Five Common Interior Design Mistakes and How to Fix Them

After completing numerous residential and commercial projects, I've noticed homeowners repeatedly making the same interior design mistakes. These errors create spaces that look awkward, feel uncomfortable, or simply don't function properly.

As a diploma-qualified interior designer and Design Institute of Australia member, I understand why these mistakes happen and, more importantly, how to fix them.

This guide reveals the five most common design errors and professional solutions.

Mistake #1: Furniture That Feels Wrong for the Space

The problem:

Furniture that's too large overwhelms rooms, making spaces feel cramped and difficult to navigate. Furniture that's too small makes rooms feel empty and unfurnished, even when technically complete.

Why this happens:

• Guessing instead of measuring: Relying on estimates rather than precise dimensions

• Shopping without floor plans: Purchasing furniture without understanding spatial relationships

• Ignoring scale: Focusing on individual pieces without considering overall proportions

• Not accounting for circulation: Forgetting space needed for movement around furniture

The professional solution:

At 360 Design Studio, we start by drawing your space to scale. This allows us to:

• Test arrangements digitally: Trying different furniture configurations before purchasing anything

• Verify proportions: Ensuring furniture scale appropriate for room size

• Plan circulation paths: Maintaining required space for comfortable movement (typically 900-1200mm pathways)

• Optimise functionality: Positioning furniture to maximise both use and visual appeal. Australian standards require minimum 1200mm circulation space in many applications. We ensure comfortable movement whilst maximising furniture functionality.

  My Diploma in Interior Design (Interior Design Institute, 2024) taught me spatial planning methodologies that prevent furniture scale mistakes.

Real example:

Client purchased large sectional sofa for living room before engaging us. It blocked circulation, prevented door opening fully, and made room feel cramped.

Solution: We relocated sofa to different wall, added smaller armchair opposite, and incorporated multi-functional ottoman for storage and extra seating. Result: improved circulation, better conversation space, and more functional layout.

Mistake #2: Obsessing Over Paint Colours Rather Than Lighting

The problem:

Homeowners spend hours selecting perfect paint colour, then wonder why it looks completely different on walls than on sample chips. The issue isn't the paint - it's the lighting.

Why this happens:

• Misunderstanding colour physics: Paint colour appears different under various light conditions

• Ignoring natural light orientation: North-facing rooms receive different light than south-facing

• Overlooking artificial lighting impact: Warm vs cool light bulbs dramatically alter colour appearance

• Focusing on one element: Treating paint selection as isolated decision

The professional solution:

We start by assessing how much natural light your room receives, considering orientation, window size, and surrounding environment. Then we layer artificial lighting strategically.

The three essential lighting layers:

1. Ambient lighting (overall illumination):

• Ceiling fixtures providing general light

• Ensuring adequate lux levels for space use

• Meeting Australian Standards where applicable (AS/NZS 1680)

2. Task lighting (focused work areas):

• Reading lamps beside chairs

• Under-cabinet kitchen lighting

• Desk lamps in home offices

• Pendant lights over dining tables

3. Accent lighting (creating depth and interest):

• Wall sconces highlighting artwork

• Picture lights drawing attention to features

• LED strips creating architectural interest

• Table lamps at eye level adding warmth

As co-founder of Dezinery (Australia's marketplace for recycled and reusable homewares), I specify energy-efficient LED fixtures that provide excellent colour rendering whilst reducing energy consumption.

Paint comes last, not first: Once lighting design is complete, we select paint colours that work with the lighting conditions we've created.

Mistake #3: Matching Everything

The problem:

Perfectly matched rooms feel sterile, cold, and showroom-like. They lack personality and don't feel like real homes.

Why this happens:

• Retail marketing influence: Furniture showrooms displaying coordinated sets

• Fear of mistakes: Matching feels safe and reduces decision anxiety

• Misunderstanding cohesion: Believing cohesion requires identical elements

• Instagram perfection pressure: Social media promoting unrealistic uniformity

The professional solution:

We focus on reflecting your personality and lifestyle by mixing pieces, adding colour and texture, and incorporating how you told us you want to use the space.

Creating cohesion without matching:

Colour palette coordination (not matching):

• 3-5 colours throughout space in varying proportions

• Primary colour (60%), secondary (30%), accent (10%)

• Repetition of colours in different materials creates cohesion

Texture layering:

• Smooth surfaces balanced with rough

• Shiny elements contrasted with matte

• Hard materials (timber, stone) softened with textiles (cushions, rugs, curtains)

Style consistency (not identical pieces):

• Similar design era or aesthetic feeling

• Complementary rather than matching

• Room for unique statement pieces

Incorporating existing pieces:

• Treasured items with sentimental value

• Vintage finds with character

• Inherited furniture with history

Real example:

Client purchased matching lounge suite, coffee table, and entertainment unit from one retailer. Room felt like a showroom display, not a home.

Solution: We retained sofa (good quality, comfortable), replaced matching armchair with vintage piece from Dezinery, added textured rug, incorporated client's travel photography, and used cushions in coordinating (not matching) fabrics. Result: personality-filled space that felt lived-in and authentic.

