Common Interior Design Mistakes and How to Fix Them Fast
Transforming your residence into an aesthetically pleasing space that meets your goals should be an enjoyable undertaking, rather than a stressful one.
Unfortunately, even when intending to transform a space, many homeowners fall victim to common interior design blunders that result in a space feeling tight, cramped, or just plain wrong.
Good news is that most mistakes are usually easy to remedy once you know what to look for.
Whether you're decorating your first apartment or refreshing a longtime family home, understanding these design pitfalls will save you time, money, and frustration.
Let's dive into the most common interior design mistakes and discover practical solutions that deliver immediate results.
Why Interior Design Mistakes Happen
Before we jump into the design blunders, let's talk about why the blunders happen.
Most interior design mistakes can be blamed on three underlying problems.
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Rushing the process - we make purchases too quickly and neglect a cohesive plan.
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Overlooking function - we don't think about how we actually live and care more about aesthetics.
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Following trends blindly - we prioritize what is trendy rather than what works in our renal or a friend's home.
These blunders are significant, as your home is not just for looks.
This is where you find leisure, entertain, work, and create experiences.
A poor design can impact your mood, productivity, and could affect the resale value of the property.
The Most Common Interior Design Mistakes And How to Fix Them
1. Wrong Furniture Scale and Proportion
The Mistake: One of the most regular interior design mistakes is selecting a piece of furniture which is either too large or too small for the scale of the room.
Large, overly plush sofas make a small room feel squished. If you put little furniture into a large room, the room will feel awkward and distant.
The Quick Fix:
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Measure room measurements before you go shopping (including the height of the ceiling).
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Draw out the floor plan with free apps or graph paper.
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Mix furniture scales - using both lower-profile pieces with taller pieces.
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Utilize the two-thirds rule for length: your sofa should be about two-thirds the length of the wall.
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Don't forget to leave at least 18 inches between the furniture in the room to provide walking space.
2. Poor Lighting Design
The Mistake: Overhead or ceiling lights are the only lighting source used, which is an important design mistake, and creates shadows that seem harsh and make the room feel cold and uninviting. Light from only one source flattens a room and diminishes depth.
The Quick Fix:
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Embrace three-layer lighting: ambient (overhead), task (desk lamps, reading lights), and accent (picture lights, candles)
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Use dimmers on every circuit of light for versatility
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Use lamps at varying heights within the room
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For luminance in living spaces, use warm colors in the range of 2700K-3000K
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Use three light sources for every room (at minimum).
3. Wrong Rug Size and Placement
The Mistake: A small rug in your space is one of the most noticeable mistakes in interior design. A tiny rug floating in the center of a room or just placing the coffee table on top leaves the space feeling awkward and disconnected.
The Quick Fix:
For Living Rooms:
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All of the front legs of the furniture should be on the rug (ideal)
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At the absolute minimum, the rug should extend 18 inches all the way around the coffee table
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Leave 12-18 inches between the edge of the rug and walls.
For Dining Rooms:
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Rug should extend 24 inches minimum on all sides
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Leave room for the chairs to remain on the rug when pulled out
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A standard dining table rug is an 8x10 feet rug minimum
For Bedrooms:
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Rug should extend 18-24 inches minimum on both sides of the bed and at the foot of the bed
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Standard for rugs for a queen bed would be 8x10 feet or 9x12 feet
Also Read : Transform Your Space by Fixing These 4 Rug Mistakes
4. Pushing All Furniture Against Walls
The Mistake: Many people think that pushing all furniture against the walls makes a room feel bigger, but this interior design mistake actually creates an awkward and disconnected space lacking intimacy and flow.
The Quick Fix:
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Pull furniture away from the walls by at least 12-18 inches
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Create conversation areas by arranging seating in a U-shape or L-shape
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Float furniture in the middle of larger rooms to define zones
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Use the space behind sofas for console tables or shelving
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Ensure traffic flow paths remain clear (36 inches minimum)
5. Neglecting Color and Pattern Balance
The Mistake: Common interior design blunders include either using active colored multiple patterns/colors or completely ignoring color. An all-neutral palette can evoke a sterile feel, while too many bold colors will create a graphic mess/chaos.
