Q: I have an idea for a blog post: “Design mistakes we won’t make again.” Looking through photos of all the beautiful work you’ve done, I’m tempted to pick many similar styles and purchases. But over time—did you ever regret a design choice? – Shannon
A: Great question. Here’s a candid look at a dozen design decisions we’ve learned from. We’re not experts; we learn as we go, make plenty of mistakes, and adjust along the way. Doing something—whether it works or not—is a far better teacher than staying stuck in indecision. Below are specific choices that didn’t quite pan out and what we learned from each one.
1. Buying an expensive-for-us Pottery Barn sofa without enough testing. We learned to always try a sofa in person. After a disappointing online purchase from a big retailer, we splurged on a Pottery Barn sofa that we’d sat on in-store. Even after three years, it never felt quite right—baggy and frumpy for our taste. Later we found a more affordable Rowe sofa we loved more, and an even larger sectional that was comfier and better suited to our style. The takeaway: price doesn’t always equal preference or comfort. Test furniture in person when possible.
2. Painting bathroom trim black. This was a fun experiment that didn’t work for the space. The two hours it took to paint—and then undo—were worth the lesson. Removing the black trim and simplifying to a white-on-white palette created a much calmer, spa-like feel until we were ready for a full renovation. Trying things and correcting them quickly is often the fastest way to discover what you actually like.
3. Not bringing enough furniture into a room. Early on we left rooms feeling stark and nonfunctional. Over time we filled the space with better-scaled pieces and added a dining area off the kitchen, which dramatically increased usability. If a room feels empty, adding layered, purposeful pieces usually helps it feel lived-in and useful.
4. Going crazy with too many colors house-wide. We once painted nearly every room a different hue. Over time we narrowed our palette to colors we loved most and settled on a sea-glass inspired scheme that created a cohesive, welcoming home. For our current house we’re exploring a moodier, more sophisticated palette—different doesn’t mean wrong, but consistency helps create harmony.
5. Choosing only small-scale furniture and accessories. We now favor a few larger, well-chosen pieces—a generously sized sofa, a large-scale light fixture, or a substantial vase—because they give a room presence and interest. While oversized items require some care around children, they often elevate a space more effectively than many tiny objects that can make a room feel cluttered.
6. Covering every lawn with grass. Grass can be inexpensive and low-maintenance once established, but mowing large areas eats up time. We prefer a more naturalized landscape with limited turf for play areas and the rest planted with low-maintenance groundcovers, native grasses, and wildflowers to reduce upkeep and increase biodiversity.
7. Overlooking secondhand and thrifted furnishings. Some of our best pieces came from Craigslist and thrift stores: dressers, tables, chairs, and a coffee table, all for a fraction of new retail prices. Buying secondhand can be economical and add unique character. We now actively hunt for quality used items before paying full price at big box stores.
8. Not building more ourselves. Tackling DIY projects felt intimidating at first, but building simple furniture and shelving has been affordable and rewarding. Projects like a door-topped desk, postcard shelves, and nursery book ledges proved doable and special. Making things together adds personality and satisfaction to a home—and some sawdust-fueled romance, too.
9. Making everything match exactly. A completely matchy-matchy room feels flat to us now. Mixing wood tones, fabrics, and finishes creates visual interest. We like pairing darker wood with painted pieces, mixing slipcovers with leather, and introducing unexpected accents like a repurposed luggage rack or a two-tone dresser to keep things lively.
10. Buying items that don’t coordinate with the rest of the house. We try to avoid impulse purchases that don’t play well with what we already own. A few pillows or accessories that didn’t fit ended up donated. Thoughtful buying—considering scale, color, and material—prevents wasted money and clutter.
11. Refinishing floors with high-VOC products. Refinishing our first house’s floors with traditional oil-based stains and polyurethane caused lingering odors and headaches for weeks. If we refinish again, we’ll use water-based stains and low-VOC sealants for a healthier, eco-friendlier finish that won’t make the house miserable during the process.
12. Buying temporary, uninspired fixtures (the “boob light”). Sometimes it’s tempting to buy a cheap interim fixture just to fill a space. In a tiny guest bedroom we installed a basic flush mount that instantly brightened the room, but we later replaced it with a more thoughtful, long-term choice. When possible, we wait and save for pieces we truly love instead of cluttering the home with throwaway items.
These are our subjective lessons—what felt like a mistake to us may be someone else’s perfect choice. We’ll undoubtedly make more decorating and renovating missteps in the future, and that’s OK. Trial and error is how we discover our style and refine our home. Happy experimenting—and don’t be afraid to try something bold, then change it if it doesn’t feel right.
Update – Want to know where we got something in our house or which paint colors we used? Check the shop/house details on our site for sources and color lists.
