{"id":248079,"date":"2026-01-16T16:26:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T16:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/248079\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T16:26:20","slug":"9-interior-design-details-that-make-designers-cringe-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/248079\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Interior Design Details That Make Designers Cringe, Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

We know we were taught to never judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to interior design<\/a>, the stakes are just different. Since every room in your house should evoke a welcoming, mood-boosting energy<\/a>, crafting a space that looks and feels good is basically half the battle. <\/p>\n

At the end of the day, what constitutes a beautiful home is subjective: Some people might favor a classic, traditional design, while others love pared-back modernism. Still, there are some features that always manage to make professional decorators immediately recoil.<\/p>\n

“Design is deeply personal, but certain choices can make even the most seasoned designer take pause,” says Sandra Lucas, co-founder of Lucas\/Eilers Design Associates<\/a>. “Ultimately, anything that lacks meaning or purpose has no place in a thoughtfully curated home. That said, the more challenging the starting point, the more rewarding the transformation!”<\/p>\n

These design icks can be as big as matchy-matchy furniture or as nuanced as the temperature of your lightbulb, but they can change the vibe of even the most thoughtfully decorated rooms (and not for the better). To help, a handful of designers are fessing up by sharing the most cringe-worthy items in a home. Once you understand their design icks\u2014and how to avoid them in the first place\u2014you can sidestep the judgement and focus on a creating a home that brings you joy.<\/p>\n

Enormous TVs\"the<\/p>\n

Mali Azima<\/p>\n

We love indulging in our latest streaming obsession as much as the next person, but a television shouldn’t be the focal point of your room. “Everyone who knows me understands my stance on exposed televisions,” Lucas laments. “I believe they should be concealed whenever possible to maintain a cohesive and polished look.”<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to conceal a television<\/a>. While some designers install sliding panels around them for on-demand movie nights, others add decorative frames along the perimeter to help their screens blend in or purchase TVs meant to look like framed art. Meanwhile, this Atlanta home<\/a> makes a case for trading in your television for a focal piece of art.<\/p>\n

Samsung Class QLED 4K LS03D The Frame Series<\/p>\n

\"Class<\/a>Overly Matchy Furniture \"barrie<\/p>\n

Anna Routh Barzin<\/p>\n

Though buying a furniture set might be an easy (and sometimes affordable) way to furnish your room, Sarah Eilers says it does your decor zero favors. “A home\u2019s character comes to life through a thoughtfully curated mix of pieces that tell a story, rather than a perfectly matched furniture set that feels lifted from a showroom,” explains the Lucas\/Eilers Design Associates<\/a> co-founder.<\/p>\n

Instead, take your time to build a furniture collection that speaks to the soul of your home. “True beauty lies in the art of layering textures, finishes, and styles to create a space that feels both collected and deeply personal,” she says. With a checkered couch, velvet armchair, and small patterned chair, this space from Barrie Benson<\/a> celebrates the beauty of variety.<\/p>\n

Adrenalina Hammock Lounge Chair by Debonademeo Studio<\/p>\n

\"Hammock<\/a>Curtain-Free Windows\"an<\/p>\n

Simon Upton for VERANDA<\/p>\n

According to Lauren Lothrop Caron of Studio Laloc<\/a> in Seattle, homes without window treatments feel unfinished. “It’s like an outfit missing pants and shoes,” she explains. “These elements are essential to a well-designed space.”<\/p>\n

Drapery dissidents might give this cringe-worthy moment pause\u2014especially if they don’t want curtains swallowing up their room or budget\u2014but Caron insists they’re worth it. “While they can be an investment, they\u2019re exactly that,” she counters. “Investment pieces that add warmth, texture, and a sense of completion to a home.”<\/p>\n

For a setup that blends in, you can always match your drapes to your wallpaper as seen in Mia Reay’s English retreat<\/a>. Alternatively, sheers can give a barely-there, sun-dappled effect.<\/p>\n

TWOPAGES Custom Linen Drapery Panel<\/p>\n

\"TWOPAGES<\/a>Bad Lighting\"the<\/p>\n

David Tsay<\/p>\n

As far as most design enthusiasts are concerned, lighting can make or break any room of the house. But while multiple light sources are important\u2014Fran Keenan used chandeliers, sconces, and floor lamps to create a layered look in this Hollywood home<\/a>\u2014the pros are begging you to not overlook the lightbulb itself.<\/p>\n

“Cool light bulbs that scream ‘operating room,’ not ‘come in and stay awhile,” says designer Liz Caan<\/a>. “Go through your house and make sure your bulbs are consistent and have warm temperature. You will feel better\u2014and you will look better.”<\/p>\n