The Quick Fix:
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60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant color; 30% secondary color; 10% accent color
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Pick one patterned item you love and pull colors from that
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Mix pattern size: large/medium/small
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Balance the busy pattern with solid colors
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Try out paint colors in the actual space before committing
6. Hanging Artwork at the Wrong Height
The Mistake: Hanging art too high is one of the most habitual interior design errors. When the artwork is hung floating high in the room, far above eye level or even furniture, it makes the ceilings feel lower and separates the art from the space.
The Quick Fix:
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Hang the art so that the center of the piece is at about eye level (57-60” from the floor).
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When hanging artwork above furniture, hang the art 6-8” above the top of the piece of furniture.
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The width of the artwork should be around 2/3 to 3/4 of the width of the furniture below.
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Use paper templates before making it permanent for a gallery wall.
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Measure level and use appropriate and secure tools for hanging.
7. Over-Decorating and Visual Clutter
The Mistake: Filling every free surface with decorative accents leads to visual chaos and causes anxiety and stress in living spaces.
The Quick Fix:
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Follow the “rule of three” for styling your surfaces
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Utilize odd number item groupings-in threes, fives, and sevens.
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Mix and match heights and textures in groupings.
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Leave 30-40% of surfaces empty to allow for space to breathe.
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Rotate seasonal decor instead of using it all at once.
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Use the “one in, one out” rule when bringing in new items.
8. Choosing Paint Color First
The Mistake: Painting your walls before selecting fabrics and furniture creates a backwards process that limits your choices and usually results in color-matching headaches.
The Quick Fix:
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Choose your largest furniture pieces first (sofa, rugs, curtains).
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Select paint mixtures that work with those pieces.
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Try paint samples on at least 2 walls to see how light affects the mixtures.
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Try the samples at various times of the day.
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Avoid the mess of samples and use peel-and-stick samples instead.
9. Following Trends Too Closely
The Mistake: Proliferating every trending design element in your home is an interior design sin that will quickly cause your space to feel like it is out of style and lack character.
The Quick Fix:
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Use the 70/30 rule: 70% timeless, 30% trendy
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Invest in classic silhouettes of furniture
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Use trends in dynamic and changeable elements (pillows, artwork, accessories)
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Use trends that are veritable reflections of yourself.
10. Mismatched Metal Finishes
The Mistake: Applying too many metal finishes to a space at random creates visual chaos, whereas not mixing any metals is an unnecessary constraint.
The Quick Fix:
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Select 2-3 metals at maximum in any one room
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Select one dominant finish (70%) and one or two accents (30%)
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Sample each finish at least 2 times in different locations of the room
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Combining brass with black, chrome with gold, and bronze with nickel are all common combinations.
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Make sure that similar fixtures keep the same finish (all cabinet hardware should match).
Room-Specific Interior Design Mistakes
Living Room Mistakes
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Coffee table located too far from the seating area (14-18 inches is generally considered an appropriate distance)
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TV mounted too high (aim for eye level when seated)
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Not enough seating for the size of the room
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No place for drinks or remotes
Bedroom Mistakes
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Furniture that is too large for the room
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Not enough surface area on bedside tables
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Inadequate blackout options for sleeping
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Lack of ambient light for unwinding
Kitchen Mistakes
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Not enough task lighting on work surfaces
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Too much open shelving (if you choose to use open shelving, limit it to items you will actually display)
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Cabinet colors are based on a trend and are likely to fade quickly
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Not enough storage for small appliances
Bathroom Mistakes
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Not enough fresh air ventilation creates moisture issues
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Poor lighting near mirrors
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Towel bars are not in appropriate locations
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Not enough storage for toiletries
Final Thoughts
Recognizing the typical mistakes people make in interior design will help you create a home you actually love.
Good interior design is not about perfection; rather, it is about spaces that work well for your lifestyle.
Start with the low-hanging fruit: the right lighting, the right scale of furniture, and decluttering your space.
You want your home to reflect your personality and make you happy!
Remember: Good design isn't about money; good design is about making good choices to improve the beauty and function of your space.
Knowing what not to do and how to fix common mistakes in interior design should make you ready to implement good design in your home that is not merely pretty, but perfect for you and your life!
