What people keep running into with interior design
Complaints tagged interior design, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
55 recurring problems · 442 people · 28 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 3How to reduce echo in a restaurantFloor-to-ceiling curtains are a game-changing option that immediately takes the edge off bad echo. When everything echoes quite badly, it leads to negative reviews complaining about the issue.
- 3How to get a large sofa through a narrow hallwayLarge sofas frequently get stuck in narrow hallways and doorways because standard turning angles and limited space prevent them from passing through. This leaves people trying every possible angle or considering taking the couch apart to avoid losing money on furniture that won't fit into their rooms.
- 3Why does the kitchen sink splash water everywhere?Washing dishes causes water to splash all over the counter and floor while soaking the front of your shirt when leaning in, which leaves behind stagnant puddles on the countertops.
- 3Gap between a new faucet base and the wallInstalling a new faucet can leave a stubborn gap against the wall that even cutting the pipe won't completely eliminate. Finding a practical way to fill this blank spot is frustrating if you want to avoid installing shelves that just collect dust and clutter.
- 2How to match different flooring heights at a stair landingStair treads and landings often use materials of different thicknesses, such as a 1/4-inch tread paired with 4mm vinyl plank flooring. This height mismatch makes it difficult to find a seamless transition piece, leaving homeowners worried about awkward stairs and mismatched materials.
- 2How to brighten a dark kitchen without replacing the cabinetsHeavy wooden cabinets and awkward appliance placement trap natural light and create shadows across work surfaces. Because room lighting casts shadows when standing at the counters and extra electrical work strains tight renovation budgets, homeowners struggle to achieve an open feel without undertaking a full gut renovation.
- 2How to choose a rug without guessingFurniture is easy to reason about, but rugs require an instinct that many lack. Because they are too expensive to guess on and it is difficult to know how specific fibers hold up over time, buyers simply stall and leave their new rooms empty.
- 2Which direction should I lay laminate flooring in a cornered layout?Following the longest walls can create awkward 45-degree angles in connecting hallways, while trying to map out board placement across an entire floor at once feels nearly impossible. This complexity leaves people resorting to guessing from a single room edge or struggling to figure out where to use separate transitions.
- 2Why do we wait years to fix things that still work?When household items or finishes are still functional, replacing them feels like an unnecessary expense even though the current state is frustrating. This mindset leads people to live with dingy walls or outdated fixtures for years before finally making an upgrade.
- 2How to mount a TV securely in tricky or unusual spacesMounting a television in awkward or non-standard spaces often requires deciding between specialized hardware like swiveling mounts, custom wooden planks, or framing and adding backing support to close up open pass-throughs. These structural limitations make it difficult to figure out how to safely and securely anchor the weight of the TV without damaging the wall.
- 2How to cover an ugly plastic fence without drillingUse minimal, floor-based covers like fake vines that look completely intentional and take up very little walkway space. Renters are stuck staring at giant, heat-radiating plastic walls that echo noise and ruin their morning coffee. Because neighbors frequently inspect the boundary, tenants cannot drill into the plastic or cause any damage to hide it.
- 2Temporary ways to cover exposed basement insulationTenants are restricted from doing major renovations to hide fiberglass on the walls. Without a safe, temporary cover, the space remains unliveable, drafty, and extremely cold during the winter even with a heater running.
- 2Should I paint over cheap or mismatched wood trim?Low-quality wood and uneven stain colors—such as flexible trim staining much darker—make interior rooms look dirty and outdated. When previous owners paint only certain windows white while leaving others bare, the inconsistent finishes leave the house looking completely mismatched.
- 2Rental home improvements that are actually worth makingSpending large sums on a home you might leave in a few years feels unwise and like renovating someone else's house. Worthwhile rental upgrades make the living space noticeably better without dumping a bunch of money into property you do not own.
- 2Should I choose 6-inch or 9-inch LVP flooring?Narrower 6-inch planks are often recommended because they offer a better click-lock connection and are easier to manage on uneven subfloors. While 9-inch wide planks are an option, they can look disproportionately large and make a room feel smaller than it actually is.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.