Photo from istockphotoOriginally Posted On: 10 Common Interior Design Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them – CRT Studio Interiors
You’ve recently purchased the home or office space of your dreams and are finally ready to start personalizing it with your own style and flair. With so many things to consider, interior design can be daunting, to say the least, especially when you want so badly to get it right. Experienced designers know just how complicated it can be to tackle all the aspects of creating the perfect space. To preemptively troubleshoot some of the common interior design mistakes we’ve run into over the years, here is a list of the 10 most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Hanging a Beautiful Art Piece Too High
Incorporating your favorite art pieces in a room is a great way to show off your personality and display a mixture of colors and textures. Placement of the art is where many people make the mistake of hanging the art too high or too low. Either error will disrupt the flow of the room. Be sure to align the piece with your furniture, using 8-10 inches above your furniture as a guide. Sounds simple, right? This can get complicated when dealing with various heights of furniture in the same room. Calling on the expert advice of a designer is a good way to avoid the frustration of having to make placement decisions on your own.
2. Following All the Fads
It’s normal to be inspired by what others are doing to their homes from what you see on social media or design shows on television. A common mistake occurs when people are tempted to follow all the latest design trends. Fads in design are usually just as fleeting as fashion trends. You don’t want to invest a lot of money on ideas that will be outdated in a short period. Timeless décor items are recommended, and a designer on our staff would be glad to help you find the right furniture and accents to fit your personality.
3. Failing to Measure Your Room
If there’s one piece of advice that you take away from a designer, it’s that you should measure everything. This will save you money and frustration, time and time again. Many people go to a showroom and see a piece that they think will be a perfect addition to their space only to find out once it’s purchased and delivered that their favorite end table, for example, is too small or too low alongside their couch. At CRT Studio, we hate to see people make this costly mistake, especially when it can easily be avoided. If you are unsure how to measure for proper fit so that your room is balanced and aesthetically pleasing, we will guide you through the process.
4. Buying Furniture on a Whim
Similar to buying pieces without measuring, another common and costly mistake is blind buying from the internet. Making purchases online is easy and can be done anytime, anywhere these days. The problem is that unless you are familiar with the company and their quality of product, you may be disappointed when your purchase arrives and fails to live up to the image you first saw. Seeing, feeling, and testing out a piece, like a sectional sofa, for example, is the only true way you can sense the quality. The comfort of the cushions and the durability of the frame are important, especially if you plan to use and keep the piece for years to come.
5. Skimping on Light
The tone and atmosphere of a room can be enhanced with one word- lighting! Recessed lighting commonly found in new construction is harsh and cannot be controlled. We recommend softening your space with floor and table lamps and using dimmers on any overhead lighting. Often, lighting is overlooked and not considered when people think of interior design. Lighting actually has a big impact on the vibe of a space. It is a relatively easy and inexpensive element to incorporate when you want to create dimension in your home.
6. Missing an Opportunity for Greenery
If comfort, serenity, and a Zen state of mind sound like something you desire in a space you spend the majority of your time in, let your inner plant-person evolve and just add green. Incorporating greenery into your décor is always a good idea.
Air filtering floor plants such as a snake plant or fiddle-leaf figs can fill an empty corner and make a beautiful, organic addition to a space, especially when choosing the right base that acts as an accent to your existing design. Succulents are easy to care for and are great for filling smaller spaces, such as a desk or coffee table. Wall plants look fantastic when the right pots and bases are consciously placed on the walls around your home.
7. Pushing Furniture Against the Wall
Furniture placement in relation to your walls is often an amateur designer’s pitfall. Depending on your floor plan, pushing furniture against a wall may be unavoidable. However, if you can, consider floating your furniture to create a more intimate space. Pushing furniture up against a wall is often thought of as a way to make a space look bigger. This may work in very small rooms, but in larger spaces, floating furniture allows a focal point to be emphasized and really gives your space that cohesive design you are aiming for.
8. Being Fearful of Color
Decorating with color is one of the most overwhelming aspects of design for most people. The result? They end up going neutral because they can’t decide, and tans and greys feel safe. Our best advice is, “don’t be afraid of color.” You definitely want to make sure your colors mix well and complement each other, but coordinating colors in design is one of our designers’ favorite ways to add energy and charm into a space.
9. Failing to Budget
It’s ok to develop your space over time. The last thing you want to do is let your eagerness to incorporate all your design ideas at once stop you in your tracts before the project is complete due to poor budgeting (or, in some cases, no budgeting at all.) Before you start a design project, it’s wise to have a clear idea of how much everything will cost.
10. Neglecting to Contact an Interior Designer
As with all these common design mistakes, there are ways to avoid the confusion and frustration that comes with executing a huge project like creating a space you have dreamed of. We can assure you if you are in the thick of one of these mistakes or have experienced a miscalculation in the past, you are not alone. It’s never too late to contact an interior designer for assistance. CRT Studio Interiors is here to help. If you have questions about starting a home design project or how to solve some of these common dilemmas, don’t hesitate to reach out.
CRT Studio is an award-winning design firm that has 25 years of experience in the industry. The expert staff at CRT Studio has a passion for luxury interior design and can assist you in creating a space that speaks to your personality and individuality. Interior design projects can be stressful and costly if mistakes are made along the way. Collaborating with a professional designer can help you avoid unnecessary disappointment.
Contact Rob Turner of CRT Studios at (407) 402-1963 or rob@crtstudio.com if you’re interested in learning more.
Sources:
https://mydomaine.com/top-home-decor-mistakes
https://www.circlefurniture.com/blog/interior-design-mistakes-to-avoid
https://www.decoraid.com/blog/common-design-mistakes/
