JOURNAL 6 –When Good Homes Go Bad:

Dated Design and the Subtle Mistakes That Break a Room

Design isn’t just about choosing beautiful things—it’s about creating a space that works. But often, it’s the small, subtle choices that quietly unravel a room’s potential.

Let’s take a look at the most common design mistakes that are silently holding homes back—paired with visuals and quick-fix design tips that make all the difference.

1. Rugs That Are Way Too Small

A too-small rug creates visual disconnection, making the furniture look scattered rather than anchored.

A tiny rug makes a room feel awkward and disconnected. Instead of anchoring the space, it creates visual confusion and leaves furniture looking like it’s nervously hovering around the edges.

Design Tip: Your rug should be large enough for at least the front legs of furniture to sit on it. In dining rooms, all chairs should remain on the rug even when pulled out.

2. Ignoring Traffic Flow

Over-decorating with too much furniture clogs pathways, making a space hard to navigate and enjoy.

If people can’t move naturally through a room, the space stops serving its purpose. Overcrowding or poor layout planning turns beautiful rooms into frustrating obstacle courses.

Design Tip: Maintain at least 24–36 inches of walkable space between major pieces. Walk through the room yourself—if it feels tight, it is.

3. Pushing Furniture Against Every Wall

Furniture pressed against the walls may seem like it opens the room, but it actually flattens the design and leaves the center feeling empty.

Many think hugging the walls makes a room feel bigger—but it often does the opposite. A void in the center makes the space feel cold, uninviting, and visually flat.

Design Tip: Float a sofa or a pair of chairs. Use a rug and coffee table to create a cozy zone that feels intentional and full.

4. Relying on One Harsh Overhead Light

One overhead light isn’t enough—layered lighting makes a space feel inviting and dimensional.

The dreaded “big light” flattens everything. Without layers, lighting feels harsh and unwelcoming—like being under a spotlight in a waiting room.

Design Tip: Layer your lighting: use table lamps, sconces, and even candles to create mood and depth. Bonus: it makes everything look better.

5. Getting Scale Totally Wrong

Furniture that's too large for the space overwhelms the room and restricts flow, even in well-designed interiors.

Scale is everything. Furniture that’s too big overwhelms. Furniture that’s too small looks like dollhouse décor. Either way, it disrupts the harmony of the space.

Design Tip: Measure first. Use painter’s tape to map out furniture on the floor before buying. Visual planning saves money and headaches.

6. Following Trends Too Closely

Too many bold patterns and trend-heavy choices can make a space feel chaotic instead of curated.

Design should evolve with you—not expire. When a space follows trends too rigidly, it may feel stylish for a moment… but soulless forever.

Design Tip: Choose timeless base pieces and layer in trends through art, textiles, or accents that are easy to swap out.

Great Design Is Intentional Design

Poor design isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s subtle decisions—rugs, lighting, flow—that quietly degrade how your space feels.

But with the right choices, even small changes can completely transform the way you live in your home.

— Claire

*Disclosure: Some visuals were created using AI-generated imagery to illustrate key design concepts.