I think we could all agree that interior design mistakes are costly and stressful. So let’s talk about the one decorating mistake you don’t want to make.
Sometimes the biggest decorating mistake can feel monumental, especially in small spaces. Have you ever made one? It can be that one thing that drives you crazy in your room. But the good news is, you don’t have to live with it anymore.
I’m going to share with you how you can fix this one big mistake, and never make it again!
The most common decorating mistakes
There are several common design mistakes that people make. The worst ones are where it ruins the function of your space. From bad lighting, to furniture that is not scaled properly to the room. These things can become big problems when they interfere with how you live in your space.
Many interior designers will tell you, everyone has a unique style they like, which can lead to very appealing interiors. But making this one big mistake will be the thing that never allows you to connect the dots properly in your decor.
The biggest mistake and how to avoid it
The one big mistake is not asking yourself the questions that you need to BEFORE you design a space or make any big changes. Whether you are decorating different rooms in your house, or designing the spaces as a whole, not asking yourself these questions will lead to more mistakes down the road.
To avoid mistakes, use this simple rule and begin by asking yourself these questions: How do you want the room to feel? How does this living space need to function? What is the purpose of this space? How should my home feel to me and my guests when I am in it? Can I make my work space efficient?
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Remember when making those big decisions
When you can answer and identify these questions, it will be much easier to make a plan. Have you ever been to other people’s homes where you knew something was off? Maybe things were chaotic and there was no sense of order. Chances are, there was never a plan either.
Think about paint colors. You already know how you want the room to feel. So this can lead you quickly to the shades that invoke that feeling. Or when you define how it needs to function. It will be easier to know what furniture is needed, along with its placement.
Knowing how you will use a space will keep you focused on what matters. Whether you live with a decorated, cohesive look or are struggling and on a budget.
When you desire a change, you can now look at your space with fresh eyes and ask yourself those questions. You can make a plan for the future, and tweak and update your ideas as life changes.
I’m so glad you’re here
If you love to decorate your home, and create a unique space full of personal style OR if you are interested in learning how, then you are in the right place!
Let’s talk about home decor, vintage, how-to’s, and all the home inspiration to help you make your space a true reflection of YOU and your personal style!
We can solve design problems together. I’ll be sharing resources, tips, inspiration, and some ways I’ve learned to navigate thru the homemaking life.
Hey, Jill here. I’m excited to share my passion for design, vintage, and all things home. I look forward to hearing your questions and comments.
The thought process behind design choices
When designing a client’s home, it is necessary for me to get to know them first. I need to find out what they want, and basically, I need them to answer those big questions listed above.
Designing for family is often very easy design wise, because I know them so well and already know how they live. Even though they may end up being the most demanding client (hahaha). But establishing how a house will be lived in and used, and how it will feel is the most important thing to do.
It’s never about the floor plan at first, or the natural light in the space. These are all things that will be addressed along the way. Because knowing how you want to feel in the space will allow the rest of the room, and all its details to come together.
After the important questions are decided, I always establish a focal point in each room. Especially in a small room, this will allow the design of the rest of the space to flow from that one thing.
In our current home, the exterior is a white Cape Cod style with blue hydrangea trim. That one exterior focal point really took hold and dictated the inside (and extended outside spaces) of the house as well. The house is classic and was calling out for more.
I’ve decorated in different shades of blues and white, with lighter wood tones throughout, sprinkled with wood with patina. The house told me what it wanted and I obliged.
Different ways to interpret style and color
In our previous house, we had many home improvement projects to do. The kitchen was dated and had carpet. Yea, you read that right, carpet.
To save time and money, we kept all the plumbing in its current place. But with the kitchen next to a wide open space, we viewed the entire room as one and made a plan, asking those important questions first.
There was also an ‘open to everything’ laundry room that had an awkward shower in it that could be seen from the kitchen. It was really weird. There was much to fix to make it feel how we wanted.
This home also had a separate living room, along with a more formal dining room. It was definitely a space that felt different from our current space. And the whole house was needing some architectural interest.
A big difference was the dark beams in the kitchen. Although I am always partial to blues, this home allowed black accents and a deeper secondary color palette throughout the main floor.
Much of our furniture was used differently in this home to give us the feel we were after. We had many seating areas and the home really functioned as the family gathering space we had envisioned. It was infused with our personal style and became a very comforting place to be.
Do I need to make a mood board?
I love inspiration and a mood board is always a good thing to do. Usually I have digital mood boards on Pinterest, along with a bulletin board to tack up swatches and ideas.
I even like to create a ‘mood bowl’ for my home design. I place heavy swatches of tile, fabrics, paint chips, and small decorative items and pictures that show what I am thinking and wanting.
The most common mistakes people make when decorating their homes is forgetting the things they wanted. Many never even stop long enough to decide, and sometimes, get caught up in a furniture item they see on a whim and forget their focus, if they ever had one.
Creating a mood board will help you stay in your lane and give you the reminders of how you wanted things to feel, and how that space will be used. The best rooms, that serve your needs and creativity, will be the ones that stayed true to your thoughts and plan.
Practical tips for remembering the golden rule
If you want a new look for your space, study different styles, and see what speaks to you. If you look closely, clues will emerge and you will define the things you are drawn to.
Come up with a few words to describe your style. Ultimately, your style will be YOU (we’re big on personal style around here) but you will see what colors give you a reaction.
Let function and beauty be your guide. And always remember to do what feels good to you, and don’t just follow a trend. This will allow you to have a home that you always feel safe and comfortable in, even as the tides ebb and flow. If you aren’t far from your true self, when changes need to be made, it will be much easier to tweak and make updates.
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Exactly! You are spot on. You have to envision ‘how will we live here’. Stuff like you said, where will the tree go, what about the overflow from lots of family and friends at a Thanksgiving, how will the kitchen flow from day to day use. With those things figured out in advance, there will always be less dilemmas or problems later!
Great advice! When we built our house, one question I kept asking myself was where the Christmas tree would go. Priorities!!!