Interior Design Mistakes
Designing a home or apartment can be exciting, but without the right guidance, it’s easy to make mistakes that affect both functionality and style. At Arthouse Interiors, we believe great design should feel timeless, practical, and personal. Here are five common interior design mistakes to avoid — and how to get them right.
1. Ignoring Scale and Proportion
Oversized sofas in small living rooms or tiny rugs in large open-plan spaces are a common design slip. The wrong scale can make even a beautiful space feel cramped, unbalanced, or unfinished.
Tip: Start with accurate room measurements and plan furniture accordingly. Think about balance — a large sofa can work in a smaller space if paired with lighter chairs or a slimline coffee table. Rugs should anchor the seating area, with all main pieces of furniture touching the rug to create cohesion. In larger rooms, consider layering with multiple rugs or zoning the space to avoid an “empty” feel.
2. Neglecting Natural Light
A dark, heavy interior can feel uninviting. Blocking windows with bulky furniture or relying on dark finishes without balance can quickly dull a space.
Tip: Plan your layout to allow natural light to flow naturally into adjoining rooms. Keep windows unobstructed, use glass doors or internal openings to extend light deeper into the home, and position mirrors to bounce light around. Where natural light isn’t possible, introduce skylights, highlight windows, or consider layered lighting — a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting — to create warmth and dimension.
3. Overlooking Storage
A home may look beautiful on day one, but without adequate storage, clutter builds up quickly, making even the most well-designed interiors feel chaotic.
Tip: Integrate storage early in the design process. Built-in joinery, hidden cabinetry, and multi-functional furniture like ottomans or banquettes with storage inside help keep the home organised. In apartments, think vertically — use wall height for storage while keeping the footprint light and open.
It’s also important to plan with the future in mind. How you live today can be very different in just a few years — whether you’re planning a family, welcoming guests more often, or even downsizing later in life. At Arthouse Interiors, we always touch on these possibilities to ensure storage is thoughtfully considered from the start, giving your home the flexibility to grow and adapt with you.
4. Following Trends Too Closely
It’s tempting to design a space entirely around the latest trends, but what’s fashionable today can quickly feel dated tomorrow. The key is distinguishing between permanent design decisions and changeable decorative elements.
Tip: Focus on creating a timeless design foundation with quality materials, well-considered layouts, and enduring interior detailing — think kitchens, bathrooms, joinery, hardware, lighting, and surface finishes. These elements form the backbone of your home and are difficult (and expensive) to change.
Then, layer in personality through decorative accents such as cushions, rugs, throws, artwork, or statement lighting. These soft furnishings can be updated seasonally or whenever your style evolves, allowing you to refresh the look of your home without touching the core design. By balancing lasting design decisions with flexible decorative choices, your interiors remain sophisticated, functional, and future-proof.
5. Forgetting How You Live in the Space
One of the biggest mistakes is designing a home for looks alone, without considering daily routines and practical needs. A stunning kitchen won’t work if the layout is impractical, and a living room won’t be inviting if there’s nowhere comfortable to relax.
Tip: Always begin with lifestyle. Consider how you and your family use each room: Do you love to entertain? Do you need quiet corners for work? Do you have children or pets? A well-designed space should support your life seamlessly, balancing aesthetics with functionality so that living in it feels effortless.
It’s also important to plan ahead — how you live now may not be how you live in the future. Families grow, children move out, and working from home or downsizing may become part of your journey. At Arthouse Interiors, we design with adaptability in mind, ensuring your home not only suits your lifestyle today but continues to work beautifully in the years ahead.
Final Thoughts
Interior design is about balance — between function and beauty, timelessness and personality. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll create a home that is both stylish and practical, tailored to your way of living.
At Arthouse Interiors, we work with homeowners, developers, and architects to create spaces across Sydney that are meaningful, enduring, and unique.
Thinking of reimagining your space? Book a consultation with us today.
