Interior design is more than just picking colours and buying furniture. It’s about making your home feel right—comfortable, useful, and welcoming. In Singapore, where space is tight and homes are often compact, small design mistakes can cause big problems.
Here are 10 common interior design mistakes to avoid in your home.
1. Buying Oversized Furniture
It’s easy to fall in love with a big sofa or king-sized bed. But in a small flat, oversized furniture takes up too much space. It can block walkways, make rooms feel cramped, and even reduce natural light.
Tip: Always measure your space before buying. Choose slim, space-saving furniture that suits the size of your room.
2. Using Just One Light Source
Many homes rely on one ceiling light per room. This makes the space feel flat and dull. Good lighting adds warmth, highlights design, and changes the mood.
Solution: Mix different lights—ceiling, floor, table, and wall. Use warm bulbs in bedrooms and living rooms for a cosy feel.
3. Too Many Colours and Patterns
A mix of colours and patterns can be exciting, but too many at once can look messy or overwhelming. It also makes a space feel smaller.
Better Idea: Pick 2–3 main colours and stick to them. Use patterns in small areas, like cushions or rugs, to keep balance.
4. Placing Everything Against the Wall
Many people push all their furniture to the walls to “open up” the space. But this often makes the room feel awkward and empty in the middle.
Try this: Bring furniture slightly inward. Group seats around a rug or table to create a cosy zone.
5. Ignoring Storage Needs
A home without enough storage gets messy fast. When there’s nowhere to put things, clutter piles up and makes even a nice design look bad.
Fix: Use smart storage—under beds, behind doors, or inside benches. Choose furniture that offers both function and style.
6. Poor Curtain Choices
Heavy or dark curtains block light and make a room feel closed off. In Singapore’s sunny climate, that’s a waste.
Tip: Use light-coloured, sheer curtains for day, and blackout ones for night. Hang them high to make ceilings look taller.
7. Forgetting About Walkways
Every room needs space to move around. If your layout blocks walkways, daily tasks become harder and more tiring.
Check this: Leave at least 60–80 cm of space for paths between furniture. Avoid sharp edges near walking areas.
8. Using Low-Quality Materials
Cheap materials may save money upfront, but they wear out fast. In a humid climate like Singapore’s, poor materials can warp, crack, or grow mould.
What to do: Choose quality finishes for key areas like flooring, cabinets, and countertops. You don’t have to buy the most expensive—just good value that lasts.
9. Not Considering Lifestyle
A stylish home is useless if it doesn’t match how you live. For example, white sofas look great in magazines, but may not suit homes with kids or pets.
Design smart: Think about who lives in the home. Choose finishes and layouts that fit your daily life, not just a showroom style.
10. Ignoring Personal Touch
Some homes look beautiful but feel cold. That’s often because they copy a trend but forget to include personal elements.
Add this: Display family photos, travel items, or local art. Use colours that make you feel calm or happy. Your home should reflect you, not just a design trend.
Conclusion
Interior design should work for your space, your needs, and your life. By avoiding these common mistakes, your home will not only look better—it’ll feel better too. Keep things simple, choose quality over quantity, and always think about function as well as style.
