10 Interior Design Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making (And How to Fix Them)

By The Haus of Alchemy

Even the most stylish homes can fall victim to small design missteps that throw the whole space off. The good news? Most of these mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for.

Here are 10 of the most common interior design mistakes we see and what you can do instead to elevate your space effortlessly.

1. Hanging Art Too High

The Mistake: Art that floats too far above furniture or sits awkwardly high on a wall.
The Fix: Eye level is key. As a rule of thumb, the center of the artwork should be about 57–60 inches from the floor. When hanging over a sofa or console, the bottom of the art should be about 4-6 inches above the furniture.

2. Choosing a Rug That’s Too Small

The Mistake: A tiny rug floating in the middle of a seating area.
The Fix: Go big. In living rooms, at least the front legs of all major furniture should sit on the rug. In bedrooms, the rug should extend past the bed by 18–24 inches on all sides.

3. Relying on One Overhead Light

The Mistake: Only using your ceiling fixture for lighting.
The Fix: Layer your lighting. Use a mix of overhead lights, floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces to add dimension and warmth. A well-lit room feels more inviting—and more finished.

4. Buying Furniture in Sets

The Mistake: Matching your sofa, loveseat, and armchairs like a showroom display.
The Fix: Mix it up. Great design is curated, not coordinated. Blend different shapes, textures, and styles for a more lived-in, personalized look.

5. Ignoring Window Treatments

The Mistake: Bare windows or cheap-looking blinds.
The Fix: Add softness and height with curtains or drapery panels. Hang them high and wide to make windows look larger and ceilings higher.

6. Choosing Paint Colors Too Early

The Mistake: Picking wall color before designing the rest of the room.
The Fix: Build your palette around your furnishings, textiles, and finishes. Paint is one of the easiest things to change, so select it last.

7. Forgetting About Scale and Proportion

The Mistake: Oversized furniture in a small space, or tiny pieces that get lost.
The Fix: Measure everything. Use painter’s tape or furniture templates to plan out scale before buying. Make sure pieces relate to each other in size and visual weight.

8. Poor Furniture Layout

The Mistake: Pushing all furniture against the walls.
The Fix: Float pieces to create conversational groupings and define zones. Even in small spaces, pulling furniture inward creates better flow and a more designed feel.

9. Skimping on Storage

The Mistake: Not planning for where things go, leading to clutter.
The Fix: Design with function in mind. Use storage ottomans, baskets, and built-ins to keep things tidy without sacrificing style.

10. Ignoring Your Gut

The Mistake: Copying trends that don’t feel like you.
The Fix: Trust your instincts. Trends come and go, but your space should reflect your personality and how you want to live. Choose what you genuinely love, and it’ll always feel right.

Design is as much about avoiding the wrong things as it is about choosing the right ones. Whether you’re starting fresh or reworking your current home, keeping these tips in mind can save you time, money, and a few design regrets.

Want personalized help avoiding these mistakes? Let’s work together.