7 Common Home Interior Design Mistakes in Rwanda

Designing or remodeling your home can become quite hectic, and there are mistakes that are made in that process.

Here I am going to focus on a few that are the most common interior design mistakes to avoid. The points will allow you to understand why it doesn’t work and also think outside the box on what are best ways to design a beautiful home.

1—Buying paint before fabrics and furniture

Deciding on which colours to use is surely the most important step in the design process. Never rush for it. While painting is the time-consuming, it is permanent. So take all the time you need.

Any furniture can easily be moved but not the paint. First pick the furniture and other accessories for the space, and then take pieces of fabric thereafter to match the paint that fits best. For professionals, the paint comes first but as a ‘Do-It-Yourself’, the process should be the other way around.

2—Scale of furniture in the space

Most people tend to buy furniture that is too large for the space. This is a very common mistake; you see it in different places.

When purchasing furniture, keep in mind the size of your space and the amount of space that you would like to dedicate to each piece you need, but also allowing an easy movement.

Stop thinking about only buying what is already made. Think about customized your furniture too, so that it may fit your place. A measurement tape cost 1000 RWF, so make sure that your house and what you need are measured to the right scale. Do some research and find references on how others have exploited their spaces.

3—Hanging artwork too high

There is a tendency among some homeowners to hang art too high. Art should be hang at eye level, although small pieces can be hanged lower.

The only exceptions should be when the art or accessories are very large or are hanging above a large piece of furniture.

4—Bad Lighting

Each space can look good in the dark, but what happens when you turn the lights on? As you are working on your home, don’t forget to keep in mind the lighting. The lighting is truly the emotion of the space. The light defines the mood and the energy you need in your own space. You shouldn’t have a space that is too bright like lightning bolt. Also, be more creative; small elements around you can be used to create good lampshades. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

Think also on the placement of your lighting. It does not always have to be in the middle of the ceiling.

While remodeling your house, you may also want to consider natural light and make a few modifications on your windows if necessary.

5—Color co-ordination

The color of the space is not solely depicted by the paint on the walls. The shades and tints in the furniture will greatly influence the mood. Be sure not to over-do the room using just reds if you want a red room. Add contrasts and compliments in your colouring schemes and you won’t regret it. Don’t just think about the colours that you like; most of the time they do not make good combination. Don’t hesitate to check with your friends or references on the internet on what makes good color schemes.

6—Furniture against the walls

It is natural to want to place furniture against walls. Some room designs will force you to do so, while others will allow you to take advantage of the benefits of putting furniture farther from the walls. These advantages include more fun and interesting space design, but one advantage of that is to provide more circulation in the room.

7—Matching everything

Everything you like can’t be in your house. While shopping furniture, you are tempted to buy everything you like. This makes you go off your theme. You can always mix a bit but with accessories that create connection. For example, because you want an “African” design, you don’t have to put some kitenge everywhere. Avoid to think that everything has to match; sometimes breaking the rules create something even more beautiful.

Matching everything in a room or house will result in a home without character or personality. Try to avoid buying all of your furniture and accessories for one room at the same place and time. By mixing styles, materials, woods and shapes, you will make your home more unique and reflect your personal style.

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