5 Common Design Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

There’s a reason we have interior designers. They understand the trends, how to place furniture, and how to create an inviting and unique space that represents you.

But sometimes hiring an interior designer just isn’t in the cards. So we’ve compiled a list of the common design mistakes you can avoid when doing-it-yourself to still create a beautiful space.

Not Measuring

This seems like the most important one to discuss first. You know the saying, “Measure twice, cut once?” Well, same theory for design. There’s nothing worse than not measuring your space and ordering or picking up your dream furniture only to realize it’s not going to fit or is too crowded, or maybe even not big enough.

Make sure you measure the space you’re fitting for. Whether that’s a sectional, sofa, accent table, chair, and even shelving and artwork for the wall, measure and use painters tape to create an outline of the space for what you’re selecting so you can visualize the size and fit and adjust as needed.

Design Tip: When measuring, make sure to also consider arm rests and the width they take up.

Furniture Placement

It’s pretty common for people to want to push furniture up against walls, but this can actually create a smaller-looking space. This makes sense if you have limited space in a smaller room, but if you have larger rooms, pull your chairs, sofas, and furniture away from the walls to create a more intimate and inviting space.

Balance

Depending on the style you’re going for, it’s key to find balance in the room between the amount of furniture and the style. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much and this is true with furniture and design.

Placing too much in a room will create a cluttered look. Determine the furniture and decor that is most important and begin with placing those. Again, less will make it feel bigger.

This balance also applies to the decor. Too many textures, patterns, and fabrics can feel overwhelming and overstimulating. It’s good to mix and match, but make sure they complement instead of compete with each other.

Function

Think about the function of your room first before adding in furniture and design. The function of a living room versus a rec room are very different and need to be approached with how you want people to use the room.

Home theatre seats, game tables, a sectional, or maybe even a bar area make sense for the purpose of a rec room. But make sure you know what you want and what you’re going to use.

Oftentimes, people will create a beautiful space, but it will lack in function. This could look like not enough seating in a living room or dining room or not enough storage (in any room).

Begin with function and add design instead of the other way around. Know which pieces you want and work to add others as needed. There are many pieces that offer both function and design, like sideboards.

Lighting

Another often overlooked design aspect is your lighting. Many times people rely on overhead lighting or maybe add a lamp here and there. It’s important to see your rooms in all lighting (daytime and nighttime) to see where you may need more or less. Even the brightness of your lighting can affect the design of your room, so consider this when changing bulbs or adding new lighting.

One way to add some ambiance lighting to your room in the evenings and offer a wonderful focal point is to add a fireplace!

Still not sure about designing or re-designing your rooms? Contact Watson’s today and talk with one of our design experts to help! From the largest selection of furniture down to decor elements, we can assist you to create an inviting, personalized space in any room.