White Sofa: Even professional interior designers get it wrong sometimes.
Furniture mistakes happen to the best of them. And that's part of the design process.
Three interior designers shared their past living room mistakes, with each offering a lesson learned the hard way.
Their experiences provide valuable guidance for anyone furnishing a home.
The White Sofa Regret
Jennifer Sucher, founder of Sucher Studios, bought a white sofa for her living room seven years ago. She still regrets the decision.
The sofa had a stylish wood base and an interesting silhouette. It also served as her everyday seating.
But the fabric didn't hold up. Sucher says the linen-look material pilled constantly and developed noticeable spots over time.
The color choice created a bigger problem. Sucher says making the largest piece in the room white was a mistake.
She felt it lacked personality and looked like a blank slate. She found herself swapping out pillows every few months just to add visual interest.
Skipping the Rug Size
Paige Loperfido, founder of Decor & More Design Studio, has a rule about area rugs. Never go too small.
An undersized rug makes a living room feel disconnected, according to Loperfido.
She recommends a simple test. Furniture pieces should have at least two legs resting on the rug.
If they don't, the rug is too small for the space. Loperfido's advice is straightforward. When choosing between two sizes, pick the larger one.
The Trouble With Cheap Throw Pillows
Throw pillows complete a sofa's look. But cutting corners on quality can backfire, Loperfido warns.
Lower-quality pillows lose their shape fast. That affects how the entire room feels over time.
Loperfido now prioritizes well-made inserts and durable, high-quality fabric covers. She says the difference in longevity is significant.
A Sofa That Looked Good but Felt Bad
Tracy Morris, founder of Tracy Morris Design, made a similar fabric mistake. She chose a sofa based on appearance rather than texture.
The fabric turned out to be scratchy. Morris admits she ignored her instinct for soft, cozy materials in favor of looks.
The result was a sofa she avoided instead of enjoyed. Her takeaway is simple. Furniture has to feel good, not just look good.
The 'Sit and Fit' Test
Morris also learned a hard lesson from an impulse-bought reading chair. It looked stunning in the showroom.
The back of the chair, however, sat far too low for real comfort. Morris now applies what she calls the "sit and fit" test before buying any statement piece.
Her advice: Don't buy furniture just because it looks perfect on its own. Consider how it will actually function in daily life.
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