6 interior design mistakes and how to avoid them

Kayla Gulec Kayla Gulec
Ookinhetpaars de webshop voor kleurrijke kussens en prachtige plaids, Ookinhetpaars Ookinhetpaars Scandinavian style living room
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Let's get right to it: we all make interior design mistakes. Sometimes we make the wrong choice, like which colour we want our accent wall to be, and we end up throwing off the vibe of the entire room. But then there are also times when our inspiration strikes us and we put a room together and think to ourselves, how did that happen? Of course, those moments make us ecstatic, but we want to avoid the mistakes at all costs. But how do we do that exactly? Well, for starters, you could read this guide!

In this article we are going to go over the most common interior design mistakes that are made. Never again will you pick the wrong throw rug, and say bye bye to your mismatched living room set, because these tips are about to change your life. And we can guarantee that if you had this kind of list a few years back when you started, you never would have made those mistakes to begin with.

1. Don't buy sets

Дом из сруба, Ново-Рижское шоссе, Amazing Studio Светланы Панариной Amazing Studio Светланы Панариной Rustic style living room

The temptation can be great: buying furniture sets. Showrooms are, of course, full of it and somehow it seems so incredibly handy: you go around one room and you simply purchase everything you see in there. Yet then the reality is different, once you arrive at home, you realize that the furnishing is still not what you had in mind. Ultimately, it is just an impersonal combination that was created by a clever marketing agent. Too made, too slick. 

The golden rule is to never buy furniture sets. You can go to a showroom to get inspiration and then add your own twist to it. You get a good arrangement by your own personal approach, which gives the interior time to grow organically. A bench here, a grandfather chair there, and a piece of art from that market in Paris—perfection.

2. Don't forget the lighting

Woonhuis Bergen , By Lenny By Lenny Minimalist living room

One large interior design mistake is to only use functional lighting, so your interior appears flat. While art is used to give your room a personal touch, light is used to create depth. By applying ambient lighting in addition to functional lighting you can highlight specific elements in your interior. 

For example, choose spotlights in your closet, LED strips—as in this photo—along the walls, or beautifully designed table lamps for more atmosphere. Light does not only illuminate the room, it can also add an extra dimension to your decor. Lighting designers are very creative, so it would be a good idea to talk to one about the latest trends.

3. Where's your art?

Bridge House, 123DV Moderne Villa's 123DV Moderne Villa's Modern living room

Another important rule is to not forget your art. Which kind of art doesn't really matter. Whether you are a big advocate of Cubism or a supporter of Realism is entirely up to you. You can mix all the epochs of art together. Even if it is just a single large canvas. You can hang up anything. 

Art gives life and personality to your decor. When you decorate your home it is very important to let your own personal touch flow into it. Art is ideally suited for a personal contribution. You don't know where to start? On the internet you can find a lot of websites where young professionals from around the world present their work at very reasonable prices.

4. Mix materials and colours

Ookinhetpaars de webshop voor kleurrijke kussens en prachtige plaids, Ookinhetpaars Ookinhetpaars Scandinavian style living room

A great tip we can give you is to mix colours and materials. Granted, it is a thin line too walk, because too many colours are soon too much, while too little colour is too boring. The main principle is too choose two main colours place some accents with one—or maybe two—accent colours. 

If you opt for hard colours you can feel free to work with complementary colours. If you opt for pastel colours, like here in this picture, then go for colours that are closer together. The best way to give depth to your room, especially in pastel shades, is by adding different materials or using different light sources. Copper, for example, is currently in trend and in a light area you can never go wrong with the industrial-bare bulb look.

5. Don't be afraid of new trends

Квартира в классическом стиле в ЖК «Смольный Парк», 115 кв.м., Студия Павла Полынова Студия Павла Полынова Classic style living room

As time goes by, your style changes when you change and to always express that in your furniture can get difficult. You get attached to certain pieces of furniture that do not fit to your style anymore. Yet at times it is important to look back critically at the decor of your home. Interior styles change just like clothing styles do and before you notice you're stuck in 2016 with a look that garnered much praise in the 80s. 

We are not trying to tell you to throw out all your furniture every two years. In fact, we are strongly in favor of retaining the pieces you really value. The implementation of a new style lies in a big part in the new pieces of decorations that you set up in your home. Occasionally a new carpet or a new paint job on your wall if you find the time for it. Restyling your home does not have to be expensive, especially if you keep your eyes open for new systematic trends and adjust it little by little to your changing style.

6. Add a personal touch

homify Eclectic style living room

The last tip in this article about mistakes in your interior design is about you. Yes, about you personally! We have already mentioned the importance of letting your personality shine through in the set out of your interior design. Without a personal note you could just as well be in a showroom of any interior wholesale. Impersonal, interchangeable, and anonymous are the key words here. 

What can you do to turn your house into into a habitable room for objects with a story? It may be the couch, it may be art that originally belonged to your great-grandmother, it may be the wall colour that you have been staring at for three months and finally decided to buy… As long as your personal note is in play, you did great!

If you liked this guide, then this guide to a rustic home might interest you!

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