How to Avoid 8 Common Design Mistakes

When a room is designed well, it looks effortless. Of course, architects and designers carefully assemble each room they work on, pairing structural elements and accessories to appear as if they belong together, and selecting each detail with an eye toward the scale, style, and function of the space. Clients often misunderstand the minutiae of a design schema, which means they’re apt to make mistakes when working on their own or with an inexperienced professional. “It really is much harder than it seems to make a room or a building look good,” says Timothy Bryant, an architect based in New York. Click through our slideshow to hear from designers and architects about the mistakes they see all the time and how they intervene with clients to avoid or fix them.

Mistake #2: Choosing Finishes That Don’t Work with the Architecture

Some of the worst design mistakes we see in homes that are potential remodel projects are trendy finishes. Wall tile, flooring, trim, and cabinets are more timeless when they are in sync with the style and era of the house.

— Nicole Comp, Architectural Project Manager at Soler Architecture and Design | Los Angeles, California

Design by Soler Architecture and Design
Mistake #3: Failing to Understand Scale

One of the big mistakes I see is when people are not conscious of scale and proportion. This applies to both interior design and architecture. Modern architecture is more forgiving with these issues; however, anything that is based on traditional architectural principles of scale and proportion can be a complete mess if the practitioner is not immersed in the understanding of such things. How many weird mouldings, cornices, columns, and doorways have we seen? In my opinion, the only way to avoid these issues is to educate yourself and hire people that understand nuance. It really is much harder than it seems to make a room or a building look good.

— Timothy Bryant, Owner of Timothy Bryant, Architect | New York, New York

Design by Timothy Bryant, Architect | Photo by William Waldron
Mistake #5: Designing Around Furniture You No Longer Love

I find it’s very common for people to live with, or force themselves to design around, furniture, rugs, or art that they are no longer genuinely attached to or that no longer coordinates with their design aesthetic. These pieces might have been expensive at one time or bought for/brought from another residence, or they’re inherited but not to their taste, and clients feel reluctant about letting them go.

One of my goals as a professional designer is to deliver an inviting, beautiful environment that highlights the client’s personality and way of living, within the context of their present space. Many times this involves graceful editing or innovative refinishing of heirlooms. If some pieces will not fit into a new scheme because of their shape, scale, or color, we will find them new, loving homes where they can have subsequent lives. Other times, if the pieces have pretty lines and still hold sentimental value, we can reimagine them: I have worked with antiques restorers, decorative painters, and upholsterers to turn items sparking a glimmer of hope into things that are exceptional and contemporary. The client can then enjoy a world that truly resonates with their current style and that brings them comfort and happiness.

— Mimi McAndrew, Owner of Mimi McAndrew LLC | New York, New York
Mistake #7: Adding Too Many Elements into a Design

People sometimes have too much stuff! I see this often in showhouses. There is this impulse to over-accessorize. My mother always taught me that it is much easier to put in then to take out. Be thoughtful about the accessories you choose. They have to make sense in the space and feel curated, and they have to be something that your client actually wants to see and collect. It should be a handful of things that can be built upon to make a collection — for example, books are always a good choice. The Strand in Manhattan’s East Village makes it very easy to get collections of books on the subjects that your clients have an affinity for. Photography, architecture, art, or travel — they have everything.

— Brooke Gomez, President of Brooke Gomez Designs | New York, New York

Design by Brooke Gomez Designs