When it comes to a home refresh or renovation, there are several design mistakes that happen over and over. After all, investing your time and money into your home can be a stressful undertaking, even if the project goes off without a hitch. While you might expect some bumps along the way, hasty decisions and poor planning can lead to costly errors you might regret for years to come. We break down five common design mistakes and give you the practical advice you need to avoid them.

1. Painting before buying furniture

Paint is a quick and DIY-friendly home project but be sure to get the timing right. Choose your fabric, carpet, wall covering, and upholstered furniture before selecting your paint colour. Take finish and upholstery samples with you to the paint store to start your colour search. Once you narrow down some options, get a few tester pots to try the colour at home in your own space.

2. Using too many competing styles

Many of us love the look of an eclectic space, which blends several styles together for a uniquely effortless feel. But try to fit too many styles into one space and you risk your home feeling more cluttered than eclectic. To avoid this common design mistake, pick one point of view for the majority of your pieces and then incorporate a few accents from another design period. Are you, for example, attracted to the scandi sensibility of mid-century modern? Or are you more drawn to the clean symmetry of Art Deco? Choose your starting point and then layer in some antiques or vintage pieces to a soulfulness to the room.

3. Hanging art too high

Art is a wonderful way to bring personality to a space, but placement is crucial. Hanging artwork too high or too low is a common design mistake to make but it’s equally easy to fix. Avoid awkward placement that can break up the flow of a room by thinking of the art and furniture as a group. For an eye-pleasing position, allow four to six inches of distance between the bottom of your frame and the top of your furniture piece.

4. Falling for trends

It’s fun to keep up with the latest in fashion and home trends, but use your decorating dollars wisely. A safe strategy is to stick to neutrals for larger pieces like your sofa. Trendy patterns and colours can feel outdated quickly when it comes to upholstery and other investment pieces. To keep your space feeling fresh, bring in toss cushions and other accessories in fun colours and prints or repaint your walls in a new shade.

5. Running out of materials

There’s nothing worse than settling into a project only to realize you don’t have enough wallpaper or tile to finish the room. Avoid this design mistake with some careful planning and be sure to double check any custom orders. You’ll avoid wasting time and money and also ensure consistency in colour throughout your batch of wall or floor covering. You’ll also be able to start and finish your project on time so you can enjoy your new space.

Photography courtesy of Hudson’s Bay