‘Most common’ design ‘faux pas’ to ‘avoid’ – makes room appear ‘cheap’

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From choosing the wrong lighting to miscalculating measurements, there are a surprising number of interior design mistakes that are all too easy to make in a property. To help, Lucy Henderson, head of design at My Bespoke Room, has shared what key decor mistakes they see time and time again – advising on ways to overcome each one.

She said: “Time and time again we have customers come to us saying ‘so we did a thing, well, we don’t really like it’ or ‘we thought it would work better than it did and we don’t know where to go from here’. 

“So we’d like to stop expensive mistakes before they happen. Here are the most common design faux pas that we see. Hopefully, this will make design no no’s a thing of the past.”

1. Bad lighting 

The designer claimed that this is a “big one”. She said: “We see it time and time again, lighting being left as an afterthought. 

“Really, lighting should be one of the first things that you consider when planning a home update as it really makes such a difference. This works both ways – if you have fantastic lighting, it can transform a space, if it’s a bit rubbish, your room is in danger of looking a bit rubbish too.”

Lucy shared that the “trick” to layer lighting. This means having lots of different light sources that have a different purpose, all working together to create a beautiful light scheme.

For example, start by making the most out of the natural light in the room by using mirrors to bounce the light around and making sure to allow an optimum amount of light coming in through windows/doors/any other glazing.

Then include main lighting – either the big one in the middle or spotlights that are going to ensure the least amount of shadowy spaces. 

2. Only adding small designs to small spaces

Lucy noted that the “biggest mistake” is to fight with a small room by trying to make it look light and bright if it’s actually naturally quite dark and dull. 

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She said: “If this is the case, then embrace it. Paint the room dark or go for a bold and dramatic wallpaper. 

“Don’t be afraid of pattern because it’s ‘too busy for the space’, nine times out of 10 it won’t be, as long as you don’t have patterned flooring, a wall mural and every other wall wallpapered.”

3. Hanging curtains too low

According to the designer, hanging curtains too low can make the walls “look shorter” and the “finish look a bit cheaper”. 

Also, if it’s practical, Lucy recommends having floor length curtains even if the glazing isn’t down to the floor. She said: “This gives a more luxurious and cosier finish.”

4. Wrong scale  

Getting the scale right in any room is essential. This is more than just measuring to check if items will fit, it’s understanding how all the furniture and accessories look together within a room.

Lucy warned: “A massive chair next to a little desk, a tiny frame on a large expansive wall, huge bedside tables next to a small double bed or a ginormous laundry basket in the corner of a compact bathroom will all throw off the overall look of the interior.”

While there is no set rule for deciding the scale of the items that populate a room, it’s just something that’s decided by eye. 

The designer added: “When it comes to choosing furniture and finishing touches that look great together, try and avoid extremes. I.e. a solo mini succulent on a huge shelf is going to look a bit lost, just like a super-king sized bed that takes up the entirety of the spare bedroom might look squeezed in.”

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5. Extreme budget buying

Many love a bargain and it’s great to see how luxurious and classy a lot of budget buys can look, especially when styled well. 

However, Lucy explained: “Sometimes pricier items have that price point for a reason – they’re just stunning.”

Whilst, households can update most of their home on a pretty reasonable budget, especially for those a fan of rummaging in second-hand shops, DIY and up-cycling old furniture pieces, they should allow themselves a one-off splurge every once in a while.

The expert continued: “One very special item can really transform an interior, immediately lifting the decor of the entire room. Additionally, a special purchase instantly attracts attention and, if a furniture item, can act as a centrepiece.”

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