7 Common Room Design Mistakes You Might Be Making [and How to Fix Them]

A well-designed room should feel like it just “works.” If yours doesn’t, chances are a few common design missteps are to blame. Don’t worry—we all fall into them. Here’s how to spot what’s holding your space back and fix it fast.

I’ll admit it:

I’ve made every design mistake in the book over the years. (Some more than once.)

At first I thought a new lamp or another cushion would magically fix a room that felt ‘off’.

Spoiler: it never did.

What really changed things was learning the key concepts behind why a space feels ‘right’ – and then giving myself permission to play and test things out.

Now? One of my favourite things is to move things around a room and find that sweet spot where it all just feels ‘right’.

So, if you’re being faced with a room (or rooms) that feel ‘off’ in some way, and you’re either trying to completely redesign it, or do some tweaks to make it right for you, then why not make the most of my trial and error?

Save yourself the wasted time, money and energy – and use this list to work out why the space isn’t working, and (crucially) what to do about it…

Hope this helps!

7 Design Mistakes You May Be Working With…

1. You can’t define your style clearly

You like a bit of everything, or you’re endlessly scrolling Pinterest with no idea how to translate it into real life. And if someone asked you to describe your style you’d be lost for words entirely.

Sound familiar?

The block: You haven’t really pinpointed your personal style, so every decision feels like a shot in the dark and like you’re starting from scratch.

Quick Tip: Choose 5–10 words that describe how you want your home to feel e.g. calm, textured, grounded, light. These can then become your filter for every decision moving forward. Find a cushion you love? Does it fit with all the words you’ve chosen? – If it’s a YES – then you’ve found a winner!

Extra tip: Make sure you really think about these words. What does each mean to you? As long as you’re aware of what they mean, then you’re golden.

2. You’re stuck choosing colours

Colour really can make or break a space, and the fear of getting it wrong stops many people from choosing at all – hence why so many homes are painted white or cream (yes, some have chosen that colour, but a lot of people just stay relatively safe instead of making a choice at all).

The block: It’s hard to imagine how a colour will actually look in your space, especially with lighting that changes throughout the day. It’s expensive and a hassle to change something that doesn’t work – so why bother?

Quick Tip: Don’t start with the paint! The very best tip I can give you when it comes to designing a rooms colour scheme is to start with one piece you love that will be in the room. It could be a rug, a piece of art, or even a cushion or curtain fabric, and build your colour scheme around it. Pull tones from there, and then test big paint swatches directly on the wall (not the tiny testers!) to give a better viewpoint of whether it will work in your specific space (in terms of your light and the general feel).

3. Your room doesn’t ‘flow’ with the rest of the house

You’ve styled one room beautifully, Yay!. But it feels like it belongs in a different home entirely.

Either you’re going to need to change the rest over time, or something in this room now needs changing (even though it’s ‘right’ when not looking at the rest of the house).

Frustrating, to say the least…

The block: You’ve zoomed in too far, without thinking about how it connects to the rest of your spaces. Treating any room in your home like a one-off project can lead to a real mismatch when you zoom back out and see the house as a whole again.

Quick Tip: Repeat one or two elements throughout your home for cohesion. I like to use consistent metal finish (brass, black, chrome), a base neutral tone, or a shape (e.g. curves or clean lines). Along with keeping to a generally similar style throughout, this creates subtle continuity without making every room match.

My home has very different looking and feeling rooms – but they all flow really well because I always keep the general themes in place.

Think about it another way – could you move furniture and accessories from room to room and they’d still pretty much work anywhere? Then you’re on to a good thing.

Don’t ever think it’s going to feel the same though – you can have a colour palette of (for example) pink, green and yellow – and one room could be more of one colour with hints of the others, so you can have very different spaces, but they all fundamentally work together as a whole.

4. You don’t know how to make it practical and stylish

You want your home to look beautiful, but you’ve got real-life things to deal with (pets, kids, muddy shoes, tiny hallways) – so it’s not possible, right?

The block: You think you have to choose between style and function. For example – once the kids have flown the nest, THEN you’ll be able to decorate as you’d really like.

Quick Tip: Choose practical versions of stylish things. For example – washable sofa covers, ottomans with storage, closed shelving to hide the chaos. Function and beauty can coexist – especially if you plan for it upfront and are clever with your choices. No need to wait for the future at all.

5. You’re unsure how to lay out the furniture

Even with the right furniture, your room might feel awkward – too cramped, too open, or just… off.

The block: It’s hard to visualise flow, or understand how to use the space well. You just put things where they fit and that’s going to have to do…

Quick Tip: Start by anchoring your layout around a focal point (like a fireplace or window), then group furniture around conversation or function zones. Float furniture off walls if space allows (i.e. leave some breathing space between it and the wall or other furniture) – as that often looks more intentional and inviting, and feels more spacious – even in smaller spaces.

Never be afraid to just try things out – keep moving them around until it feels right, and don’t forget to make sure to test every seat so that it feels right from every viewpoint.

6. The room still feels unfinished

You’ve painted, bought the sofa, maybe even added a rug. But something’s missing still. It just doesn’t feel ‘done’.

The block: You’ve skipped the finishing layer: styling it all so it feels good to you.

Quick Tip: Use the “rule of three” when styling shelves, tables or surfaces. Group objects in odd numbers, mix heights and textures, and always leave breathing room. Plants, art, and soft textiles like throws or curtains can instantly bring a space to life.

Extra Tip: Make sure things are grouped around larger items as well so they feel like they belong. Hang artwork lower on the wall over a sofa and it will feel more grounded than if it was higher up.

7. You feel stuck making those final design decisions

You’re afraid to buy the wrong thing, waste money, or regret your choices – so nothing gets finished.

The block: Decision fatigue. Too many options, and no clear filter to narrow them down.

Quick Tip: Create a personal “YES checklist” for homeware. Before buying, ask:

• Does it suit my style words? (see point 1)
• Where will it go?
• Will it work with what I already have?
• If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no (for now!).

Ready to get started? Click here for more decor ideas to transform your home a little at a time…