Many people will picture their dream house through visualizing on Pinterest, creating various moodboards, and letting their imagination take flight. They might save up, or take out a loan, just to fulfill their idealized needs and wants. However, when it comes to construction and putting the plan into action, homeowners may find that it is not as easy as it seems. 

This article lists the 10 most common mistakes you can find while contemplating the design of a house.

1. Lack of Imagination

Many people make design choices based on the functionality of the room, forgetting that this may not be fundamentally suitable with other parts of their home. Adding too many functions to a single room can decrease the quality of the space. Rooms that feel cluttered can overwhelm the senses, making it hard to work or relax for anyone residing in them. Instead, dividing the spaces in your house based on their function is best. There are always options to combine two necessities into one, utilizing the most of your space while maintaining the balance of functional versus creative. Inspiration can strike us while looking at beautiful and different types of interior design; our portfolio of work may help you see what you want out of your interior renovation, or at the very least, give you plenty of ideas.

2. The Lighting

Proper lighting is one of the most important aspects of your home. Here are some things to consider when picking out how to brighten your abode: the desired shade or color, the shape of the lamp, the compatibility with other interior details, and location, location, location. Inadequate light in a room can be hard to deal with. It is necessary to take into account the presence of windows in the room, the amount of daylight received, and how to make up if the issue is too little light inside the room. “The right light lifts the mood, inspires productivity, and motivates us,” said Theo Richardson, to the New York Times. Another thing to consider is the play of light and shadow. Many designers advise using more than one light source in one room, to differentiate and renovate your decor. Designers working on the lighting in a room think about contrasts, transitions of color, color combinations, and shades to create the right mood. If we’re talking about a kitchen island, for example, you can use suspended lamps that will not take up extra space in the dining room. You can also use backlights in and under the upper cabinets and shelves, for improving visibility.

3. Functionality vs. Aesthetic

When it comes to styling each room, you need to listen closely to your inner desires. After all – who wants to live in a space that is devoid of personality, and doesn’t reflect you? The design of the rooms in your house make the difference. Design impacts your mood and comfort day in and day out. However, it is important to consider the right balance between the appearance and functionality of the space. Furthermore, a problem that you may encounter is over -accessorizing. More often, fewer means better. 

Important Details: 

• avoiding excessive amounts of the same furniture
• style and kind of wall decor; matching paintings, and length of curtains
• unnecessary items should be stored and not displayed
• greenery; plants will give a fresh look to any space of your home

4. Materials and You

Building materials are always the biggest and most unpredictable monetary stressor. From the material itself, to the shade of the color, and the supplier, many homeowners are trying to save their budget on this part of the costs. If you end up choosing cheap and low-quality materials – they will not last for years to come. Another common problem which you may encounter is within the delivery of materials to the place of construction. If there is a delay and the materials do not arrive on time, the customer will have to pay the foremen to come another day. What may happen is that the project is delayed by months, as construction teams can be and often are heavily booked. At this point it is better not to cut-costs, but to choose quality materials, order everything ahead of time, and make sure that construction time is well planned.

At 2MO, we specialize in providing a consistent and manageable schedule to both you and our teams of workers. Check out our services to learn more about how we curate materials, and organize construction.

5. Setting the Right Budget

Pay attention in order to not set up an unrealistic budget. Stop and ask yourself – How will you finance your project?

The best solution to this problem is not to spend too much at the very beginning. Many clients buy the most expensive wall paint, the most expensive flooring, etc. At the tail-end of the project, there is not enough furniture and other interior items to bring the space to functionality and completion.

Preliminary finishing plans are usually ready long before construction begins. With the finishing plans, you will be able to plan your approximate budget for the first stages of work. An inside tip is to make sure to compare the price and choice of materials from different manufacturers and suppliers – this can be done on different websites, as well as in-person, or in stores. You also need to understand that changes in plans are inevitable, they need to calculate an additional amount of funds for unplanned expenses.

6. Missing the Right Team

A team of contractors, designers, and builders is crucial to the planning stages and construction of your home. An Architect, Designer, Realtor, Lawyer, Mortgage Specialist, and Structural Engineer — these are the specialists who should be present in the creation of your dream house. You need to approach the choice regarding each specialist very carefully; it is advisable request several recommendations from previous clients or find reviews yourself. Also, if you hire an interior designer, you do not have to approve the first proposed layout option, you have the right to make edits as many times as will be prescribed in the contract. Contact the 2MO team to get you started on finding the best team for your project.

7. The Floor Plans

How to make sure that you’re in love with the resulting home?

Floor plans are an essential part of the process of construction and design. They are needed to start construction, and modifying them will provide you with the visualization of the future space. You should know which finishes, and additions you want in your home before getting quotes from builders. Here, the best solution is to illustrate, or get illustration help, of your desired house layout. Think about what features and rooms your house is missing, and picture the materials and look you want the additions to have.

8. Sentimental Clutter

The most difficult task is getting rid of the old things that have sentimental value. They are the most difficult to part with, but even more difficult to fit into the design space of a new home. The way out of this situation is simple: focus not on what you want to throw away, but focus on those things that you want to leave and where they could fit in.

9. Decision-making 

During the construction process, the building contractor is responsible for tracking progress and managing any necessary changes. Of course, contractors must always have the project scope, time, and budget in mind when making decisions. The architect is quite often the ultimate decision-maker on a project. They are the one who is supposed to coordinate the aesthetic and practical needs of the owner, with the practicalities and design criteria of the engineer. Be careful about the choice of materials – their durability, because your house will be built for several decades ahead. Now alternative sustainable building materials are being chosen more and more frequently. Keep in mind: The last word is always yours since you are a client. However, it should be written on paper who is directly legally responsible for what.

10. Attention to Detail

The approved drawings only describe the design at 1:100 scale and give a very general idea of how the finished building will look. It is a common mistake to proceed to the building stage without ensuring that the details are consistent with the overall concept of the design. Little things like door handles, the color and texture of the tiles, and the sink faucet should be provided in advance. Now there are many ways to visualize the desired space yourself: pick up accurate photos of interior details, or create 3D visualization in computer programs that do not require prior skills.

If there are doubts about whether you need a designer for construction, think about how well you understand the topic, so the designer can save a lot of your budget from mistakes during the process. 

Need more inspiration of ideas or want to avoid any design mistakes while renovating your place? Contact us today.