Top 7 Interior Design Mistakes to Avoid

Getting interior design right takes a lot of practice. Transforming the ideas in your mind into actual elements in real life isn’t too different to pursuing some of your wildest dreams. While it’s possible, it’s not as easy as we sometimes think.

As a result, even the best professionals often make several interior design mistakes, some of which can sever client ties. A few mistakes may even leave your career hanging in the balance. We look at seven common interior design mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Hanging art too high

This is one of the most common mistakes we see among professional and upcoming interior designers. For some reason, it’s quite tempting to hang art too high – often because art prices feel more important when hung higher up. Some designers also end up hanging art too high in an attempt to “create” a balance where the roof appears high too.

The best position for artwork is at eye level. Eye-level placement enables optimal viewing while creating balance in the room. Even gallery walls should be at eye level.

Three pictures of sunsets in an interior design.
The best position for artwork is at eye level

2. Stale accessories

Accessories provide a fun and inexpensive way to refresh your interior. Art, rugs, pillows, and other accessories give you space a quick and valuable face-lift. They also allow you to add texture, patterns, and color without too much effort. Unfortunately, designers sometimes select accessories that are too stale to uplift the interior.

Try to avoid lackluster or uninspiring accessories. For instance, avoid pillows that are the same color as your sofa. Also, try to mix up the sizes. Picking the same size and shapes pillows negates all your decoration efforts.

Related:
A New Age of Bathrooms
Pillows allow you to add texture, patterns, and color without too much effort.

3. Metal in warm areas

Metal accessories are great. They are both stylistic and functional, adding both texture and color to the interiors. However, too much metal in traditionally warm areas is a fatal mistake that you must avoid. The reason is that metal creates a cooling effect. So, having excessive metal accents in areas such as the living room that’s supposed to be warm goes against the rules of décor.

If you must use metal accessories, such as metal sculptures and rustic shelving, consider complementing the setup with warm layerings such as cushions and throws. Soft window treatments and rugs can also help retain heat.

A living room with a gold leaf wall art and interior design mistakes.
Metal accessories are great

4. Floating under-rags

Rugs are a cost-effective way to add both warmth and style to your home. They unite the various areas of the home while adding much-needed color and pomp. You can also use rugs to create a hint of the homeowner’s architectural preferences.

However, when adding rugs to the home, the rugs must take up much of the floor space. Overly tiny rugs in large spaces tend to condense the room while also creating an unbalanced feel. They can also create a sense of “chaos.”

A living room with gray carpeted flooring and furniture, showcasing some interior design mistakes.
You can also use rugs to create a hint of the homeowner’s architectural preferences.

5. Budget shopping

We all love a good deal. A rug for $10? I’ll take it. Curtains for $15? That too! It’s the theme for most people. While we aren’t against it, we must warn you that too much of a good thing is never good in the end.

The best way to go about interior décor is to mix and match your accessories. Just like you want different color sizes and shapes, you should also find a way to mix thrift items with high-end ones. for instance, purchase a well-made sofa and bring in a few budget throws.

Related:
What Lies Underfoot: 6 Dining Room Flooring Ideas
An interior design mistake with black walls and a striped rug.
The best way to go about interior décor is to mix and match your accessories.

6. Bad lighting

Lighting can make or break interior décor. Good lighting has the potential to cover for some of the weak links in your décor by diverting the attention of your guests. It can also dramatically improve family time and highlight even the least used spaces. On the other extreme, even the most beautiful spaces look scary under bad lighting.

To this end, always consider both natural and artificial lighting. Also, consider trendy lighting fixtures that highlight your rooms. They cost more but are totally worth it.

A living room with green walls or a fireplace.
Lighting can make or break interior décor.

7. Too much DIY

Finally, another common interior design mistake people make is thinking they can do everything themselves. No, you can’t. You may try. But, ultimately, professionals do most interior design tasks better than DIYers.

So, it’s fine to do a few things on your own. You can buy the rugs you like at the store and even bring in a few pillows and throws. But it’s best to leave the larger projects and the tying up to a professional interior designer. For instance, consider consulting a professional before purchasing that expensive sofa set. They have a better idea of which sofa will best fit your home.

Common interior design mistake people make is thinking they can do everything themselves.

 

Other Common Mistakes

Other common interior design mistakes we often see include hanging curtains too low, not leaving enough negative space, and using full-length curtains that are too short. You better avoid these mistakes.

Scroll to Top