Countdown of the Most Common Interior Design Mistakes - and how to avoid making them!

You can imagine being a professional interior designer for nearly a decade, I’ve seen a lot of mind blowingly terrible spaces.

Interestingly that most of them fall at least one of 5 types of design fails - all which will waste of time and money but ALSO won't get you the outcome you're striving for.

On this show we talk a lot about what TO do but today we'll also start with some basic NOT to do's! (PLEASE y'all... STOP doing these things!)

Let’s get into it!

5. LIGHTING

Often overlooked

Builders generally use the least expensive fixtures and install only enough to provide basic light= either dimly lit spaces or harsh lighting or both.

layering your lighting at different levels and intensities. A combination of overhead lights, wall lights, and floor and table lamps

The trick to ensuring every room is successfully lit is to make a lighting plan that includes 3 Types of lighting : ambient, task, and accent lighting.

Each room should have:

overall (ambient) lighting to allow you to move around safely. Ex overhead lighting

task lighting for performing specific activities in the space such as cooking or reading- ex desk lamp

accent lighting to highlight noteworthy items such as artwork or architectural features or make a statement. Ex a chandelier in a grand entry way or over a dining table.

A well-thought-out lighting plan will ensure each room has enough light to perform any task that is usually done in the space.

Ex In a bedroom, overhead lighting, a floor lamp next to a reading chair , sconces or table lamps by each bedside.

*Lightbulbs

4. FURNITURE SIZE AND PLACEMENT

Furniture Size

Scale and proportion are some of the hardest areas of design to master.

Common mistake to fill large spaces with large furniture/ a small home go with small-scale furniture. Have to have balance.

The ideal space will have a mixture of different sizes, shapes, and heights. This will add interest and variety and help draw the eye around the room.

Imagine your home as a cityscape

When selecting furniture of varying sizes, you should also take proportion and function into account

Ex: how does the height of a table work with the sofa or chair or it’s placed with.

Furniture placement

Completely transform the feel of your home by rearranging the furniture to improve circulation and maximize traffic flow.

Use a floor plan or sketch to establish optimal traffic patterns without your existing furniture throwing you off. Start at the room’s point of entry and find the easiest path to the next entryway. In a room that has only one entrance, the traffic must flow around the furniture and back out the same doorway.

Unless you have a really small space pushing all your furniture up against the wall is usually awkward

This usually leaves large, empty spaces and results in furniture that’s too far apart for conversation.

Furniture placement will be super specific to your furniture space and how you intend to use the room.

Ex placing your living room sofa facing your focal point with enough room behind it for traffic to flow freely.

3. MATCHY MATCHY

-Your home should be as unique as you are. The best way to create an interior that expresses your tastes and individual style is to select each piece with intention.

-Your home should match both your unique aesthetic and preferences as well as your unique needs and lifestyle in each space.

*Good reason to consider working with a design professional like myself- we go through this process and figure it out together.

- It might seem easier to take a page from your favorite catalog to guarantee everything in the room matches but your space will lack character and interest. (And it’s likely you know atleast one person whose space looks just like yours.

-50 Shades of Beige

-lacks one or more of the following: contrast, color, texture

.

2. FAILING TO ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT

-A well-designed room starts with a focal point. The focal point provides a center of attention and helps anchor the space.

- It should be a visually prominent feature that draws attention and gives the eye somewhere to land when you enter the room.

EX fireplace or large window are among the most common focal points.

-If the space does not have any prominent architectural features,we can establish one with furniture or decor for example using a light fixture or accent wall.

First steps bc layout of the room should be planned around the focal point

The number one most common interior design mistake is....

1. NOT HAVING A PLAN!!!

Always results in LACK OF COHESIVENESS

PRO TIP- The plan should really take place before ANYTHING if possible... make the least amount of purchases/design decisions as possible until you have at least a general plan of action.

-Starting a design project without first making a plan is like driving to an unknown location without looking at a map. You might get to where you want to go in the end, but you will make a lot of wrong turns along the way.

-While not all design projects will require scale drawings and a full set of specs, you should always establish a few guidelines before you begin.

- purchasing items individually over time is risky without a plan to ensure the space feels cohesive, is functional, and all the pieces work in the space together.

- even when I shop locally at antique or thrift stores I use lists and generally know what I’m looking for

Ex. I know I need a decorative piece to cover about 4x2’ of wall but I may not know it’s a painting, weaving, or a mirror etc.

Like most projects a plan is a (if not THE most) crucial step in the whole process. That is literally what the Design Project Jumpstart is created to do.

If you are guilty of any these no-no's and aren't sure how to correct them, , please give me a ring or shoot me an email DM. I want to help you find solutions for whatever issues or blocks are going that are preventing you from creating your dream space. All contact info is included in the show notes.

Thanks for listening and I look forward to seeing you next week!

DESIGN PROJECT JUMPSTART

SCHEDULE A FREE CONNECTION CALL

EMAIL ME

SOCIAL LINKS: