10 common interior design mistakes to avoid in 2024
Interior design is an art form that involves a sharp eye for detail, creativity, and a thorough understanding of space usage. As a professional interior designer, your job is to make spaces both aesthetically beautiful and useful. However, even experienced interior designers can make blunders that jeopardise their work. To help you avoid these errors, here are ten typical interior design mistakes and how to correct them.
1. Using the wrong scale
Common Mistake: Mismatched furniture proportions can make a room appear cluttered or barren.
Solution: Create equilibrium by combining different scales. Use a variety of furniture heights, styles, and sizes to add visual interest. A single huge statement piece can anchor the room, whilst a collection of smaller things offers texture without dominating the space. Remember that a well-proportioned room feels harmonious and welcoming.
2. Putting too many artifacts together
Common Mistake: Overcrowding a place with artifacts can make it appear outdated and chaotic.
Solution: Display only valued objects rather than dispersing them randomly. Arrange heirlooms in tiny clusters, alternating heights, textures, and shapes. Anchoring each vignette with a larger piece allows you to showcase the smaller things while also creating a unified display that feels planned and personal.
3. Choosing the incorrect artwork size
Common Mistake: Artwork that is too little or too big for a location may appear out of place.
Solution: When in doubt, choose larger pieces. Large artwork may be a striking focal point in a room, adding drama. If you prefer many pieces, try different arrangements to get balance and visual harmony. Typically, artwork looks best when placed at eye level.
4. Choosing wall colours before fabrics
Common Mistake: Choosing wall colours before choosing materials will limit your design possibilities.
Solution: Consider a colour palette and then begin with fabrics. Choose curtains, rugs, and upholstery first, then a wall hue that compliments them. It is easier to pick a paint hue that complements your clothes than the reverse. This method results in a unified and harmonious design palette.
5. Creating bland neutral designs
Common Mistake: An all-neutral design can appear sterile and uninspiring.
Solution: Incorporate warmth and texture into neutral spaces. Layers of warm colours, diverse textures, and a few vivid elements such as pillows, carpets, or artwork will provide vitality and cosiness to the space. Neutrals can be elegant and comfy when done well, but they require careful accessorization to avoid appearing bland.
6. Following trends without personalisation
Common Mistake: Blindly following trends can lead to cookie-cutter designs that lack personality.
Solution: Personalise your space. While trends can provide inspiration, your home should represent your personal stories and preferences. Gradually incorporate distinctive elements into your space, allowing it to evolve alongside you. This technique results in a home that is both attractive and deeply personal.
7. Ignoring the focal point
Common Mistake: A room without a focal point can feel aimless and uninviting.
Solution: Create a focal point to anchor the room. This prominent feature attracts attention and unites the room. Consider using large artworks, paneled walls, vivid wallpapers, or eye-catching indoor plants as focus pieces. A well-defined focal point can enhance the beauty of the area while also creating a sense of coherence.
8. Overlooking multi-layer lighting
Common Mistake: Inadequate or badly managed lighting can make a room appear dreary and uninviting.
Solution: Layer your lights to produce a well-lit and welcoming environment. Blend natural light with ambient, job, and accent lighting. Avoid inexpensive fixtures and make sure dimmers are installed for a customisable ambiance. Proper lighting improves both the aesthetic and functional aspects of a room, resulting in a warm and friendly setting.
9. Overcrowding furniture
Common mistake: Place furniture too close together or against walls, which can make a space feel crowded.
Solution: Allow for breathing area by properly spacing your furnishings. Create pathways around seating spaces, and consider utilising floating shelves or console tables to separate sofas from the walls. Properly spaced furniture helps a room feel light and expansive, which improves its overall appearance.
10. Misplacing rugs
Common Mistake: Using overly small or improperly positioned carpets can impede the room’s flow.
Solution: Rugs are more than just comfort and decoration. Placed strategically, they can delineate (clearly separate) different areas in a room. Imagine an open plan with a living area and a dining room. A rug placed under the living room furniture creates a distinct zone, visually separating it from the dining area that might have its own rug. This isn’t limited to open spaces. Even smaller rooms can benefit.
Rugs offer an alternative to bulky dividers that might shrink the space. They’re perfect for multi-functional rooms, like a guest bedroom that doubles as an office. A well-placed rug can define the work area from the sleeping area. By using rugs cleverly, you can create a sense of contained zones within a room, all without building walls or adding bulky dividers.
The Bottom Line
By avoiding these typical interior design blunders, you may create beautiful, useful, and customised places. Experiment, brainstorm, and bring your creative ideas to life with confidence. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your ideas are not only aesthetically beautiful but also functional and ageless.
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There’s certainly a lot to learn about this topic. I really like all the points you made.