We all know some mistakes in life can be very costly, and the same goes for design mistakes in your own home. We published this blog post a few weeks ago, and it was such a hit that we are circling back around for part deux discussing potential disasters that come up in redesigning a new space!
Scroll through to read through the most common design mistakes below, and how to avoid them. After all, knowledge is power!
CHOOSING LOOKS OVER COMFORT OR QUALITY
Unless you're staging a rental or house for sale, do not buy uncomfortable furniture - there's no reason for it. We invest thousands of our business dollars every year going to market sit testing hundreds of pieces of furniture on behalf of our design clients - and by sit testing really I mean sitting, laying on, open and closing, inspecting, examining, go over with a fine tooth comb...it's worth the time to research! Next time you're shopping on your own be sure to check measurements (pro tip: don't forget seat depth) and sit on pieces you plan to read in or watch TV in for a long time. If you never sit in a certain chair in your home because its not comfy even if it's pretty, if it's not paying you rent to take up space in your house, it's got to go! Life is too short to be uncomfortable especially in your own home!
NOT READING REVIEWS OR RETURN POLICIES BEFORE PURCHASING
Not all return policies are made the same. Every company has a right to have completely different terms and policies for returning items, so even though it can be a drag to go searching for these terms and keep track of them, you'll thank me for reminding you when you end up not buying a console or a one off piece of furniture from an online retailer because they only issue store credit, and you don't want anything else that they offer. I read every published review AND return policy for every retail store I peruse before making a purchase.
ART HUNG WRONG
I can't even tell you how much it drives me nuts when I go into a house and I have to look up or crane my neck to see the art. If you're in a basketball player's home, fine, but the average American woman is 5' 4.
When you're hanging art in your own home, think about the heights of the adults in your household, and go for the average eye level height on which to center the middle of the art piece. If you're doing a gallery wall, start with a focal piece in the middle at eye level and work around that until everything is hung.
BEING AFRAID TO BREAK THE RULES OR NOT TAKING RISKS
I love that there are design standards that you can look to for guidance, but bottom line, if you really love something, figure out a way to use it in your space and just don't be afraid to take risks, whether it's with color or pattern. If it makes you happy, do it! I consider one of my design superpowers figuring out how to make specific client requests work in a space...meaning I don't insist that my clients start with a complete blank slate. How easy would that be? You can read more about how we transformed this primary bedroom suite.
USING THE WRONG SIZED RUG AND NOT USING A RUG PAD
The most common thing I see with rugs is a lonely little island rug floating in the middle of the living room with all of furniture not even close to touching it. While you can always go the custom route and get a rug specifically sized for your room and your furniture, it's a pretty penny to do that.
If you're going for common rug sizes, go for a size that at least allows for your furniture's front two feet to be sitting on top, as well as room for small side tables. You can also layer a more expensive patterned rug on top of a larger neutral rug to cut down on cost but still have some fun patterns happening.
Rugs pads are also a must! Don't skimp please! We always use a rug pad in our projects not only because it feels better under your feet, but I think it helps your actual floor and rug breathe.
Read more on our rug thoughts here:
Have you made any of these mistakes before? Let me know if you have any questions or share your decorating "wish I'd known that then" stories below!