... and what to do about it
If you are a DIYer like myself, the last thing you want to do is make a major (or even minor) home design blunder. Choosing the wrong furnishings, décor, colors, or overall theme can lead to serious homeowner remorse and even be costly. Here is what to do about it ...
ABOVE: Mood board created by Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
BLOG POST BY:
Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
NOTE: This is a longer blog article but well worth the read. You will find the solution to these problems within this article.
CAREFULLY CONTEMPLATE
Regardless of the home improvement or design project, homeowners should always carefully consider interior design elements, themes, and the harmony or ‘flow’ before beginning the work. Our senses are constantly bombarded by our surroundings and environment in our home, and every detail in our home can impact our lifestyle and even our health. Not carefully contemplating interior design risks creates an environment that might not be conducive to your well-being.
Exhibit A: You paint an accent wall in a bright and bold color. It may look hip at first, but it can quickly become overwhelming and stressful to look at. For example, notice how you rarely see a red wall in someone’s home? This is because out of ALL the colors in the color system—in which there are thousands—red is the most dominant color of all. It may look cool at first, especially in a home theater or rec room, but it can cause anxiety and actually speed up your heart rate. If someone has a heart condition or nervous condition, I am not sure you would want to go that route.
When I taught my online (bedroom) interior design class to teens and tweens in 2020 and 2021, I warned the parents to not paint their children’s rooms or walls red. Many kids have ADHD (it has increased dramatically over the years), and the last thing you want to do is to create an environment that isn’t healthy or wise for your child. This is a perfect example of how I mentioned our senses are constantly bombarded by our surroundings.
So, for this example, a great color for a child with ADHD is a calming blue or soothing green to help your child relax and enjoy their space instead of bouncing off the walls and feeling anxious. Remember, it could be something as simple as the color on the walls that makes or breaks a design or even create health problems. By the way, certain yellows can cause headaches!
ABOVE: NO! NO! NO! Do not use red or bright yellow in bedrooms, especially your child's, for the reasons stated above.
ABOVE: Use soothing colors for you or your children's bedrooms like blue or green as shown above.
Source: Arin Solange at Home (blue room) and Unknown Source on Pinterest (green room)
On the flip side, if you choose a color that’s too bland or neutral for any room in your home, it might create a sense of monotony and boredom. To be honest, it really depends how you play off of that color with your accessories and design of the room. Neutral can be quite stunning, if done correctly. Otherwise, it will look drab.
PROJECT BUDGETING AND COSTS
Underestimating Costs. I find that most people incur unexpected expenses and underestimate the cost of home remodeling or design projects which, in turn, can result in very costly mistakes. This comes down to improper budgeting and misunderstanding what project costs can be.
One of the reasons people underestimate remodeling or DIY design projects, is they don’t allow enough money in their budget to cover unexpected expenses. Perhaps mold is discovered and needs to be remediated; or in the process of knocking down walls, you discover a major termite issue. Below is an exterior termite issue that will hit your pocketbook but needs to be addressed.
Source: Orkin (above)
Depending on the complexity of the project you are about to embark on, a good rule of thumb is to save an extra 5% - 10% of the overall design, reno, or remodeling budget for unexpected costs.
Improper Budgeting. Improper budgeting, closely tied to underestimating costs, is another common issue which is why I suggest setting 5% - 10% of your project budget aside to cover improper budgeting, unexpected expenses, and underestimated expenses.
For instance, if you are planning on remodeling a kitchen and your allowance for appliances is $15,000 but they end up costing $25,000, you are already starting in the hole. This holds true for labor, too. Nothing is more discouraging working on a home project than when you run out of money. Sometimes, people have to stop in the middle of an unfinished project because they ran out of money. Again, make sure you budget for enough to cover unexpected costs.
Cutting Corners. One of the most common interior design mistake I have observed is people taking shortcuts to save money, which can result in poor quality and shoddy appearance. I get it, and I am ALL about saving money. I constantly think and work with a budget on the brain. It is also just wise to watch your budget and think of ways to save money. However, if the shortcuts you are taking—or thinking of taking—will cost you more money in the long run or they make the project look bad or incomplete, don’t even entertain those thoughts on projects you know will be iffy. It isn’t worth it, and you won’t be happy with your decision if you move forward.
Below is a refrigerator wrap, that is quite ugly, yet the homeowner felt it looked better than the white refrigerator she was trying to hide. This would fall under the category of, "What were they thinking?"
LEARN WHEN TO PUT ON THE BRAKES
Moving? Not so fast. Attempting to redesign a home shortly after moving in can also lead to regret. I was guilty of this and had my own regrets about 15 years ago.
I am as guilty as they come and am the first to admit that I am obsessed with unpacking everything and decorating ASAP after I move. I can’t wait to “turn my house into a home”. I can’t wait to get everything just right in its place and begin decorating or doing DIYs. Well, sometimes I need to remind myself of my own design rules that I tell my own clients. After all, nothing is going anywhere; and it’s best to just take a breath and slow down.
