Common Design Mistakes

As a designer, I get to see a lot of homes, and there are a few common design mistakes that I see across the board, here is the list of common interior design mistakes and how to rectify them.

Art hung too high

One of the most common design mistakes I see is art being hung too high. Not hanging art at eye level also takes away from the impact of the piece of art. Art should always be placed at eye level, keeping the height of the ceiling and proportions of the room in mind. The size of the art is also essential. If the art is too small for a wall, it will feel lost and out of proportion. Incorporate smaller-scale art with other pieces and create a grouping, mixing various sized pieces to create visual interest and a layered effect. For those large walls, don't be afraid of using large-scale art to fill the wall and make a high impact. 

Lack of multiple sources of light

Lighting is one of the best ways to create an ambiance and change the atmosphere of a room. While light is necessary for obvious practical reasons, choosing multiple light sources for a room will completely transform a space. It is not enough to rely on a single sizeable overhead light fixture that will flood the room with harsh, blinding light but instead layer various light sources at different angles and heights throughout the room. Using a combination of a ceiling fixture, floor lamps, table lamps, wall sconces, picture lights helps create a beautiful ambiance. Having multiple sources of light also provides the flexibility of lighting during different times of the day. Make sure to use warm white light bulbs and add dimmers to avoid harsh, unpleasant brightness and instead turn the room into a warm and inviting space.

Light fixture not to the scale of the room

As with all other design decisions, the light fixtures should be proportionate to the rooms' size. All too often, light fixtures are completely off when it comes to scaling, and they immediately throw the whole space off. Take a grand entry foyer, for example; we often see small chandeliers hung way up high, some of these fixtures are better suited for a small dining room than an impressive double-story foyer. The undersized light will take away from the space, so make sure to consider both the room's scale and the ceiling height when choosing the light fixtures.

Rug not to the scale of the room

Another common design mistake we see repeatedly is an area rug that's not in proportion to the scale of the room, specifically too small for it. A rug is there for comfort, adding a visual layer of interest and ground and anchoring the space. You can't achieve that if the rug is too small; everything will be out of balance, and the room will feel scattered instead of pulled together. In a living room, the rug needs to hold the front feet of all your primary furniture like the sofa or sectional and chairs, giving the space a finished look.

Positioning furniture against the wall

One of the most common design mistakes I see is when all the significant furniture pieces in a space pushed up against the wall. As often seems to be the case, people feel that their sofa, chairs, and other larger pieces need to be anchored by a wall. What this does is create a sparse-looking arrangement with an excess of negative space in the room. Focus on creating intimate conversation areas in a large-scale room. Don't be afraid of floating a sofa and chairs and creating a seating arrangement that's closer to the center of the room, around a fireplace, for example. This will make the space feel more balanced and intentional, and you won't end up with excess space in the middle of the room.

Lack of accessories

While you don't want your room to look cluttered, you also don't want it to look empty and void of all personality. Accessories such as throw pillows, trays, books, bowls, vases, or candles are great ways to bring color, pattern, and personal style to your space. Layering accessories, whether it be pillows on your sofa or creating vignettes on your bookshelves with items you've collected on your travels, gives your room more depth and helps tell your story. It also allows you to tie the space together by creating a color scheme with these accessories, echoing various colors and patterns throughout the room to help it look pulled together.

Curtains hung too low.

If you are not using custom drapes for your room, there are ways to make your window treatments look more sophisticated and "custom-looking." Please don't hang your curtain panels too low in a room with an average ceiling height between eight to ten feet, as they will bring the ceiling down and make the room feel smaller. Instead, hang the curtains higher to create the illusion of a taller ceiling, which will help the room feel larger. Another trick you can use is to double up on the curtain panels and use two per side instead of just one. Doubling up on the curtain width will give them a fuller look and add a generous layer of texture to your space.