Whether you are moving into a brand new home or redecorating a few rooms in the house you currently own, there are some very common interior design mistakes you should try to avoid. Our talented interior designers at the Lake of the Ozarks are able to guide you away from these mishaps. Until you enlist a little help from John Elliott Interiors, here are a few of those common mistakes to keep in mind (and not make!)

Not Paying Attention to Scale
You'll need to do a little research before blindly going into our Lake of the Ozarks luxury furniture store to pick out a few new pieces. Everything that is included in your new interior design should fit together nicely, both with each other and with the room being furnished.

Lots of small pieces of furniture in a very large space may seem awkward and cause the room to look unbalanced. On the flip side of that, trying to fit large pieces into a small space can make a room appear cluttered and overwhelming. Know your room's measurements before shopping and be sure to measure the furniture you're interested in purchasing so you can be positive it will fit into the space easily. Many pieces are available in different sizes, so always ask if you don't see exactly what you're looking for. 

Over-Furnishing a Room
Trying to squeeze in more furniture than is actually needed can cause a room to look like a dumping ground of collected pieces. Overly furnished rooms can feel small and cramped. You want to arrange furniture to be functional, look appealing, and leave enough space to create movement and flow.

If you notice this to be a problem in any of your rooms, try moving the furniture around first. Sometimes simply arranging the pieces in a new way can alleviate the cramped feeling. If that doesn't help, then pick and choose the furniture you truly need and move the rest to another room.


Over-Accessorizing a Room
The accessories you will find in our home decor store at the Lake of the Ozarks are meant to add to the beauty of your interior design, not overwhelm it. A good balance of items scaled to compliment each other and arranged in an eye-pleasing fashion is your goal. Too many knick-knacks placed around a room will make it look cluttered rather than decorated.

Go through everything that you have and choose a few favorite pieces to display. Move the rest to other rooms, get rid of them, or store them away to use later by switching out items currently on display.

No Focal Point
A focal point provides direction and order in interior design. This is a statement piece that draws one's eye immediately when entering a room. A few examples of a good focal point are a beautiful piece of furniture, an awe-inspiring piece of art, a large fireplace, or a big window with a view. When imagining the room's interior design, begin at the focal point and build out around it. It is possible to have more than one focal point in a room as long as they don't compete with each other for attention.

Pushing Furniture Against Walls
Some furniture may need to be placed directly against a wall, but don't think that you have to outline the room with furniture. Pulling some, or all, of the pieces together into a tighter arrangement will create groupings that are conducive to conversation. The space behind the furniture not placed against walls will add to the flow of the room.


Limiting Lighting Options 
Lots of natural light is always the best way to highlight a beautiful interior design. On top of that, "layer" a variety of lighting options to add depth and interest to the room. A combination of floor lamps, table lamps, overhead lighting, and wall sconces allow you to create different ambiances. Placing mirrors to reflect the natural light of windows or another light source will bounce it all around the room, creating additional illumination.

Rushing Decisions
It can be tempting to buy everything at once so that you can have a finished room perfectly put together right away. Sometimes this is possible, but there is nothing wrong with picking up a few pieces here and there over time, curating a collection you can be proud of. Take your time to find exactly what you have in mind and build the room of your dreams step-by-step.


Now that you are thinking about the design tips from John Elliott Interiors listed above, you will be on the lookout for possible problems and avoid them before they can happen. Knowing what to keep an eye out for will also make it much easier to find the perfect pieces to furnish your new rooms when you shop at our home interiors store at the Lake of the Ozarks. Don't be afraid to ask us all of your interior design questions too. We're always happy to help!