*Collaborative post.

Decorating a home can be a daunting project and one that takes on an immense amount of hard work. All those walls which need covering, spaces that need filling and corners which need sprucing up can seem like a never-ending battle. 

Although tempting, try to avoid working with quick fixes, which in the end will only cause you more problems. 

When your home needs improving, it’s best to do it properly. A good job well done will leave you satisfied and content. Otherwise, if you start making shortcuts, common interior design mistakes start to happen which will set you further back than you were in the first instance.

 

 

 

Here are ten common mistakes that many people have experienced, which you should aim to avoid at all costs:

 

1. Choosing all your materials in one day

It’s common to set off on a home improvement day out, planning to come home with a car filled with all your materials. Loading yourself up with all the paint, wallpaper, fixtures, frames, pieces of furniture and fabrics you think you need in one trip is a bad idea.

Not only is the prospect of shopping for an entire room’s décor in just one day a stressful thought, but it’s also risky business. As you start to work on one task, it can change the way you feel about another area of the room. So take your time and work to a layering approach to decorating. 

Focus on painting or wallpapering first, and then assess the accessories, artwork and furniture, building up on the finished look. 

 

2. Always measure carefully

Too many people make rough estimates when they measure, but it’s the one mistake that can cost you time and money. If you have saved a space for a new desk to fit in, and your measurements were too big or small, you’ve potentially got a piece of furniture with no use (or you have to totally re-arrange the room layout).

 

3. Stick to one focal point per room

Every room has a focal point, even if it’s not one that you physically created. In a living room, it’s either the TV or the fireplace area. In the bedroom, its the bed and it’s symmetrical bedside tables. While in the bathroom, it’s the bath area. 

By mixing this up and creating two areas of a room where your eyes are drawn can just look too much and look distracting. It’s all about creating that one wow factor aspect of each room. For bathrooms, you want people to step into your space and be drawn to a relaxing bath which looks tranquil and modern. 

If your shower stands over the bath, then this can be classed as a focal area, so make sure both are designed similar and blend in perfectly together. You can get some great bath and shower inspiration over at Bathdisc here, whether it’s a corner bath and shower setup or a freestanding one.

 

 

 

4. Decorating without any help

Decorating can be costly and fairly difficult depending on the type of house and rooms you have. But above all, decorating is time-consuming when you do it on your own. 

It’s worth asking yourself if the time and effort spent doing it on your own is as worthy as you once thought. A professional decorator can come in and do most painting and decorating jobs in one day, opening you up to start moving on to other tasks. 

For a small percentage of your overall budget, it will give you the peace of mind that the job is done to a high-quality standard. 

 

5. Buying too many trend items

Cushions, throws and decorative pieces come in various trendy prints and patterns, usually following interior trends. If you want to save some money, step away from anything that goes down the trend led route!

Stick to classics for all your soft furnishings and decorative items. In a few years time, they will still look classic and timeless. The same won’t be said for that 70’s themed cushion cover that made a comeback for one year only. 

The entire decorating process will see you switching from choosing furniture, experimenting with paint swatches, trying your hand at wallpapering and positioning artwork around the walls. It’s a multi-skilled job, and there are so many little and big decisions that go into decorating the perfect space. 

A simple faux pas can not only set you back, but it can demotivate you from continuing and knock your confidence. Ensure you take on the above tips above, and fully research into every area of decorating before taking on the job!

 

Do you make any of these top interior design mistakes?