It was a miscommunication with my painter-decorator that led to my most significant design mistake. We ended up with enough tins of my chosen colour to paint the whole of our Victorian terrace house. Unfortunately, the paint was non-returnable, so that’s what we did.
It wasn’t a disaster. Grey is a smart neutral, and it unified the space, albeit a little too much. But goodness, I did get sick of it. Redecorating, when the time came, was a delicious feeling. I shan’t be using it again.
Of course, this is only one of many mistakes made over the years. Some things I do again and again, like failing to check measurements. Instead, I like to merrily imagine that whatever I have ordered is exactly the size I wish it to be. But with ever-expanding choice, there are always new mistakes to make, too.
In that spirit, I have asked some top designers about common pitfalls and how to avoid them, so we all have a better chance of getting it right, first time.
Maria Speake, interior designer and expert in reclaimed materials:
We like to experiment with materials in our own home, so we can confidently recommend them to clients. And, sometimes, as you would expect, materials don’t behave quite as you imagine. I wouldn’t call these mistakes exactly; they are just a way to learn. Take the clay plaster in our sitting room. It is an environmentally-friendly choice, good at absorbing moisture and smells, and balances the humidity of the room. Plus, it has excellent acoustic properties.
However, as we discovered, it is also fragile and chips easily, especially at the corners, and you can’t really add or take away picture hooks because it crumbles, which is tricky if, like me, you are someone who likes to change things around. Likewise, when only a little water
got in through our roof lights, it turned back to clay and started falling off the walls in clumps!
That doesn’t mean we never use it in our projects; it just means using it in a slightly different way. For instance, in one client’s house, we applied it to a single wall and encrusted it with stones so it was more like a piece of art - too mad for words, but quite fun!
Miles Redd, interior designer:
When replanning a room, don’t huddle furniture in the centre of the room, like timid guests at a party. Push pieces back; claim the corners. If you have French doors, feel free to block part with a sofa - you only use one anyway.
Get floors and walls right before obsessing over fabric. Foundation first, finery later. That postage-stamp rug? Making your room smaller. Go big, even wall-to-wall, embrace sisal without shame, and layer other textures on top.
Fixtures with the wrong scale are the decorating equivalent of badly fitting clothes. Scale matters. Measure before you buy, tape it out in the room if unsure. Do not be afraid of things that kiss the ceiling - people tend to avoid large-scale items, but they are the things that make an interior
One overhead light creates a morgue, not a mood. Layer in lamps - table, picture, task, up - until rooms glow.
When paralyzed by choice, remember simple and classic never apologizes.
Emma Sims Hilditch, interior designer and founder of Sims Hilditch:
Design mistakes happen when you don’t take time to plan.
For example, you might decide you would like to paint your sitting room, but have you first considered if the lighting and power are in the best places? Remember, new light positions will require chasing, which is a dusty business.
Once you are ready to decorate, rather than painting samples directly onto one wall, apply paint onto wallpaper lining paper and bluetak a large piece onto every wall of the room. This will give a true reflection of how the entire room will look when it is finished, as the colour will look different in each position, and as the light changes with the weather and the time of day.
Butter Wakefield, garden designer:
Rather than making big plans for the garden, winter is a moment to take stock and to observe what work is required in the garden. Wrangle climbers into submission and rake leaves off the lawn and onto the borders (bare soil doesn’t draw down carbon), but don’t make everything super tidy - seed heads and hollow stems support insect life. Now that perennials have died back, and the shrubs and trees are bare, you can see where there are gaps or overcrowding. Dig up anything that you are tired of and pass it on, and get new plants into the ground before it freezes.
It’s easy to forget that the lead time on garden furniture can be 16-18 weeks, so place any orders now to be ready for spring. Likewise, browse seed catalogues and make your picks for the year ahead.
After all that, if you want to overhaul your garden, take time to ruminate and do lots of reading. There are so many books by inspiring garden designers. My current favourite is Diary of a Keen Gardener by Mary Keen. It is terrific and full of good advice.
Nina Campbell, interior and textile designer:
A common mistake is buying new things for a house that isn’t in order. January is a time for tidying up, making repairs, and getting rid of things that are tired, or which you no longer want or need.
It is also a good time to give everything a good clean. Wash, press, and rehang curtains and get carpets professionally cleaned. Arrange it for when you are away (they take time to dry). It is an amazing thing to do; the house will be sparkling when you come back. These old-fashioned rituals have been lost, but are full of good sense and will make the house feel new again.
If you want to go further, masses of scented candles in spring scents (my favourite is bitter orange - so delicious!), plus cushions and lampshades in fresh colours and patterns, will give the house a lift.
Sarah Raven, gardener, cook and writer:
The design mistake I most often see in the garden, at any time, concerns colour, which, in my view, is more important than shape.
People tend to go to the garden centre and just pick the flowers that catch their eye, rather than considering how they will look together. This creates what I call the licorice allsorts effect.
Try planning a colour scheme using coloured candles or velvet ribbons to see how different colours and tones sit together.
The thing to avoid is white next to crimson, purple, pink, yellow, and orange. That’s all about contrast, not harmony, and almost always ends up looking unrelaxed, or even ugly. I’d recommend going for one palette - either rich, with a sprinkling of bright, equally saturated colours, or pastel, mainly warm, with a sprinkling of cool (or in reverse). In the Dutch yard at Perch Hill Farm, which is filled with pots, we have shades of peach, apricot, and milky coffee, with a scattering of crimson, so the effect isn’t too cloying or sweet.
Rita Konig, interior designer:
If you have lived in a house a long time and it’s looking a bit tired, refreshing the paint on the architraves, skirtings, and cornices is an easy way to cheer it up. But don’t use brilliant white. It is a mistake I see this all the time - the contrast, particularly with dark colours, is too sharp. Try to find a shade that blends with the colour of the walls. It’s the same with ceilings. You don’t want acres of bright white. A coloured ceiling can be fun too. My powder room has wallpaper in a bold design, so I have painted the ceiling dark red. Be a bit playful!
Another thing to look at in January is storage. If a house doesn’t have enough storage, it won’t work well. Never underestimate how much you need, and don’t be afraid to give what you already have an overhaul.
Lots of this advice is not very sexy. But the truth is, good design requires thought and planning. It asks that we first look at what we have, that we order our spaces and reflect on what we need (and don’t need), and that we consider changes that feel perhaps a little bit unexciting.
But, as these designers know, the richest rewards come from being thoughtful, patient, taking your time, and paying attention to details. A resolution we can all embrace in 2026.
