Expert Speak: Design Mistakes You Don't Want to Make

With the help of designers Annkur Khosla and Mitesh Antala, duck the usual blunders that can make spaces feel inhibited

Shristi Nangalia 21 April 2021

Houzz India Contributor, Architect, Architectural Writer and Content Writer. Painting, craft work, pets and good food are my getaways. Cultures and colours always inspire me. Email: shristi012@gmail.com, Business profile: @decoretteindia.

Houzz India Contributor, Architect, Architectural Writer and Content Writer. Painting,... More

Comment

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

Our living spaces change to match our lifestyles and the times. Therefore, it is natural that conventional rules and recommendations about what is good design also get a look over now and again. Read what designers Annkur Khosla, founder of Annkur Khosla Design Studio, and Mitesh Antala, principal designer at RUST, say about common design mistakes to avoid.

SAV Architecture + Design

Annkur Khosla
Khosla says it is important for design to be in harmony with the social and cultural context, as well as with the environment, and to incorporate indigenous practices and crafts. At the same time, the details within should be a good fit for the home.

These are the mistakes to avoid:

Not designing to context
Apart from natural elements and manmade infrastructure, social and cultural behaviours existing around the building account for the overall context of that building. Often, when the design is not in respect to the locality, the house becomes insensitive to the climate, topography, orientation, social culture and more. No matter how aesthetically refined or functional the home may be, lack of context in design fuels discontinuity among the home and the local surrounding, giving rise to an unfriendly and inhospitable result.

Design Faux Pas: Avoid These 9 Mistakes in Your Bedroom

Sona Reddy Studio

Not supporting sustainable and indigenous practices
Although this one is not really a design mistake, but I believe, given the scenario, there is an urgent need to be sustainable and to introduce methods and techniques to support it in our homes. Apart from that, the community of Indian artisans and handcrafters also need our urging and encouragement so that they continue producing and, ultimately, preserve our culture and heritage.

Purchasing inaccurate furniture and accessories
It is important to study the dimensions of the furniture (sofa set, dining table set, bed and side tables and so on), accessories (lamps, rugs and the like) and other decorative products before selecting and purchasing. Ensure to plot the sizes of each piece on your home’s plan beforehand so that there are no glaring errors in terms of size and proportion later.

Find a designer from the Houzz directory to design your home

Mitesh Antala
Antala reminds us to keep practical considerations foremost in mind when designing a house: adequate open spaces, purpose and function of the parts of the home, and planning the installation of services. He doesn’t neglect aesthetics either, going to a basic rule that any style of design should follow: view the entire house as a whole, and base it on a single design language.

Watch out for these errors:

Not providing breathing space

Instead of seeing all the elements separately, carrying out a holistic approach in designing is pivotal to avoid losing the overall quality of the home. While doing so, it is important to provide breathing spaces for the occupants to slow down and relax. It not only betters the spatial experience of the home, but results in a coherent design also.
Over-emphasising on aesthetics
Nowadays, people are utterly exposed to the digital world, with solutions and ideas being just one search away. However, one should always consider the true relevance of the ideas before applying them at their home. A common design mistake we make, while designing, is that we over-emphasise aesthetics and appearances rather than focusing on the functional needs and well-being of the user. It is important to give forethought to the necessities and requirements of all the residents and a space should not miss out on its purpose for the sake of aesthetic gain, even more so because other than tangible aspects, there are intangible determinants (like comfort, maintenance and safety) which could affect the occupants.

Olive Roof

Not maintaining a single design language
Sticking to one unified design language throughout the home, rather than having distinctly themed rooms, makes for a harmonious design scheme. It gives a sophisticated and well-composed appeal to spaces individually, apart from generating a sense of cohesion and consonance. Repeating a particular design element, such as colour, material, texture, shape or form is the easiest way to go about it.

Not resolving services beforehand
Although services are considered one of the most crucial facets while designing, integrating them in a strategic and seamless manner is overlooked often enough. The plumbing, electricals, HVAC, fire safety and security of the complete house need to be planned during the initial design phase to facilitate and achieve efficient, user-friendly spaces that stand the test of time.

Bottom line: Both designers advise us to keep the big picture in mind. Keep all the do’s and don’ts in mind when designing and you will have a beautiful and functional home.

Read more:
Houzz Forum: Which Big Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Home?
Houzz Forum: What is Sustainability in the Indian Context?

Tell us:
Did you make design mistakes at home? How did you rectify them? Tell us in Comments below to give fellow Houzzers a heads up.