Mistake #4: Pushing All Furniture Against Walls

The problem:

Furniture arranged around room perimeter creates dead space in the centre and prevents intimate conversation areas. Rooms feel like waiting rooms rather than comfortable living spaces.

Why this happens:

• Maximising floor space (incorrectly): Believing empty centre makes room feel larger

• Lack of confidence: Floating furniture feels risky without professional guidance

• Not understanding spatial dynamics: Furniture arrangement impacts how space functions and feels

The professional solution:

We create conversation spaces and use every inch of real estate by floating furniture where appropriate.

Furniture arrangement principles:

Conversation groupings:

• Sofas and chairs arranged facing each other

• Maximum 2.4-3m distance between seating for comfortable conversation

• Anchor groupings with rugs defining zones

Traffic flow consideration:

• Maintain clear pathways through room

• Furniture placement shouldn't require walking around obstacles

• Create purposeful circulation routes

Functional zones in open-plan spaces:

• Furniture defining different areas (living, dining, study)

• Rugs delineating zones visually

• Lighting supporting zone definitions

Spatial psychology:

• Furniture pulled slightly away from walls makes rooms feel larger, not smaller

• Creating intimate groupings makes large rooms feel cosy

• Strategic placement directing eye through space

Mistake #5: Hanging Things at Wrong Heights

The problem:

Artwork hung too high forces uncomfortable neck angles. Curtains mounted too low make ceilings feel lower. Pendant lights positioned incorrectly create glare or inadequate task lighting.

Why this happens:

• Guessing measurements: Not understanding optimal heights for different elements

• Installation convenience: Hanging where studs are found rather than where appropriate

• One-size-fits-all thinking: Not adjusting for ceiling heights or furniture scale

The professional solution:

We know the optimal measurements for various elements and adjust for specific spaces.

Professional hanging heights:

Artwork:

• Centre of artwork at eye level (1400-1500mm from floor)

• Adjust for furniture underneath (150-200mm above furniture)

• Gallery walls: maintain consistent spacing between pieces (50-75mm)

Curtains and blinds:

• Mount curtain rods 100-150mm above window frame

• Extend rods 150-300mm beyond window on each side

• Curtain length should kiss floor (hem 10-15mm above floor)

• Avoid curtains hovering 100-200mm above floor (common mistake)

Pendant lights:

• 750-900mm above dining tables

• 1800-2100mm from floor in living areas (walking clearance)

• Kitchen island: 750-900mm above benchtop

Mirrors:

• Centre at eye level similar to artwork

• Full-length mirrors: bottom 300mm from floor

• Bathroom vanity mirrors: bottom 100mm above benchtop

The difference between amateur and professional almost always comes down to these fundamentals.

My 24 years of financial and project management experience combined with Diploma in Interior Design qualification enables me to apply these principles systematically across every project.

Have You Made These Mistakes?

Self-assessment questions:

1. Does your furniture feel cramped or lost in your space?

2. Do your paint colours look different than expected?

3. Does your room feel more like a showroom than a home?

4. Is there awkward dead space in room centres?

5. Do you struggle with where to hang artwork or mount curtains?

If you answered yes to any, you're not alone. These are the most common mistakes we fix.

The 360 Design Studio Fix

Qualifications:

• Diploma in Interior Design, Interior Design Institute (2024)

• Design Institute of Australia member

• Professional indemnity insurance

• 24 years of financial and project management experience

• Co-founder, Dezinery (marketplace for recycled and reusable homewares)

How we fix these mistakes:

Comprehensive spatial planning:

• Scale drawings preventing furniture mistakes

• 3D visualisations showing arrangements before purchasing

Lighting-first approach:

• Natural light assessment

• Three-layer artificial lighting design

• Colour selection after lighting resolved

Personality-driven design:

• Mixing pieces for character

• Texture and colour layering

• Incorporating your existing treasures

Strategic furniture placement:

• Conversation groupings

• Functional zoning

• Circulation optimisation

Professional installation specifications:

• Precise measurements for all elements

• Appropriate heights for ceiling and furniture scale

• Installation details for trades

Service areas:

• Most Sydney suburbs (in-person)

• Remote design services Australia-wide

The Bottom Line

Common interior design mistakes - wrong furniture scale, poor lighting, matched showroom looks, wall-hugging arrangements, and incorrect hanging heights - create spaces that don't function or feel right.

Qualified interior designers with formal education and proven experience fix these errors through spatial planning, lighting-first approaches, personality-driven design, strategic furniture placement, and professional installation knowledge.

Whether you've already made these mistakes and need fixes, or want to avoid them from the start, professional interior design delivers spaces that look beautiful and work perfectly.

Call us if you need a hand transforming your space from amateur to professional.

About the Author: Vinti Verma holds a Diploma in Interior Design from the Interior Design Institute (2024) and is a member of the Design Institute of Australia. She specialises in sustainable commercial interior design and residential renovations. As co-founder of Dezinery (Australia's marketplace for recycled and reusable homewares), she brings expertise in sustainable materials and environmental design. Based in Sydney with remote services available Australia-wide.

Learn more: Interior Design services | Working with an Interior Designer for the First Time

Contact 360 Design Studio: Email: info@360designstudio.com.au | Phone: 0411 086 116 | Web: www.360designstudio.com.au