20 Interior Design Mistakes we’re all guilty of making and How to Fix Them

Designing the house of your dreams is one of the most exciting life experiences but it can also be a challenging endeavour. Getting the interiors right is particularly taxing. A lot could go wrong in the journey, several interior design mistakes could be made.

The chances of you making these mistakes increase a millionfold if you are not aware of them. We’ve curated a list of 20 interior design mistakes that most people make and how to avoid them.

20 Common Interior Design Mistakes & How to Avoid Them 

1. Not Planning your Layout 

Many people start to think about the design of their interior spaces while they’re at the furniture store. Doing this will not only end with you regretting it but will also hamper the way your interiors look and feel. 

The Fix:

Meticulously plan your spaces before the selection process. Think about the nitty-gritties of the size of the pieces, the flow around them, etc. 

2. Ignoring Circulation within the Space

Another interior design mistake to avoid while planning your space is not thinking about the space around the furniture. How traffic flows around and accesses the different elements defines the overall experience of the space. 

The Fix:

Plan the circulation around the different elements well. Leave ample space between the two pieces for ease of access. 

3. Shopping without knowing Measurements

Going furniture shopping without knowing your measurements is a sin! You may end up buying the wrong size of furniture pieces that is either too big or too small for your space.

The Fix:

Have a clear idea of the space available to accommodate different furniture pieces. Measure your space and understand the kind of furniture proportions you’ll be looking at. 

4. Ignoring the Principles of Scale and Proportion

Striking the right balance is a challenge that even seasoned designers struggle with. Not following the basics of scale and proportion will make your space look distasteful and uninviting.  

The Fix:

Be mindful of the size of furniture you incorporate within your space. Try to seek balance within the space by using sizable and proportionate pieces that fit well in the given space. 

5. Being Unclear about the Style

A common interior design mistake that most people make is failing to be definitive about the style. If too many statement pieces belonging to different styles are placed together in a space, it starts to look like a museum. 

The Fix:

Have a clear idea about the kind of style you want to have in your space. Filter your search as per the selected style. You can also try mixing styles that go along well together. 

6. Too many or too few Textures and Patterns

Balance is the key to design! Having too many or too few textures and patterns can break the experience of your space. Too many textures and patterns make the interior feel busy, whereas too few make spaces lack character. 

The Fix:

Add the right amount of textures and patterns within the space. Have a diverse material palette. Layer the elements skillfully to create sophisticated appealing spaces. 

7. Failing to create Focus 

Every design must have a sense of focal point of directionality. That is why we have statement pieces, accent walls, or elements that stand out. Having too many statement pieces or poorly articulated layouts can lead to spaces that lack focus. 

The Fix:

Create a focal point in the design by balancing the number of statement pieces against subtle elements.  

8. Going Overboard with a Color Scheme

Having too many matchy-matchy elements is simply a no-go. Bold colours are only fine if they’re used sparsely.

The Fix:

Use the rule of three colours for a well-balanced interior. The subtle main colour should make 60% of your space, a secondary colour should make 30%, and an accent colour should make 10% of your space. 

9. Overlooking the Window Treatments

An understated but common interior design mistake most people make is ignoring the window treatments. Curtains play a pivotal role in defining the way the wall looks. Hanging smaller curtains near the opening makes the space look visually off. 

The Fix:

Go for longer curtains and hang them at least 2-3” above the opening or as near to the ceiling as possible. Ensure that the rod extends sufficiently beyond the opening to give an unobstructed view when the curtains are open. 

10. Choosing the Wall Color First

Finalizing any design decision without thinking about how the rest of the elements will fit in isn’t going to be fruitful for your design. Out of that, deciding on the wall colour at the very beginning is just hasty. 

The Fix:

Pick out your furniture and use complementing colours for wall paints. Think about the overall assembly of elements within the space before freezing your decisions.  

11. Neglecting Decor 

One of the common mistakes in interior design that people unknowingly make is neglecting the decor. Small seemingly insignificant decor accents can transform a space from boring basic to uber chic.  

The Fix: 

Perfect decor accents when added to a space act like a cherry on the cake. Add a touch of grace to your space with the use of chic and quirky decor pieces of the matching style. 

12. Undermining the Transformative Power of a Rug

Rugs are tricky! They have enormous transformative power and can make or break your experience of the space. This is one of the most common interior design mistakes to avoid at all costs.  

The Fix:

Go for large area rugs for your living room, where most of your furniture sits over it. If you want to go for a smaller rug, use it as a statement accent piece just below the coffee table. 

13. Using Art the Wrong Way

Art adds to the glamour of the space. But using art correctly is crucial. One of the interior design mistakes many homeowners make is hanging art improperly. Art hung too high or too low makes the space look visually imbalanced. 

The Fix:

Use statement art pieces on plain walls. Maintain adequate intervals between artworks. Don’t place art on every single wall. Hang art at eye level.  

14. Going for Bad Lighting

One of the worst interior design mistakes to avoid is using bad lighting. Dimly lit spaces with a lack of variety or layers in the lighting design are not ideal. 

The Fix:

Use several different types of lights. Use ambient light to ensure the room is well-lit, task lights like table lamps for specific activities, and mood light to create the desired ambience. 

15. Forgetting about the Vertical Dimension

People often forget about the third dimension which is the height of a space. This is one of the most common interior design mistakes that can be avoided easily. Highlighting the vertical dimension in small rooms is crucial to make them appear larger than they are. 

The Fix:

Use vertical elements that define the volume of the space. Define the vertical dimension by directing focus towards the ceiling. 

16. Improper Budgeting and Execution

A lack of idea of the budget and the execution can get you in serious trouble. You may even have to stop halfway into your remodelling project if you don’t plan your budget and timeline of execution properly.  

The Fix:

Budget and phase-wise plan your interior transformation project. Have the designer and contractors walk you through the details of the matter.  

17. Mindlessly Jumping on the Trend Wagon

You don’t have to get on board with every trend you see. Mindlessly following every trend without thinking about your style might make you regret it. 

The Fix:

Choose a style that appeals to you the most. Trends change rapidly, but you aren’t going to change your space that quickly. Invest wisely, and make the right choices. 

18. Going Wrong with Layering

Layering spaces is a tough sport that most seasoned designers also struggle with. Improper layering hampers the experience of the space whereas properly layered space looks alluring. 

The Fix:

Layer using different accent pieces. Play around with textures, they make your spaces look rich. Add statement pieces that pop to increase the glamour quotient of the space.  

19. Creating Clutter-Catching Spaces

One of the most regretful mistakes in interior design to avoid is creating clutter-catching spaces. The reading nook, the console, the neglected corner, the bedside table, or the coffee table often end up becoming cluttered zones in homes.  

The Fix:

Delegate small storage spaces to avoid cluttering. Keep these storages accessible.  

20. Playing too Safe

Most homeowners make the interior design mistake of playing too safe with the designs. Avoiding risks and experiments with your design makes your spaces look mundane and uninteresting. 

The Fix:

Go big or go home with your interiors! Take risks with your designs, go for out-of-the-box design ideas. Make your spaces glamorous. 

These Interior Design Mistakes are definitely Worth Avoiding…

If you avoid them, you will have a home that you will cherish forever. If not, you’ll be stuck in spaces you’d want to escape.