These 8 Interior Design Ideas Aren’t As Practical As You Think

Having a beautiful home doesn’t mean you should have to live with inconvenience; you might want to think twice about getting these 8 features - they may look trendy on paper, but the reality of it often isn’t as pretty (or practical) as they seem!

1. Custom Made Built-Ins

Interior Designer: Imago Dei 3

Built-ins made to fit in specific items such as your electronics or appliances may seem like a smart, space-saving idea - you want to squeeze out every inch of your space, after all. But what used to fit the dimensions of your printer or sound bar might not fit the new replacement - or anything else! So, don’t make these spaces as obsolete as the items they are built to place over time.

Interior Designer: Starry Homestead

Solution: Instead of tying yourself down with something fixed, consider movable, modular elements that allow you to adjust to fit different items. Think rolling carts or pegboards!

Interior Designer: Asolidplan

2. Totally Decked-Out Kids’ Bedrooms

Interior Designer: Zenith Arc

A slide-down bunk bed, rock climbing walls or even an insane ball pit area - which kind wouldn’t want to live in a playground? Truth is, kids grow up really fast (or sometimes, not fast enough), and before you know it – they’d probably grow out of these spaces, both physically and mentally.

Solution: Avoid doing too many fixed built-ins that they can easily outgrow in a couple of years and go for loose furnishing, or things that can be easily removed. Decorate your children’s rooms with easily changeable elements like paint, decals and artwork.

Interior Designer: Lemonfridge Studio

3. An Overload of Fancy Tiles

Interior Designer: Weiken.com

Today’s tile offerings come in all sorts of eye-catching designs, colours and layouts, so much so that it may seem impossible to stick to one - but are you ready to commit to all that visual overload?

Solution: Tiles aren’t the easiest to replace, and it can be costly, so invest in the right designs by finding a little balance. Pair up a simple, neutral tile with a patterned one of your choice.

Interior Designer: Habit

4. Going Full-On White

Interior Designer: MMJ Design Loft

You’d have to give it to the homeowners who stuck through with an all-white palette. While it certainly gives your home a bright and spacious look, white can be an unforgiving colour, especially if you’re not particular about maintenance and upkeep. Think yellowing walls and countertops from age, grout stains, obvious scratches and the like.

Solution: Go for off-whites like pastels, greys or greige. You can also consider matching whites with finishes like pale woods or cement screed for some visual dimension – and to keep things from looking too sterile and cold.

Interior Designer: Weiken.com

5. Elaborate, Odd-Shaped Shelving

Interior Designer: Absolook Interior Design

Yes, they are a show-stopper, but when it comes to functionality? Maybe not. Odd, slanted angles aren’t the best for propping items, and random knick-knacks gathered over time can cause the feature to look messy than pretty.

Solution: When it comes to practical storage solutions, linear shapes perpendicular to the ground are recommended.

Interior Designer: akiHAUS

6. Glass Encased Bathrooms

Interior Designer: Aart Boxx Interior

Inspired by boutique hotel rooms with their sleek, risqué-looking exposed bathrooms? Just don’t overlook the cleaning and maintenance side of things, and get ready for tons of wiping unsightly water stains or fingerprints.

Solution: Good to have, but not necessary – stick to having an enclosed bathroom area if you’re not keen on housework. Otherwise, rather than going full-on exposed, consider opting for a full glass door instead which still delivers a sense of openness.

7. Character-Themed Spaces

Interior Designer: Fifth Avenue Interior

There’s a huge difference between paying homage and creating a space straight out of Disneyland. Uless you’re sure your entire family are full-on fans and that your love for these characters span beyond decades – proceed with caution!

Solution: Tone things down a notch by adding subtle elements (rather than full on themes) in your home. It could be a figurine feature stand, or featuring some artwork to achieve the effect.

Interior Designer: Schemacraft

8. Anything Suspended

Interior Designer: Edge Interior

More than just a standout feature, suspended tables, swings and chairs are also feats of engineering. But even if it is secured properly, you’ll always have to be careful not to put too much weight or effort on it – or risk having it coming off the ceilings - yikes.

Interior Designer: Authors Interior & Styling

Solution: Suspended elements are better off for lighter items like your pendant lamps. Save yourself the tip-toeing and peeling ceilings with something that’s sturdier and movable on the ground.

Create a space you love

Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

About Qanvast: Create a space you love today with Singapore’s first mobile platform. Qanvast (pronounced as ‘canvas’) connects homeowners to trusted home professionals. Browse for reviews, renovation prices and portfolios from interior designer firms in Singapore at your fingertips!