My Own Mishap. I learned my lesson a few years back when I moved and couldn’t wait to paint. I BROKE MY OWN RULE! I always tell my clients to never paint until they put a large sample of paint color on their wall or on poster board and leave it up for at least a couple days to observe the different stages of light throughout the day (sunlight, cloudy, lights at night, and so on) and how it will change the color. As you can guess, I didn’t do that; and what a mistake that was.
I was wanting to paint my living room a chartreuse (pronounced ‘shartruse’) color, which was popular at the time and is a yellow green color. I went straight for the gallons of paint and didn’t try out the color samples on my walls first. Once I started painting the walls, I kept telling myself it would get darker and will look better after two coats. WRONG! It looked awful and was borderline neon green.
THEN, to try to save money, I bought a different green paint and used that to mix with the existing ‘near neon’ green paint, since I still had a gallon left. I had to keep adding darker green. Long story short: It was a waste of time and money. I did finally like the end result and received a lot of compliments, but I will never do that again! I learned my lesson!
Anyway, before you pick up a paintbrush or hammer, get to know your new home: your favorite spots, where the light comes in, and what you can and cannot live without. You might find you really don’t need that soaker tub, gigantic island, or new fixtures.
Visual Clutter … The Enemy of a Clean Home! Believe it or not, the biggest blunder I have ever seen is homeowners trying to fill spaces with too much furniture and décor. This can create messy interiors with rooms that feel tight and uncomfortable. Because of my heightened ability and senses with interiors, I almost feel suffocated when I enter a home that has an overload of too much stuff. It can create a feeling of chaos or confusion for people, and their eyes don’t know where to look first.
The room below is a pretty room, however, it is ruined by all the clutter. I circled all the areas that are problem areas. There is waaay too much clutter on the walls.
Photo Credit: Pinterest (above)
The boho dining/kitchen below is clearly way too cluttered. It may be clean, but my oh my. I get a headache just looking at it.
Photo Credit: Raddatattchazz
Watch How You Use Your Room Color. This is where many people fail. A frequent error is the wrong USE of color, such as choosing hues that don’t match or overpower a space. This doesn’t just pertain to paint color. Color is tricky, especially when it comes to putting together colors that work well together or complement each other.
We bring color into our rooms or space through paint color, the color(s) of our furniture, and lastly, fun color or patterns through our accessories, area rug, pillows, and so on. It ALL needs to go together. Mastering this is actually an art and takes time.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Below is one of my mood boards showing how you can piece things together. If you are feeling creative, try to put together a mood board yourself. If you aren’t very technical, that is OK. You can create one in PowerPoint, if you’d like. Include pictures of paint samples, furniture, rugs, lighting, and accessories that you feel would look good together in one of your rooms. The mood board doesn’t have to include everything in that room (mine below does not); just be sure to include enough to give you a general idea of how things would look together.
ABOVE: Mood board created by Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
SOME OTHER BLUNDERS TO AVOID:
Not Planning Ahead. Not planning ahead before starting a home improvement project is not wise. Create a clear plan and vision for your space before planning any renovation. Your wallet will thank you later, as planning ahead helps to avoid remorse or error.
Overlooking Lighting. A well-lit space can transform the mood and ambiance of a room, so consider natural light sources as well as artificial light fixtures to create a warm and inviting space. Try to incorporate three areas of lighting: general, task, and accent.
Ignoring Functionality. Don’t prioritize aesthetics over functionality, which can lead to impractical design. For instance, a beautiful sofa could look great in a living room but might not be practical if it’s uncomfortable to sit on. This one can be difficult for many because women tend to buy emotionally and will buy something because it is so pretty, but then they don’t know what to do with it when they get it home. Make sure your purchase makes sense.
Using Trends Over Timelessness. Create a design that will stand the test of time by focusing on classic design elements and neutral colors when possible. You can always use fun or beautiful pops of color to liven up a neutral space. By doing so, brings it to life!
Rooms that particularly fall culprit to design errors include the kitchen and primary bathroom, whether it be faucets that are not widespread or choosing a mirror too small for above the vanity. In the kitchen, be aware of the depth of the refrigerator and freezer and not to get the wrong size range.
The good news is that fixing mistakes can often be quick and inexpensive. It can also cause you to think outside-of-the-box and use your creativity. For example, if you pick the wrong piece of furniture that doesn’t fit the space, perhaps it can be repurposed elsewhere. Of course, if you chose the wrong color paint, you can paint over it without it costing too much money.
IN CONCLUSION
It is best to think things through before beginning a design, reno, or remodeling project. The temptation to jump in is real, and one I can certainly relate to, so make sure to read this blog in its entirety to cover your bases.
Learn what to consider regarding interior design elements, themes, and the harmony in any space. Not doing so—or considering any risks—can create an environment that you will want no part.
Feeling creative? Put together a mood board to start planning what elements you would like in your space to see if they go well together.
Design Realign Blog ... A Blog About All Things Home
Comments