Interior design is an art form that can transform any living space into a harmonious environment. Adding custom framed artwork or photos is often the finishing touch on the overall look and feel of your home.
However, even the most well-intentioned decorators can fall into common pitfalls.
Below are the top five interior design mistakes we come across when working with customers on gallery wall and other decor projects, and how to correct them.
Overcommitting to a theme or trend
One of the most common home interior mistakes we see is sticking too close to a trend or theme - while it’s normal to look for inspiration and help with your design choices, over-committing to a specific style can mean your room is left lacking personality. Worse yet, when that trend or theme inevitably goes out of style, you’re left with an out-of-date look and have to start all over again.
To avoid this, take inspiration from multiple places and work in complementary colors and styles rather than picking what’s hot right now or getting too wrapped up in everything ‘matching’ perfectly. Choose each item and element of the room carefully and ensure you like it individually.
This doesn’t just apply to your furniture and soft furnishings but also to your wall decor - picking the frame style to match specific decor elements in your home is usually a mistake. People change their spaces and decor all the time. Instead, go with a frame style to complements the photo or artwork.
That way, as your home or decor changes, the wall art will continue to look great and purposefully framed.
The minimalist trap
There’s a common temptation when re-decorating to do a huge clear-out and make super neat and tidy as if your home has been staged for a showing. But while de-cluttering is a must, failing to add accessories can make the space look bland and unwelcoming.
Minimalism has become extremely popular in recent years. but the trap a lot of people fall into is avoiding decorating their space beyond a lick of paint or a few barren pieces of furniture. True minimalism doesn’t mean a total lack of decor, but rather well-placed accessories that add character and interest.
You can breathe life into a room through a range of different home accessories and features, including creating an accent wall with bold color, wallpaper or hanging items.
Another way to combat empty space and walls is to design a gallery wall by uploading and framing your favorite photos. Not only will this create an interesting visual element, but it also makes the space feel more homey and inviting.
Lack of a focal point
Another common mistake is failing to create a focal point in the room - something that draws your eye and captures your attention.
This visual anchor point is the difference between a standard room and a captivating space. Consider the focal point of your room early on in your design process so you can build the room around it.
In some cases, the focal point may be an architectural element such as a fireplace or large window, which you can use to help determine how best to position your furniture around that point of interest.
Photo credit: @crystlyun
But for rooms without any natural character, framed artwork can really do the trick. Art can really help you express your personality and make a big impact - just be sure to tie it into the rest of the room with complementary colors so that it doesn't stick out too much and overpower the space.
The wrong wall decor
Adding interest to your space with wall decor like art and framed photos is a vital step to complete the room - completely blank walls are never in style! But it’s really important that you get it right, as it can make or break the room.
Firstly, placement is key. Eye level is typically the best height for hanging any kind of wall art or framed photo.
Photo credit: @justincblomgren
Think about your focal point when deciding where to place your wall art - will this be the center of the room or is it an addition? You should also consider what areas of the room look bare compared to others for opportunities to balance the overall look of the space.
Next to consider is size - too small can often look misplaced while too big can overpower the room. There are no set rules and the best thing to do is judge it by eye, but generally avoid extremes like tiny photos on a huge wall or giant art on a small wall.
Gallery wall layouts can be a good solution again, as you can tailor the number and placement of frames to suit the space, and add or subtract frames over time.
Poor lighting
Another common and often overlooked mistake in home interior design is neglecting the lighting of the room. Lighting ties the whole space together and can make a real difference to the overall impact and feel.
Prioritize natural lighting as much as possible to open up and illuminate the space. Add lamps in the dimmer areas of the room to knit everything together - lighting can be a key feature so remember to consider the style, texture and color of the fitting or shade rather than thinking of it only as a practical piece.
You’ll also need to consider how you position your artificial lighting and, likewise, how you position your wall decor near natural lighting. For any items at risk of light damage, including photos and art, make sure to go with UV protection to prevent fading and other damage.
The best interiors put all of these elements together to create a cohesive space with a natural flow and harmony. Our best advice is to take your time with each stage and don’t rush any decisions - the small details matter.
Photo credit: @ellyathome
Happy framing!
