While all home design mistakes sting a little bit, they’re particularly irksome when they’re expensive. Sure, hating everything you bought on your latest Home Goods run is annoying, but not nearly as annoying as hating your $50,000 kitchen renovation.

Considering the substantial headache that costly design mistakes incur, we decided to tap our design team for the most expensive they’ve seen (or experienced) to date. From choosing the wrong layout for your kitchen reno (yikes) to going far too all-in on trends throughout your entire home, these common errors will cost you a pretty penny down the line.

Ahead, find the most expensive interior design mistakes you can possibly make, according to Havenly interior designers.

1. Missing the mark on a kitchen reno

Unsurprisingly, the most expensive home design mistakes often involve the infamous kitchen renovation. While nitty-gritty faux pas, like going too trendy or picking a low-quality countertop material or backsplash tile, we’d argue that one of the most expensive kitchen reno mistake is committing to an impractical layout. Not only is this extremely costly to fix, but it significantly impacts the day-to-day functioning of your cookspace. Factor in errors with your plumbing, electrical, or gas, and you’ve got an expensive mess on your hands.

2.  Going too trendy in a bathroom reno

Bathrooms are also a notoriously expensive undertaking, especially when you make a few mistakes along the way. In addition to investing in the wrong materials like backsplash, floor, and shower tile, going with a very trendy aesthetic that you’ll want to redo in three years is a costly faux pas in these functional spaces. We love color and pattern, and highly recommend using it liberally in the form of wallpaper, paint, towels, and decor. Keep the hard materials timeless and neutral!

3. Overspending on furniture

With the amount of cost-effective furniture options on the market these days, you absolutely do not have to splurge on every single piece of furniture. More often than not, the quality of a high-end piece and a budget find is the same, and you can save even more money by going the vintage route (shoutout to Facebook Marketplace). While we do recommend allocating a reasonable amount of your budget to big-ticket items like a sofa, you can 100% save money on coffee and side tables, consoles, dining chairs, decor, and the like. Considering how fast the trend cycle moves these days, you’ll likely want to upgrade some pieces in a few years anyways, so don’t commit to all-luxe items.

4. Not measuring a room

It’s incredibly expensive (not to mention annoying) to have to ship back a sectional, bed frame, or accent seating just because you forgot to measure your space. Always, always measure your room before going to your favorite furniture store or placing an order for that new sectional, and when in doubt, use painter’s tape on the floor to map out the exact layout. This simple step will save you so much money and time — especially when delivery windows are now 12+ weeks.

5. Refinishing hardwood floors after you move in

Of course, refinishing hardwood floors can be pricey on its own, but having to move out all of your furniture in order to do so certainly adds to the expense. If you’re moving into a new home and know you want to change the hardwood finish, do it before moving day — you and your wallet will thank yourself later.

6. Committing to all white everything

Don’t get us wrong — we love the ultra-chic, minimalist white-on-white look (especially when paired with warmth and texture!). But, it’s important to be realistic about your lifestyle before committing to this style. Have high-energy kids who love crafts, rowdy pets tracking in dirt, or both? You may want to consider darker hues in your space, or at the very least, top-notch white performance fabrics (we love Interior Define for this!). Being thoughtful about these design decisions will ensure that you don’t have to replace your white rug, white sofa, and white dining chairs in two to three years because of impenetrable stains.

7. Getting too caught up in trends

We love trends as much as the next person, but take it from us: don’t buy the ultra-trendy sofa, the trendy $3,000 rug, the trendy coffee table, the list goes on. They’ll be out of style in a few months to years, and you’ll be shelling out thousands of dollars again for furniture you love. Instead, opt for larger pieces that you can see yourself using for years to come, and invest in trendy decorative accents like throw pillows, candles, and vases instead.

8. Starting renovations too soon

We’ve heard this from countless design lovers and have experienced it ourselves: don’t start a costly renovation within a week of living in a new space. Instead, wait a few months or years before making any expensive, long-lasting decisions in your home. Trust us: you will learn more about how you use and function in a space, and your design instincts will change over time as a result. Save yourself the time, money, and hassle and exercise patience when it comes to costly renos.

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