Home Interior Design (The 7 Mistakes to Avoid)

When it comes to our homes, we have free reign to become our own interior design expert. It’s super exciting, but sometimes knowing what ideas to follow can be overwhelming!

We don't want to bombard you with a humungous list of trends. We already have Pinterest for that! Instead, we have written our top 7 home interior design tips for you to totally avoid! Hopefully, this will help you to whittle down your favourite design trends. Before you know it, you will be able to get started on transforming your home into the stylish haven that you've always dreamed of.

1. Never not include plants in your home interior design

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Large plants will have a huge impact on your home interior design. Not only are they affordable, but they purify the air and will make your home stand out. Have fun dotting plants around your home. But beware, don’t go overboard. You don’t want to feel like you’re stepping into a greenhouse rather than your living room!

Lovely indoor plant species to go for include Monstera, Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree and Ficus Audrey. All grow to good sizes and bring a trendy yet tropical feel to your home.

Mural in photo: Botanical Beauty

If you love the look of plants but tend to kill them unintentionally (like myself) then you can always buy their artificial relations. There’s a lovely range out there from plastic potted ferns to waxy-leafed hanging Spiderwort. Or, you could even opt for a palm leaf or jungle wallpaper to make an unbeleafable wall statement!

2. Never turn a blind eye to vintage furniture

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Some people are wary of having vintage pieces in their home and are scared that it will look more like their Great Nanna's flat than the Instagram-worthy space they were hoping for. But you really needn't worry nor do you have to love history to appreciate small touches of antique style in your home interior design. Ironically, there is something very on-trend about replacing contemporary items with mid-century pieces.

But don’t invest in too many vintage pieces. Your home will look more like a museum rather than the cool and retro space you were hoping for. Instead, add one or two pieces of vintage items to create that quirky yet modern style.

And vintage doesn’t just mean dark Victorian wooden furniture. It can also be ‘70s-inspired metallic pieces, such as an angular golden bookshelf that will add a sense of hip luxury into your home.

3. Never forget to style your staircase

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The staircase is so overly used yet receives the least of our attention. We only see it as a means of getting from one floor to another. Stop walking all over your stairs and give them the love and care that they deserve!

One way to design your stairs is to fake it till you make it! Carpet runners add a certain je ne sais quoi to any stairwell but there’s a fine line between achieving an Annie Sloan designer look and mimicking your Great Aunt's carpet runner. By simply removing the carpet and painting your own runner, you will not only achieve a minimalist, sleek look but save some pennies instead of opting for real carpet. So, paint it and fake it and save those pennies.

Mural in photo: Beach Wallpaper

Forget about just making feature walls a thing in the lounge or bedroom - they also look fabulous on staircase walls. From on-trend designer murals to beachy landscape wallpapers, you’re sure to find a gorgeous mural signature wall that will cheer up your home’s staircase.

4. Never settle for boring lighting

Many of us (including myself) are guilty of choosing a lampshade that will blend into the rest of the room. We just want efficiency and don’t appreciate the fashionable scope that lighting can give in your home interior design.

Mural in photo: Geode Full

Instead of opting for lighting that will just "do the job”, make it the main focal point of the room. Whether you design your dining room around a low hung chandelier or opt for a vintage-inspired tassel lampshade in your trendy boudoir, lighting can really make all the difference.

5. Never just paint your walls

Mural in photo: Pale Green Terrazzo

Painting may seem like the easy option, but it really isn’t nowadays! There's definitely more option on how to install wallpaper today - and you don’t need to own a pasting table! Why not try out paste the wall wallpaper where you literally paste the wall instead of the paper? You can even buy peel and stick wallpaper where you simply peel off the self-adhesive backing and stick it up! So, let go of those wallpapering excuses because there's too much to miss out on! Just imagine how stunning this terrazzo wallpaper would look in your home’s interior design!

Mural in photo: Pink Jungle

Try to wallpaper rooms that don’t come to the forefront of your mind. Think about adding colour to your larder, a funky pattern in your tiny spare bathroom or plushing up your hallway’s decor. Bring some joy into these neglected spaces. Make them somewhere you love to be rather than a room that you pass in and out of without lifting your head up!

Mural in photo: Carina Nebula

How about installing a galactic wallpaper onto your ceiling? After all, your home is abundant with them! So, don’t settle for magnolia-painted ceilings when you could have a whole galaxy above your head!

6. Never not be inventive with vegetable fibres

Yes – wooden and metal furniture and décor has served us well for many years, but they aren’t the only option. Instead, vegetable fibres, such as wicker, rattan and jute are huge in home interior design. In sync with boho bedroom trends, these natural materials give a rich textural expression in your home.

Mural in photo: Brown and Black

From farmhouse wicker baskets, vintage ‘70s wicker thrones and tropical rattan lampshades, vegetable fibre items are perfect for their versatility as well as their aesthetic appeal.

7. Never underestimate the power of dark home interior design

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Step away from the magnolia paint pot! Start to embrace your darker side... Most people are afraid of the dark when it comes to home interior design, but they really needn’t be. Rather than making a room dark and dreary, dark walls can really bring a room to life! Dusky shades contrast beautifully with your décor and make wall hangings, mirrors and shelving units really POP out from the wall!

Mural in photo: Flowers in a Glass Vase

Dark florals are totally in theme with current trends in home interior design. Their rich ruby-red, forest-green and plum tones ooze into dark backgrounds, making a dramatic and romantic statement that is enjoyed by all. Taken from our art Bridgeman collection, this work of art by Jan Davidsz de Heem from 1660 is one of our favourite floral wallpapers.

Have we helped you to know what to avoid when it comes to home interior design? We hope you’re all set and ready to tackle your home! Please let us know how you get on by leaving us a comment below. Or if you have a question, please ask ahead!