The 10 Most Common Design Mistakes People Make, According to Designers

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Go with your gut, to thine own self be true, let your freak flag fly: You've probably heard some variation of this message fairly consistency since, well, nursery school. And yes, you should absolutely follow your heart when it comes to your home, it is possible for your heart to steer you in the wrong direction. That's where the experts come in.

And trust us when we tell you that interior designers have a lot to say, especially about the common mistakes they see clients make while decorating their homes. While you are of course entitled to your own opinion about a the current crop of design trends, there are certain things that, in the opinions of professionals, are objectively incorrect. Scroll down to see what these egregious errors are, according to designers—and don't shoot the messenger.

Rugs Too Small for the Space

If you've ever had a rug that was too dinky for its intended space—and you realized that fact the moment you unrolled it, but kept it anyway—this one's for you. “One of the biggest mistakes I see is rugs that are too small for a room,” explains Gideon Mendelson.

He wasn't the only designer who agreed with this point. “Rugs should be grounded under a grouping of furniture, not floating in the middle of a room or solely placed under a coffee table,” Meghan Jay adds. “It's counterintuitive, but having a larger rug instantly makes a room feel more spacious—and more cozy!” Gillian Segal echoes this statement, saying to always size up if you're unsure because it'll make the space feel more balanced.

Lightbulbs in a Variety of Temperatures

Room lighting is always a hot topic, especially with all the Gen Z discourse lately about the Big Light. However, it's not just where the light is coming from that's a problem; it's the temperature of the bulbs. “This is such a small thing, but clients often have light bulbs that are in a variety of temperatures,” Jay says. “It feels off when you walk into a room and there's one fixture casting a cold light while the others feel warm.” The Chicago designer suggests sticking with consistent Kelvins (that's the measurement of the color temperature, and it's noted on lightbulb packaging), playing around with the intensity, and even getting dimmers to fix this issue.

A Room Without Accessories

Yes, big ticket purchases like sofas and bed frames are a necessity, but that doesn't make the smaller details less important to a beautiful space. Jay explains that many clients often lack that final layer of accessories, leaving the home feeling bare—it's the styling pieces and artwork that give a room a unique, personal, and complete feeling.

“I realize that purchasing accessories, particularly artwork, can be intimidating or might feel unnecessary to some. But it truly makes a room feel well rounded and characterful,” she says. “I encourage my clients to purchase pieces that they love and to bring out heirloom pieces that have been tucked away.”

Poor Sense of Scale

Almost every designer I spoked to mentioned that people are often unable to properly recognize the scale of a room. As a result, people choose furniture that's either too large or too small. "Scale can be tricky," says Jay.

John Stivale of Stivale Graffam Home and Gideon Mendelson focus on the larger furnishings. Mendelson says that people generally use too much furniture to begin with. This result is that spaces feel cramped and off-balance, Stivale adds, and the mini rugs don't help. “Try a few larger, heavier pieces with some smaller, more elegant items to balance it out,” Mendelson suggests. Stival suggests carefully measuring the space and mapping out the layout for optimum flow before purchasing anything.

Jerel Lake—part of House Beautiful's 2024 Next Wave class—points out that scale matters in the smaller things too, specifically cabinet hardware. “Instead of selecting the same hardware for all drawers and cabinet doors, play with different arrangements on upper and lower cabinets,” Lake says. Not only would a single small knob feel lost on a larger cabinet door, but sticking with the same shape and scale of hardware for every part of your kitchen leaves the space feeling flat.

Sloppy Painting Skills

Painting the walls is one of those things that a lot of homeowners think they can do themselves—but should they? Dan Mazzarini of BHDM Design doesn't think so. “When it comes to painting, execution is as important as intent. If you’re not a great painter, hire one!” he exclaims. If you can't do something well, then it might not be worth saving a few bucks up front when you're likely going to have to hire someone to fix your mistake anyway. “No matter how creative or beautiful your accent wall is, there is nothing worse than sloppy corners,” he says.

Making Buying Decisions Too Quickly

If you needed a reason to embrace the slow decorating style, let this be your sign. With sites like Amazon and Wayfair promising fast delivery, it's so simple to just add to cart. While that's also exactly why we love those sites, it means a lot of homes end up feeling lifeless and bland. “I think it’s a common mistake that people think they need to buy everything new,” Segal says. Vintage pieces and found objects add character and personality to your space.

On the vintage note, Dan Mazzarini adds that “people often don’t take the time to shop around and understand the true value of a piece before buying.” He explains that negotiating and making offers is all part of the decorating process—you'll get an added feeling of accomplishment when you take home that dining table that you fought tooth and nail for.

Choosing Matching Furniture Sets

There's a reason people still love matching furniture sets: They take the work out of the decorating process. When you buy something you know will look good together, then you don't have to stretch your creativity. However, Segal says this is one of the biggest design mistakes a person can make. “Variety is the spice of life, and it never feels welcoming when it looks like you have all the items from one collection in your space,” she says. Finding individual pieces that all look good together—but don't necessarily match—is what brings character to a home.

Improperly Placed Curtains

If you move, you're probably going to have to buy new curtains or blinds for your place. The length and height of your windows, not to mention their shape, means you can't just repurpose your old curtains for your new place. And as annoying as it may be to switch out your perfectly fine drapes because the length simply doesn't work in your new living room or dining area, designer Samantha Struck emphasizes the importance of having properly installed curtains. “We have seen them installed in all sorts of strange ways, and the room would look so great if they were properly placed,” she says. Don't let yourself get hung up on this common mistake—just get new curtains.

Hanging Artwork and TVs Too High

When mounting artworks and a TV on the wall, lots of people aim for spot that's well above their line of vision. “Art should be at eye level—roughly 57 to 60 inches from the floor to the center of the piece," says Steven Graffam of Stivale Graffam Home. Similarly, mounting the TV too high, like above a fireplace, forces people to strain their necks,” he explains. TVs should also be hung at your seated eye level for the most comfortable viewing experience.

Too Many Electronics

Any designophile or frequent watcher of HGTV can tell you that designers have a lot of thoughts when it comes to displaying televisions. Chrissy Jones will tell you that it's electronics as a whole she takes issue with. Having too many electronics and items on display can make the space feel cluttered and chaotic. "As humans, we naturally accumulate 'things,' but when too much is left out, it can create visual clutter that disrupts a sense of peace," Jones says.

The fix for this one is to make choices that prioritize functionality and a sense of calm. Oh and, bring in the professionals. Even if you don't want a full decorating overhaul of your home, you can hire a designer to simply help you visualize how things could, even just an overview. "Ultimately, it's about achieving high-end simplicity—designing spaces that are elegant, functional, and bring a sense of balance to daily life," Jones adds.

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