The wildly impractical decorating mistakes you need to avoid

The sitting room in the newer part of Blanche Vaughan's house was originally furnished by Robert Kime. Later Hugo's...

Interior design is full of ideas that look great on Pinterest, but fall short in everyday life. Delicate finishes, complicated tech and high-maintenance materials can quickly become frustrating, while many visually driven trends simply don’t stand the test of time. We asked top designers to share the mistakes they see most often, and the smarter, stylish alternatives they recommend instead.

Eliza Davey of De Rosee Sa

‘Clients often dream of a creamy, cloud-like linen sofa. It’s the kind of thing that looks stunning in photos and brings a breezy, effortless look to a space. However, linen can be prone to wrinkling, staining and sagging over time, especially if there are kids and pets in the house, plus light colours also show every mark. Instead, we like to use a performance fabric such as Maharam’s Metaphor in a soft shade, which will give a similar aesthetic but is far more resistant to wear and spills. It’s even bleach-cleanable, and you get the same softness in tone but without the anxiety.’

Joanna Plant

‘We are seeing a gentle move away from overly spec’d smart houses. It seems clients are tired of not knowing how to switch the lights on and not all family members want to endlessly fiddle around on their iPhone in order to get things to work. More and more, we are installing simple thermostats to control the temperature, and lighting rooms with a 5-amp circuit on a dimmer switch. And nothing beats the warm sound of a pair of proper old school speakers - give me that over music coming out of the ceiling any day. I know a divorced couple, and the ex-husband still controls the music even though he lives 500 miles away. That really can’t be right!’

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Charlie Tilbury and Rose Hanson of Penrose Tilbury

‘We always try to avoid hanging oil paintings in a bathroom as water damage and humidity can ruin artwork, even in a well-ventilated space. A powder room is a much safer place to hang a beautiful painting as there’s little or no dampness. In a bathroom we might instead choose a framed print, which will still add character. We also tend not to install gallery walls as when an art collection grows, it can be a nightmare moving things around, trying to cover up picture hook holes. And sometimes, less is more; a really solid piece of artwork can hold a space much better than making things too cluttered.’

Christian Bense

‘You’ve been living under a rock if you haven’t seen a kitchen with a cute little under cabinet curtain being used as an alternative to a door; it’s almost a prerequisite for any country house design. Whilst a curtain can be lovely, it can also be wildly impractical as it tends to bunch up on one side, so you need to flip the fabric onto the worktop to gain full access to the storage space or appliance. If you must have one, I suggest installing the curtains on rings rather than a pole through a pocket, which allows the curtain to draw more easily. And split the panel into two, so you can slide the fabric both left and right.’

The bathroom of this underground Shoreditch house is tiled in Domus Seta mosaic tiles with ‘illustrations created from...

Alex Macaulay of Kinland

‘Clients often ask for luxurious marble floors in the bathroom - they look expensive, feel cool underfoot, and instantly elevate a space. But marble becomes dangerously slippery when wet, which is exactly what you don’t want. It’s also porous and can stain or etch easily with everyday products like shampoo or toothpaste. Instead, we prefer polished concrete as you still get that sleek, refined look but with better grip and easier maintenance. Try using contrasting tile borders or mosaics in wet zones such as the shower, to break up the expanse of concrete and add personality.’

Richard Angel of Angel O’Donnell

‘Gently curved, shallow-depth sofas are everywhere. I get it – their low-slung, slender profiles look great in editorial, but they rarely deliver on comfort. So, if you’re going to include one in your scheme, be sure to pair it with something more practical and still visually appealing, but with a well-padded and deep seat. If you don’t have space for two sofas, at least make room for a generous club chair. Never prioritise style over comfort.’

Laylah Holmes of Holmes Bespoke

‘One of the most common requests is for pure silk rugs in entranceways or staircases. They look and feel exquisite, but silk wears quickly, shows every mark and is completely impractical for spaces with heavy footfall. Instead, I’d recommend a wool/silk blend or a high-quality wool rug that gives the same elegant look with far better durability. We can custom-dye our fibres to match any palette, and we use texture and varying pile heights to add interest so you never need to sacrifice style for practicality.’

Huseyin Bicak of Charlton Brown Architects

‘Zellige tiles, while visually stunning are generally impractical for use in kitchens and bathrooms due to their irregular shape, porous nature, and high maintenance requirements. In kitchens, the uneven surface makes cleaning difficult, and grease, food splatters and steam can seep into the clay and cause staining. In bathrooms, the exposure to moisture and humidity makes the tiles prone to water absorption unless sealed - a process that must be regularly repeated. We love using them, but always inform our clients that they demand more upkeep than is sometimes practical.’