Gary McBournie<\/a> agrees and says typically uses a 2700K LED bulb. “To further enhance things, I use dimmers,” the Boston designer explains. “Another trick I use involves experiments with the materials on shade.” For example, he says parchment, off-white linen, and silk toppers are all fair play.<\/p>\n

Linkind LED Light Bulbs, 2700K<\/p>\n

\"Linkind<\/a>Shelving and Built-Ins That Feel Out of Place\"garrow<\/p>\n

Thomas Loof<\/p>\n

Designer Laurin White of Cambridge Row<\/a> says one of her biggest design ‘icks’ is when “built-in, non-kitchen areas look ‘kitchen-y’ with countertop slabs and tile backsplashes.” She adds, “Built-in bookcases or living room shelves do NOT need these.” Another shelving design choice that makes her cringe? Too many floating shelves. She notes that they’re often “not scaled correctly or put in proper places.”<\/p>\n

Instead, when it comes to built-ins, White recommends opting for a wood or a painted wood surface and adding trim behind it for a finished, custom look. This Manhattan library from Garrow Kedigian proves that you can still have fun with shelving\u2014all you need is a few coats of paint.<\/p>\n

Too-Crowded Rooms\"jane<\/p>\n

Laura Resen<\/p>\n

Designer Bethany Adams<\/a> says, “I get so turned off when a home is crammed with furniture. You know the type of house I mean: where every wall has a too-big console table, and then the table demands to be covered in tchotchkes, which then requires matching lamps to highlight, and of course a mirror or artwork above.”<\/p>\n

She adds, “One of these situations in any home would be more than enough, but if every time you turn a corner you’re coming face to face with a console, or end table, or breakfront, or hutch….it’s too much! Pare down your unnecessary furnishings for a home that feels calm and collected, not cluttered.”<\/p>\n

Sometimes, less is truly more.<\/p>\n

Disproportionate Rugs<\/p>\n

\"bromley<\/p>\n

Annie Schlechter<\/p>\n

Designer Meghan Jay says proportions are everything\u2014especially when selecting a rug<\/a>. “It makes me wince when I see furniture hanging off a tiny rug,” the Chicago designer explains. “Rugs should anchor the entire seating arrangement, not just sit under the coffee table or a few legs. She adds that the right rug can completely transform a space, making it feel “more cohesive and inviting.”<\/p>\n

So, where to begin? A rug should be large enough for your furniture to fully sit on top of it, but industry insiders<\/a> say there should be at least six inches of open rug on each side. Let this St. Louis dining room<\/a> from Brittany Bromley show you how it’s done.<\/p>\n

Stark Custom Rug<\/p>\n

\"Stark<\/a> Too-Trendy Patterns\"summer<\/p>\n

Thomas Loof for VERANDA<\/p>\n

Trends might come and go, but more importantly? They should never take center stage in your home. “I cringe when I walk into a home and every single fabric or pattern is one seen all over Instagram,” says Courtnay Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic Design<\/a>. “We often fall in love with what we see frequently, so I understand why and how someone may love a really popular or iconic fabric, but it feels too ‘keeping up with the Joneses.'”<\/p>\n

To make your space feel more stylish\u2014and less showy\u2014Elias says moderation is key. “A little goes a long way here,” the Houston designer recommends. “Work to curate an original mix of unique fabrics to mix with the iconic or popular one you cannot live without!”<\/p>\n

Or, if you really want to up the decorating ante, take a cue from this Summer Thornton-designed bedroom<\/a> and blend patterns with personality.<\/p>\n

Janvi Reversible Quilt <\/p>\n

\"Janvi<\/a> Mismatched Crown Molding \"lorenzo<\/p>\n

Lesley Unruh<\/p>\n

Just because crown molding is a covetable design detail in historic homes doesn’t mean it suits every space. “A huge trigger for me is when homes have overly elaborate and out-of-context crown molding,” David Ries of Ries Hayes<\/a> says. “It can feel particularly misplaced in modern high-rises and not in keeping with the rest of the space.”<\/p>\n

Ultimately, it’s important to understand the style and scale of your room\u2014and decorate accordingly. Though the New York pied-\u00e0-terre pictured above originally featured “heavy, 1990s-style crown molding,” Ries updated the space to give it a modern edge.<\/p>\n

“We removed the ornate crown molding and replaced it with a properly scaled, very simple and modern stepped crown detail,” he explains. “This change cleaned up the elevation and made the ceilings feel taller.”<\/p>\n

RELIABILT 2-3\/4-in x 8-ft Pine Primed Crown Moulding<\/p>\n

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