After years of practice, we have seen it all – weird design ideas and gross errors. It is nice to learn from your mistakes, but that can cost you dearly in home design and remodeling. Wouldn’t it be much easier if you just knew where it could all go wrong and took measures to avoid that?
So what are the most common mistakes in home design and furnishing?
Working without a plan
Not knowing where you are going is a bad sin in interior design and home furnishing. The lack of a general concept is a sure way to a poor design and can gravely affect your comfort of living.
It is absolutely necessary to explore and analyze all design possibilities before getting any remodel works started. You should carefully consider all details, starting with functional planning, design style choice, lighting design and selection of basic colors and materials.
Lapses in functional planning
Before you even consider buying any furniture, you should explore your layout options. That is the only way to find a solution that will accommodate your personal needs. You should pick a place for all important furnishings and determine the optimal size for each and every one of them. That can surely save you plenty of trouble in the future.
Buying wrong-sized furniture
Picking out properly sized furnishings is absolutely necessary for a good design. Make sure that you know your boundaries before your trip to the furniture store. And, when you find an item that you like, don’t forget to double check if it really meets your requirements.
It should also be noted that you should by all means avoid placing bulky furniture in tight spaces. Large rooms, on the other hand, would look odd and out of balance if filled with tiny pieces. You should also remember to see how different items stand together with respect to their size and proportions. You wouldn’t want a coffee table that is too small compared to your sofa, for example.
Blindly following design trends
Interior design trends come and go. Don’t get tricked into following a design trend blindly just because it is so hot and popular with the masses. Do have in mind that your home remodel is a long-term investment that is likely to outlive the latest quirks and trends.
It is much better to figure out what you actually enjoy, instead. Find out what you really like and make sure that the design of your own home truly reflects your personal style and character. That is the only way to get a sustainable design that will stand to the test of time.
Not consulting a professional
Unfortunately, many people disregard the opportunity to seek professional assistance from a licensed designer, because they are doubtful and driven by a desire to save some cash. DIY design, however, can cause more problems that it can actually solve.
A certified professional can further develop and greatly enhance their client’s personal design ideas by proposing creative solutions of their own. That is sure to get you a better design with improved functionality and higher aesthetic value.
Asking for help from the wrong people
Ask-a-friend is not always the best idea when you experience remodel issues. It is highly possible that you end up even more confused because of the many conflicting views and bad advice that you’ll get from people who are not experts in the field of interior design.
Hiring a designer who is not right for the job can be just as disastrous. Before assigning your project, make sure that you really click with your designer and you both are on the same track.
Bad electrical and plumbing layout
Not adapting electrical and plumbing systems to their own needs is a common mistake for new homeowners. Even the slightest changes, however, can greatly improve your comfort of living when these correspond to your own lifestyle and specific needs.
Poor lighting design
Lighting choice is easy to go wrong with. We have seen way too many interior spaces that only have a ceiling lamp as a single source of light in the room. Often, that is by far not enough.
Don’t forget to include various light sources in your design. The best thing to do is have a balanced mix of ambient, task and accent lighting. That will not only improve your quality of life, but will also enhance the quality of your design.
Working without a budget
Before we take on a new project, we always ask about the client’s budget so that we know what we can afford to put in our design. If you are doing your remodel alone, you should also ask yourself what kind of expenses are acceptable.
If you have a strict budget plan and do a research on market prices before buying anything, you should be able to avoid spending too much money and getting into additional expenses.
Rushing it
Good things take time. Waiting for the moment when your new home will finally be ready to take you in can be excruciating, but it’s much better to brace yourself and take the time to properly do your design and remodel works. Don’t try to rush it, as that could only cause you trouble.
Before you get your project started, don’t forget to read about the basic principles in interior design.