4 min readWe all want our homes to feel stylish, functional, and thoughtfully curated without overspending in the process. But even seasoned interior designers aren’t immune to making purchases they later regret. From trendy pieces that quickly fell out of favor to impractical furniture that looked better than it functioned, buyer’s remorse happens to the best of us.
The truth is, creating a beautiful home often involves a little trial and error. For instance, a sofa may seem perfect in the showroom but feel oversized once it arrives. These types of common decorating mistakes can cost time, money, and frustration, especially when investing in larger home pieces.
To help homeowners avoid the same pitfalls, we asked a handful of interior designers to share the one home purchase they wish they could take back, and what they learned from the experience. Ahead, they offer valuable insight along with smart advice for shopping more intentionally.
A Glass Front Door
Lauren Lerner, founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, still adores the chic metal-and-glass front door she initially chose for her home. But it proved to be a very impractical choice that drove her to completely swear off see-through doors that face the street.
"With two dogs, it was non-stop barking because they could see everyone who walked by my house," she says. "As someone who worked from home with an office that was near the front door, this was quite annoying, as you can imagine."
A Portable Firepit
When you're in the mood to relax around the firepit with your family, you're probably not also in the mood to spend more than 10 minutes setting it up. That's why designer Maggie Griesbeck of MNG Design regrets opting for a portable firepit rather than a permanent fixture.
"It is a nice idea in theory, but it is time-consuming to set up and put away each time you want to use it," she says. "If I were redesigning my outdoor space now, I would recommend installing a permanent heating source or outdoor fireplace, or foregoing the idea completely, given how infrequently the portable pit comes out of the garage."
Glass-Top Tables
From a visual perspective, designer Burcu Ercetin of Design & Curations will always stand by glass-topped furniture and the airy look it lends a space. But from a practicality standpoint, she says it's better to opt for something more durable and kid-proof.
"I bought my glass-top side tables before kids, and now with two little ones, they’ve become more stressful than enjoyable," she says. "Between fingerprints, constant cleaning, and worrying about the glass breaking, they no longer fit our lifestyle."
Mass-Produced Art
Designer Maggie Griffin has enough experience with shopping for art now that she knows she will always regret opting for a mass-produced filler piece rather than saving up for an original work that truly speaks to her.
"When purchasing art for my home, I take great consideration in style, color, and originality," she says. "No more mass-produced art! If budget is a constraint, then I would rather have an old, chipped piece than something acquired from a big-box store."
Integrated Tech
Anytime Sarah Moore, founder and principal designer of Sarah Catherine Design, has spent extra money on a smart home device, she always wishes she could go back in time and opt for a simpler version.
"The smarter your house is, it seems, the more inevitably frustrating it will be over time," she says. "While smart houses are a luxury (and not all bad), it does complicate your home. For instance, when guests can't figure out how the lights turn on in a room and ultimately end up accidentally changing a setting that needs to be reset after their stay. Or when a tech item stops working, and it affects your whole system and way of living until you get a technician to fix it."
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting for Kids' Rooms
Elizabeth Valkovics is the founding principal of Batten Court Design, and the one feature in her home that haunts her the most is the wall-to-wall carpeting in her kids' bedrooms.
"[Wall-to-wall carpeting] doesn't bother me in guest rooms because they feel cozy and don't take as much of a beating," she says. "But if I could go back, I'd have put in wood flooring paired with rugs instead. It is easier to clean and swap out a rug than the whole carpet."
Budget Bedside Tables
While the wall-to-wall carpeting situation is definitely Valkovics’s biggest home purchase regret, her bedside tables are an honorable mention. Bedside tables are subject to a lot of wear and tear, and cheaper ones on the market aren't usually fit for daily use.
"Our bedside tables were inexpensive, and at the time, it seemed like a small win when we were furnishing the whole house," she says. "Looking back, I should have invested more in quality pieces because in the end, I would have saved money buying well-made pieces instead of replacing them again and again."
