Avoid These Costly Design Mistakes and Design a Home That Works for You
Designing or renovating a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make, both financially and emotionally. While every design choice contributes to the overall look and feel of your space, some mistakes can lead to expensive regrets, forcing you to spend thousands on fixes or leaving you frustrated with a home that doesn’t function properly.
Whether you’re building from scratch or revamping your interiors, avoiding these five common mistakes will help you create a timeless, functional, and well-designed home.
1. Following Trends Too Closely
Because what’s trending today might be outdated tomorrow
Trends come and go, but your home should stand the test of time. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest design fads, but investing in highly trend-driven choices can leave your home feeling dated in just a few years.
Unlike a throw pillow or a piece of art, built-in features like cabinetry, flooring, and tiles are costly and difficult to change. What looks fresh and exciting now might become the avocado-green bathroom of the future.
How to Avoid It:
Stick to timeless materials for foundational elements like flooring, cabinetry, and stone benchtops.
Introduce trends in easily replaceable ways, such as cushions, artwork, lighting, or wallpaper.
Before committing to a trendy design choice, ask yourself: Would I still love this in five years? If you hesitate, rethink it.
💡 Pro Tip: If you love a trend, try it in a smaller space, like a powder room or a feature wall, where it won’t be as costly to update later.
2. Poor Space Planning
A home that looks good but doesn’t function well is an expensive regret
One of the most common (and costly) mistakes in home design is poor space planning. A layout might seem great on paper, but if it doesn’t work for your lifestyle, you’ll quickly notice the daily frustrations, whether it’s a cramped hallway, awkward furniture placement, or a living space that feels disconnected.
The goal is to create a functional flow where movement feels natural, and every room serves its intended purpose.
How to Avoid It:
Think about furniture placement early. Before finalising a floor plan, map out key pieces to ensure they fit comfortably and work for YOUR lifestyle.
Allow for proper traffic flow. Avoid placing furniture too close to doorways or leaving awkward, unusable corners. Make sure there is at least 90cm around pieces of furniture for optimal flow.
Future-proof your home. Will this layout still work in five or ten years? Think about storage needs, lifestyle changes, and potential resale value.
💡 Pro Tip: Use painter’s tape on the floor to outline furniture dimensions before committing to a layout, it helps visualise how a space will feel. Really think about how you plan on using each space.
3. Poor Electrical Planning (Including Lighting & Powerpoints)
Lighting and power are two things you don’t want to realise are wrong after moving in
One of the biggest interior design regrets? Not enough powerpoints and bad lighting.
Underestimating the number of power outlets means relying on ugly extension cords, while poorly planned lighting can make even the most beautifully designed home feel flat and uninspiring. And the worst part? Fixing electrical mistakes after a build or renovation is expensive, messy, and sometimes even impossible.
How to Avoid It:
Add more powerpoints than you think you need. Key areas include kitchen islands, bedside tables, living rooms, hallways and appliance cupboards.
Layer your lighting. Combine ambient lighting (overheads), task lighting (lamps, under-cabinet lights), and accent lighting (sconces, pendants).
Think about switch placement. Light switches should be intuitive, no one wants to fumble in the dark for a poorly placed switch.
💡 Pro Tip: Install dimmers wherever possible. They allow you to adjust the mood of a space and create a softer, more inviting atmosphere.
4. Ignoring Scale and Proportion for Furniture
The wrong furniture size can throw off an entire room
Ever seen a tiny rug in a massive living room? Or a bulky sofa that completely dominates a space? That’s the result of poor scale and proportion, and it’s one of the most common (and costly) interior design mistakes.
Furniture that’s too big makes a space feel cramped, while pieces that are too small can leave a room feeling unfinished. The secret? Getting the proportions right.
How to Avoid It:
Measure first, buy second. Always check dimensions before purchasing furniture, especially large items like sofas and dining tables.
Follow scale rules:
-Rugs should be large enough to extend under at least the front legs of your furniture.
-Dining tables should have 90cm of clearance around them for easy movement.
-Artwork should be hung at eye level, not floating too high or too low.
Consider ceiling height. Tall ceilings need substantial furniture, while smaller rooms benefit from lighter, more streamlined pieces.
💡 Pro Tip: When in doubt, go slightly bigger with rugs and artwork, undersized pieces can make a space feel disconnected and cheap.
5. Not Planning for Storage
Because a home without storage quickly becomes a cluttered nightmare
A beautifully designed home is nothing without good storage. Without enough space to keep things organised, clutter builds up fast, leading to frustration, extra furniture purchases, and, eventually, expensive storage solutions or renovations.
How to Avoid It:
✔ Prioritise built-in storage. Think floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, functional kitchen cabinetry, and a well-planned laundry space.
✔ Maximise vertical space. Floating shelves, tall cabinetry, and overhead storage make use of every inch.
✔ Plan for real life. Where will shoes go when you walk in? Where does the vacuum live? The little things matter.
💡 Pro Tip: Well-designed storage isn’t just about quantity, it’s about accessibility. Make sure it’s easy to reach and practical for everyday use.
A well-designed home isn’t just about how it looks, it’s about how it works. And while small styling choices can be changed over time, bigger design mistakes can cost thousands to fix, or worse, leave you living with a home that doesn’t truly function.
By avoiding these costly interior design pitfalls, you can create a space that feels timeless, intentional, and effortless to live in.
Are you building or renovating and want expert guidance to get it right the first time? Let’s create a home that’s both beautiful and functional.
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