What Are Common Interior Design Mistakes to Avoid?

Ignoring Function for Style

It’s tempting to focus only on aesthetics. But the number one common interior design mistakes to avoid is choosing furniture or layouts that look good but don’t work for your lifestyle.

If you buy a huge sofa that doesn't fit your room or install a pretty dining table that blocks movement, it will cause daily frustration.

• Fix it: Always measure your space. Think about how you use each room before picking furniture. A beautiful space that doesn’t work well is still a bad design.

Also Read: 11 Dining Table Vastu Mistakes To Avoid in 2025

Choosing the Wrong Lighting

Bad lighting can ruin even the best interiors. One of the most overlooked interior design dos and don’ts is ignoring layers of lighting.

A single overhead bulb isn’t enough. Poor lighting makes your home feel cold and flat.

• Fix it: Use a mix of ambient (ceiling), task (table), and accent (wall or floor) lights. Natural light should also be maximised wherever possible.

Matching Everything

Matching your sofa, curtains, and cushions in the same colour or print? That’s a rookie move.

Too much coordination can make the room feel flat, boring, and outdated.

• Fix it: Mix colours, textures, and patterns. Add contrast with cushions, rugs, and art. A little variety brings the room to life.

Placing Furniture Against the Walls

Many people think pushing furniture against the walls makes a room look bigger. It doesn’t. It actually creates awkward empty spaces in the middle.

This is a classic interior layout error.

• Fix it: Create a cosy seating area by pulling furniture inward. Leave some breathing room around pieces instead of pushing everything to the edges.

Going Overboard With Décor

Cluttering every surface with candles, vases, or figurines can overwhelm the eye. One of the easiest decorating mistakes to avoid is over-accessorising.

Too many things on display will make your space look messy, not curated.

• Fix it: Pick a few statement pieces. Let your décor breathe. Negative space is just as important as what you fill it with.

Ignoring Scale and Proportion

Another common interior design mistakes to avoid is choosing the wrong size of furniture, lights, or rugs. A tiny rug in a big room looks awkward. An oversized chandelier in a small room feels cramped.

• Fix it: Balance is key. Measure your space before buying anything. Your furniture and accessories should relate well to the size of the room and to each other.

Forgetting About Storage

A beautiful home without storage quickly becomes a cluttered mess. Not planning enough storage is a major space planning mistake.

• Fix it: Add closed storage wherever possible — TV units, beds with drawers, coffee tables with shelves. A neat space always feels more spacious and stylish.

Using Colours Without a Plan

Choosing random paint colours or overloading a space with multiple bold shades can confuse the visual flow of a home.

This is a common mistake when people don’t understand how colours interact.

Fix it: Stick to a cohesive colour palette. Use neutral tones as a base, and add pops of colour through furniture or art. Test swatches before finalising wall colours.

Ignoring the Ceiling

Ceilings are the most ignored element in home design. Leaving them plain white can be a missed opportunity.

• Fix it: Try subtle ceiling mouldings, soft colours, or wooden panelling. A thoughtfully designed ceiling adds polish and depth to a room.

Not Taking Professional Help

Thinking you can design an entire home without any expert input can lead to costly blunders.

While it’s okay to DIY some parts, skipping a professional interior design consultation can lead to regrets later.

• Fix it: Even a short consultation can help avoid layout errors, awkward colour choices, and expensive redesigns. Designers know how to bring ideas together in a practical way.

Placing Rugs Incorrectly

A rug that floats in the middle of the room or doesn’t sit under the furniture looks disconnected from the space.

It’s one of the smallest yet most visible common interior design mistakes to avoid.

• Fix it: Your rug should anchor your furniture. Ideally, at least the front legs of sofas and chairs should sit on the rug. In dining rooms, rugs should extend beyond the chairs.

Hanging Art at the Wrong Height

Artwork hung too high or too low breaks the line of sight and feels awkward.

• Fix it: As a rule, hang art at eye level — around 57 to 60 inches from the floor to the centre of the piece. Align frames with furniture edges for a more balanced look.

Blocking Natural Light

Heavy curtains or placing tall furniture in front of windows reduces natural light, making the room feel small and gloomy.

• Fix it: Use sheer curtains or blinds that allow light in. Keep windows unobstructed to bring in air and brightness.

Forgetting Local Climate

This is especially important in India. Choosing fabrics or materials without considering the climate can lead to discomfort.

• Fix it: Go for breathable fabrics like cotton or linen in hot regions. Avoid materials like leather in places with high humidity.

Ignoring the Flow Between Rooms

Focusing on one room at a time without thinking of how it connects to the next can create a visual disconnect.

• Fix it: Choose a design theme that runs through the entire home. Colours, textures, and flooring should complement each other across spaces.