5 Costly Decorating Mistakes First-Time Homeowners Make

Congratulations on your new home! Whether you’ve just moved in or are about to, this is an exciting milestone for you. You’ve finally got through all the paperwork and the stresses that come with it, the keys are in your hand as the next challenge begins - turning that blank canvas into a stylish, comfortable home.

You can’t wait to put your own stamp on it, but let’s face it, there’s not much money left over so how do you do it yourself that doesn’t look like you’ve copied your friends house or tried something that looked good on TikTok, Instagram, fill in the blank? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Many new homeowners rush into decorating, only to make expensive mistakes they later regret. To help you avoid that, here are five common pitfalls—and how to get it right the first time.

Buying Everything At Once

Although it’s tempting to furnish every room immediately, this often leads to impulse purchases that don’t work together. Instead, start with the essentials (sofa, bed, dining table), then build from there. Maybe you’ve inherited a few pieces to get you started or bringing stuff from your old house but it doesn’t seem to work with the space or what you had in mind.

Having a clear design plan helps ensure a cohesive look.

Choosing The Wrong Paint Colours First

Even if you’re saving money by decorating it yourself, buying paint is still quite costly. Many people pick their wall colours before considering other elements in the room such as furniture, lighting, or flooring. Flooring, internal door colours, sofa colours will all have an affect on the colour you choose.

How to do it? I always suggest you live in the space first to get a feel for how the light works in each room, how you plan to use the room, for example, if you only use the living room in the evenings for snuggling up and watching t.v. maybe you want a warm and inviting colour that feels cosy and intimate.

Spending a little time on how you use each room and the look you’re trying to achieve will help when choosing colour.

Select larger items first (like a sofa or rug) and pull colour inspiration from them. This prevents mismatched tones and costly repaints!

Not Measuring Before Buying Furniture

Online shopping is great—until your dream sofa arrives and doesn’t fit through the door! Always measure your space, doorways, and hallways before making major purchases. A scaled furniture plan (which I provide in my Online Design Service) ensures everything fits perfectly.

Tip: Measure out the items on the floor with masking tape, this will give you something solid to walk around making sure you aren’t bumping into any other furniture pieces.

Overlooking The Importance of Lighting

This is actually the number one mistake I find most people make and yet it is the most important part of any design. If you can tackle this first, you will have the perfect room setting.

A home with only ceiling lights can feel harsh and uninviting. Layering lighting—table lamps, floor lamps, and accent lighting—creates a warm, cosy atmosphere. It’s one of the easiest ways to make your home feel professionally designed.

Trying To Do It All Alone

Without a plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by endless choices—fabrics, finishes, furniture layouts… the list goes on.

If you could spend money wisely on these decisions wouldn’t that feel like a better solution? That’s where I come in! My Online Design Service gives you a custom design plan, shopping list, and layout to make decorating easy—without costly mistakes.

Just want the ease of someone else doing this - Full Interior Design is made just for you!