wreck their designs, but in other instances, people might not even realize what they’re doing wrong at all. Either way, it’s important to learn how to avoid these common interior design mistakes so that you can create successful spaces of your own with ease and precision. Here are three of the most common ones that you’ll want to watch out for as well as how to avoid them so that you can enjoy decorating your spaces rather than dreading it.

Not Creating the Right Environment
Your home should be a reflection of your personality, so let it shine through. Your decor may evolve over time, but make sure that your space is what you want it to be before you start adding furniture or making structural changes. While many interior design mistakes can be fixed, some are difficult or impossible to undo. If you aren’t sure how each element in your house will look together, put off purchasing anything until you feel more confident about how everything will flow together. That way, when guests come over they won’t ask why your entryway looks like a swanky nightclub one day and like a soccer stadium a few months later.

Lack of Imagination
The first interior design mistake that many people make is simply lack of imagination. A lot of people are so used to their homes looking a certain way that they have a hard time imagining anything else. If you think it’s difficult now, just wait until you have kids! Or pets! Or guests! To avoid falling into a rut, take some time once in awhile to really assess your space; do you actually use all of these objects? Are there duplicates? Could one or two get repurposed? Does your style even match anymore? Starting with a blank slate can be overwhelming but it can also be incredibly liberating. With an open mind you might discover something truly original.

Making Design Changes Before Functional Changes
Good design isn’t just about what something looks like. It should also work well in your space, be comfortable for you or whomever uses it and fit within your budget. If you make any aesthetic changes before addressing these other issues, you might end up spending more than necessary, or designing a space that doesn’t serve your needs (such as an eating area that is far from where your food is stored). To design effectively, think of functionality first; once you have a functional design down, focus on aesthetics.

Focusing on Furniture Over Functionality
Though it’s fun to buy new furniture or accessories for our homes, sometimes we forget that function should be top priority. A bedroom should look good, but it also needs enough space for a bed, dresser and nightstands. Similarly, a dining room should be pretty, but it also needs chairs where your guests can sit comfortably when you host an event. If you focus on function first and then think about making things beautiful, you will likely end up with a more functional space that reflects your tastes too.

Skipping the Planning Phase
Planning is an essential part of interior design. You can’t begin with a finished product in mind and expect it to come out right. Because we have such strong opinions about how things should look, many people tend to move straight into making changes without first figuring out what they’re trying to change or why they need those changes in place. Taking time at the beginning of a project—even if it’s a tight deadline—to sketch things out will save you hours of frustration later on when you realize that your space isn’t really working as well as you thought it would.

Not Asking for Help When You Need It
It’s natural to feel like you can do everything on your own, but when it comes to interior design, that just isn’t true. It may be tempting to try working alone instead of reaching out for help when you need it, but doing so will mean that your project takes much longer than necessary and doesn’t come out as well as it could have. Always reach out for advice when you’re feeling overwhelmed; if anyone is in a position to judge you for your inexperience or mistakes, it won’t be someone offering free advice (not a guarantee).