Ever gazed at a home décor purchase and wondered, “What was I thinking?” You’re not alone. Globally recognised interior designers regularly confess to having their share of home styling missteps. From flashy trends to oversize investments, experts shed light on the decorative choices they’d take back in a heartbeat—and why you should steer clear, too.
Falling for Fast Fashion in Your Lounge
Nothing dates a home quite like leaping on every season’s hottest trend. International designers overwhelmingly caution against splurging on “of-the-moment” statement pieces—especially in large, permanent forms.
Miranda Liu, Shanghai-based interior architect, admits, “I bought a velvet, emerald green sofa because it was everywhere on Instagram. Two years later, it clashes with nearly everything else.”
When planning your main spaces, avoid items with colours or patterns that scream 2023—or any other year. Instead, prioritise:
- Timeless fabrics like linen or leather in neutral tones
- Classic silhouettes over avant-garde or unusually shaped furniture
- Accessories as your platform for experimenting with trends, so they can be swapped out easily
Chasing trends can leave your home feeling less curated, more chaotic.
Massive Wall Art: When Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Large-scale art can command attention, but international decorators frequently regret purchasing outsized statement pieces without considering scale or cohesion.
Alexis Dubois of Paris reflects, “I invested in a mural-sized canvas that simply overwhelmed my flat. It was impossible to work other pieces around it.”
Rather than letting one piece dominate, consider:
- A gallery wall with smaller, interchangeable artwork
- Layering diverse art pieces to allow evolution over time
- Seeking pieces that resonate personally—not just visually impress
Meaningful stories should grace your walls, not merely the artist’s price tag.
Matching Sets: The Peril of Playing it Too Safe
Furniture showrooms and catalogues love to entice shoppers with perfectly matching sets. Designers now caution this can drain your space of personality and flair.
“Buying that matching living room set was my biggest regret, it made my flat feel like a waiting room rather than a home,” confides Nia Adeyemi, a London-based stylist.
Instead, try mixing textures and styles:
- Combine vintage and contemporary elements
- Introduce pops of unexpected colour
- Play with materials like rattan against metal, or velvet beside wood
Personal spaces thrive on contrast and stories, not catalogue conformity.
Impractical Showpieces: Looks Over Liveability
Have you ever been charmed by a dazzling item that you soon realised was completely impractical? Many designers now avoid:
- Glass coffee tables prone to smudges and fingerprints
- High-maintenance marble that’s susceptible to stains
- Rugs in delicate materials like silk in high-traffic zones
As German designer Frieda Möller recounts, “My glass table looked stunning until I realised it was a constant battle to keep clean with two children and a dog.”
Choose practicality that doesn’t sacrifice beauty—life’s too short for high-maintenance living.
The Final Takeaway: Designing for the Long Game
Ultimately, the consensus from leading designers worldwide is simple: home should be a true reflection of you, not just the current market or fleeting fashion. Select pieces you adore, prioritise quality over quantity, and be unafraid to let your environment evolve with you.
The next time you find yourself eyeing that too-trendy armchair or extravagant artwork, ask: Will this delight me for years, or just until the next style wave? The most cherished spaces are those filled with personal resonance, adaptability, and a dash of daring mix—not regret.
What’s one home decor purchase you’ve rethought—and what might you choose differently next time? Perhaps, the spaces we inhabit are best enriched not by what we add, but by what we choose to leave out.