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Louise East of Studio Est

‘Polished or Venetian plaster is a popular request these days due to its luxurious finish and the sense of depth it brings to a space without it shouting ‘look at me’. However, in practice it can be wildly impractical, especially in high-traffic areas like entrance halls or living rooms, or in commercial spaces like hotels and restaurants. And clients don’t always appreciate that it can be expensive, and that it requires someone highly skilled to install it. Instead, a textured paint provides a similar feel and can be applied much more quickly, without the durability concerns and at a fraction of the cost.’

Martin Hulbert & Jay Grierson of Martin Hulbert Design

‘A lot of clients ask for ginormous TVs, but they dominate the space, dictate the furniture layout and destroy the look of the interior. People often want them to be mounted above fireplaces, which is far too high and can end up looking like a betting shop, and partners tend not to agree on this subject - one wants to watch sport all day and the other is happy to watch TV on a laptop. We also find that hotel clients want TV's to be as big as possible even though the majority of guests use their iPads. One solution we are implementing more and more is to mount TVs on stands or easels. It means we don't have to design a space with the TV in mind – instead it can be completely flexible. This is only possible due to the fact that modern TVs need fewer cables.’

Eva Sonaike

‘Double-height spaces can be absolutely stunning, but if they aren’t designed with cohesive storage and furniture solutions, they can quickly feel clumsy and disconnected. Avoid filling them with lots of freestanding furniture, which can look disjointed the openness. Instead, plan built-in or integrated pieces that enhance the architecture and keep the space feeling harmonious.’

In this West London family home given a new lease of life by Polly Ashman what might have been a third bedroom was...

Brandon Schubert

‘An impractical choice is marble in bathrooms. It's impossible to remove limescale from, which is a huge problem in most parts of the UK, and its susceptible to etching, which is unfortunately unavoidable over time. That said, marble is lovely, and there is really no great substitute. I can't get behind porcelain marble-effect tiles, so if you want the look, you have to tolerate its impracticality.’

Henry Prideaux

‘L-shape sofas are a real tick box item for some clients, but in narrow townhouses, without the luxury of a generous lateral space, half the sofa can end up running across the middle of the room, across a bay window or even across a doorway, making it completely impractical. Instead, opt for a regular sofa paired with an upholstered ottoman so you can put your feet up, or if there is a bay window, choose a sofa or loveseat that fit neatly into the recess so as to maximise every inch.’

Nicola Sherbon of Banda

‘Whilst wallpaper can add beautiful texture, pattern and create focus, it’s not the most practical choice for sunrooms or bathrooms where moisture, humidity and UV exposure are a constant challenge. In these spaces a water-resistant plaster finish, high gloss paint or glazed tiles give a wash of colour and texture, which lifts the space and creates depth whilst being super hard wearing.’

Jacu Strauss of Lore Group

‘High-gloss, lacquered surfaces look stunning at first but they’re notoriously unforgiving when it comes to scratches, heat marks and daily wear and tear. If you love that sleek, polished look, use lacquer on furniture or built-in cabinetry that doesn’t see so much heavy use.’

Linda Boronkay

‘Oversized freestanding bathtubs are often requested, but unless a space is huge, they rarely fit comfortably, especially once you factor in storage and enough circulation space. Alternatively, go for a beautiful built-in bath with a tiled surround and a ledge for candles and art - much more practical and still indulgent.’

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Charu Gandhi of Elicyon

‘A client of ours fell in love with a striking emerald green quartzite and hoped to use it extensively in their kitchen. While the stone was undeniably beautiful, we knew from experience that it was prone to staining and etching – not ideal for heavy-use worktops. Rather than abandon it entirely, we proposed using it for a sculptural breakfast bar where it could be enjoyed visually, and a more robust Taj Mahal quartzite was used for the main surfaces. The result was just as impactful but far more suited to everyday life.’

Anna Haines

‘Clients often ask for oversized mirrors in smaller spaces to make the space feel bigger. While this can work, if not placed carefully, they can reflect the wrong thing – maybe an awkward angle or even a blank wall, in which case it can and make the space feel cold or uncomfortable. Therefore, we make sure mirrors are only used where they really work, near a window to maximise light for example, to open up a view or in a practical spot such as in a hallway, so you can make sure you’re presentable before you leave the house.’