When you watch renovation shows, it seems as though interior design is easy as pie. It’s even fun having to pick color schemes for the bedroom and going furniture shopping. However, in reality, it’s tough work. It’s overwhelming to fill up an empty space and prettify it, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. In fact, a lot of homeowners commit some design mistakes here and there in this first attempt. But you don’t have to fall into the aesthetic disaster pit. Here are the design mistakes you should avoid as you design your first home:
1. Forgetting the big picture
A lot of homeowners tend to get so preoccupied with details of each room in the house, overlooking the overall vision of the design. They neglect planning how every room connects to the next, which then ruins the idea of a unified whole in terms of aesthetics. Always keep in mind the big picture when decorating your home. Prioritize good flow between spaces, especially if you have an open-concept space, which requires smooth transitions. You can achieve a nice flow around the house in a variety of ways. For one, pick one dominant color to repeat all throughout the home. This guides the eye and leaves an impression of one cohesive whole. You can also use the same type of flooring or trim around your doors and windows in all the rooms of your home. Of course, there’s the option of following a theme. Depending on your taste, you can go for minimalist, eclectic, Scandinavian, or traditional motifs. The point here is that you shouldn’t forge the general vision of the design.
2. Copying showroom spaces
A showroom space is an aesthetically pleasing space, yes. Still, it looks perfectly staged. The trouble with that is that it doesn’t feel like a home anymore. It doesn’t have that welcoming atmosphere. You want to avoid that please-do-not-sit kind of feel in your own space. There are lots of ways you can pull off a warm, cozy vibe, starting with literally warming up the room: installing a fireplace. The red-orange glow of the fire instantly makes the space comfortable, creating a sense of intimacy and security. For a modern feel, get a gas fireplace for your home in Utah. Experts offer customized fixtures, so if you have a specific design vision for your fireplace, you can easily have it done. Another way you can make your home distinct from a showroom space is by personalizing it. Fill up your hallways with family photos and your favorite pieces of art. Include table centerpieces and rugs you’ve collected from your travels. All these can reflect your personality and therefore make the space homier.
3. Overlooking lighting
Lighting has the power to create and change the mood in a space. At the same time, it’s what makes your design more visible—for people to appreciate. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners tend to overlook this because it’s a subtle design element, not like furniture or appliances that can be easily seen. However, surely, the lack of it can be easily felt, in the way that your space feels gloomy. Prioritize lighting then. Take advantage of your big windows and skylight to let in natural light and make the space open and cheery. For artificial lighting, layer it. Use a combination of ambient, task, and mood lighting.
Decorating your first home is a tough job. Mistakes are common, but they are avoidable. Never make these mentioned design mistakes. For sure, your design will be like a pro’s—or at least close to it.
