Being a first-time homebuyer and buying your first house is one of the most exciting purchases you’ll make, and adding the finishing touches is what will really make it feel like home. Far too often, new homeowners make design mistakes that they end up regretting down the road. Whether you live in a mansion in New York or a condo in San Antonio, designing your home is a crucial step that you won’t want to mess up. That’s why we’ve asked experts to share the most common design mistakes and how to avoid them.
Buying furniture before spending time in your new home
Don’t rush into big furniture purchases or feel the need to fill the space right away. Get in the home and take time to learn how the home flows and functions to avoid costly purchases that you might regret later. Fill your home with thoughtful purchases of furniture, art, and decor over time. The items will have more meaning and you will avoid cluttering your new space. -Krissy Peterson, K. Peterson Design
Reusing furniture and decoration where it won’t work
I think compounding error is far too popular of a mistake. For example, if you reuse an item from your previous home and plan to re-situate it in your new space, it may not work as well because of proportion, color, period, etc. If it’s really not right no matter how much you love it, don’t force the issue; better to forget it and park it in the attic or re-gift it. -Alice Silverman, Creative Interiors
Furnishing your home all at once
A common design mistake that a lot of new homeowners make is thinking that they need to buy new furniture and get their home figured out all at once. Creating a home and an environment that reflects the homeowner’s personal style is something that should take time. Taking the time to curate a collection of furniture and decor inspires you will ensure that you create a home you love for years to come. -Cassandra Schinkel, Schinkel House of Design
Choosing furniture that doesn’t fit with your lifestyle
Your home reflects who you are. When moving into a new space, give it room to grow with you and don’t try and do too much too early on. Choose to invest in quality furniture pieces you love, not simply because they are on-trend, and make sure they work with your lifestyle. If you’re the type of person who snuggles up on the couch with saucy spaghetti, choose an easy to clean, durable fabric with a fiber guard and remember aesthetics should always follow practicality. Additionally, don’t ever underestimate the value of good storage – everything should have a home. – Mel Cook, Cooked Design Studio
Following paint trends instead of your preference
The optimal colors not only enhance your living environment but can also enable you to look, think, feel, act, learn, and heal your best. When choosing paint colors, follow your intuition, rather than trends or influences by outside sources. Decide on three base colors for your home interiors palette, as once those base colors are determined, you can expand to other colors from that vantage point.- C Color
Starting the project before talking with a designer
A common mistake that is made is starting a kitchen or bathroom remodel by talking to a contractor without any thought to the design. Working with a designer first means design solutions that fit your family’s individual needs and style, and a design plan that a contractor can execute. -Alden Miller, Alden Miller Interiors
Using furniture pieces that aren’t to scale
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when moving into new homes is using furniture that isn’t appropriately scaled for the space. Consider the ceiling heights and size of the spaces when looking for new furnishings. It may be time to ditch the overstuffed sectional or your apartment sized furniture might not be scaled properly to your new home. – Natalie Biles, Shine Interior Design Studio
Moving on to the next project before finishing the previous one
Not completing or properly finishing an important room they use and others see is a common mistake and leaves homeowners frustrated and feeling “not yet moved in”. A shotgun approach of buying and adding various items in various rooms is something we often see. Sometimes homeowners are so overwhelmed with a new home to furnish–they get stymied and end up with half-empty rooms and nothing on the walls. They also may be trying to live with the previous owner’s color schemes, room layout, or furniture. Pick the room you want to complete, perhaps the family room or living space, and complete it with a total design and all that goes into it. Then move onto the next room when you can. Consider reaching out to professionals for help. – KP Designs/Decorating Den Interiors
Failing to test out paint colors before it’s too late
Paint colors and scale are probably the two areas new homeowners make the most mistakes. What makes paint selection difficult is the undertone in the paint color so when it gets on the wall it looks very different than it did in a small sample. I never use paint without testing it on a 2×2 sheetrock or foam board, and two coats are necessary to get the accurate color. If the test is painted over the existing wall color it will distort the color because the surrounding wall color is absorbed and reflected. It’s best to look at the colors against a blank white or light gray background to get a clear color. I move the sample around the space to see it in different lighting. – Dona Rosene, Dona Rosene Interiors
Rushing the process and losing sight of the big picture
In the excitement of purchasing a new home, oftentimes homeowners move too quickly without a big picture plan. Our best recommendation is to not make any significant purchases or begin any remodeling projects without having an overall plan and budget. Too many people give us a call when they get stuck after making bad and uninformed decisions, like that sofa they fell in love with that’s not quite the right size or the paint color that is just a shade off. Take the time needed to plan properly for long-term enjoyment. –Southern Studio Interior Design
Forgetting about the focal points
We recommend new homeowners to dial it down to the basics. Focus on the fundamental design elements of ’scale’ and ‘focal points’. When designing your home, it’s important to define a focal point for each room, this can be anything from furniture to an oversized pendant or a piece of artwork to draw attention and emphasize the overall design direction. When completing the rest of the design, it’s important to always be mindful of scale, to help create a balance between interior elements and accessories. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different shapes and sizes of furniture and accessories. –LIV Design Studio
Only thinking about the future buyer
I’d advise against making all remodels to your house with mainly a “future buyer” in mind. You wind up with everything super neutral and lifeless – it’s just so boring! I’m not suggesting you overcorrect in the opposite direction, gluing wood paneling to every wall in the house if you’re a nature enthusiast, but don’t shy away from elements that give the space character or colors and designs that make you smile. Those little features make a space feel loved, welcoming, and special. And ultimately, you’ll feel more connected to your home and enjoy it more in the long run. –The Pink Pinecone
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