Design Regrets: The Mistakes We Help Our Clients Avoid

You’ve been dreaming of this renovation for a long time. You’ve saved up, pinned inspiration images until your phone begged for more storage, and maybe even walked your friends through your vision like you were giving an HGTV tour. You’ve done your homework—or so you think.

And then it happens: construction starts. Materials are ordered. Paint goes up. Cabinets are installed. And that little pit in your stomach starts to grow.

“Is this what I wanted?” 
“Why does that finish look different here than it did in the showroom?” 
“Should we have gone with the other backsplash?” 

These are the voices of design regret. And unfortunately, they’re common. 
But here’s the thing: they’re also avoidable.

At The Modern Hive, our goal isn’t just to design a beautiful space; it’s to protect you from the landmines of “I wish I had known.” We design with foresight, purpose, and the clarity that comes from walking hundreds of clients through this very process. And in today’s post, we’re sharing some of the most common missteps we’ve helped our clients avoid, so you don’t have to learn the hard way.



1. Falling for Trends Over Timelessness

We love a good trend—seriously, there’s nothing like seeing something fresh and forward-thinking come to life in a space. But when it comes to your forever kitchen or a bathroom you’ll use every morning for the next decade, trends should enhance your personality, not define your design.

Too often, clients come to us with screenshots from social media that look great in someone else’s home… but don’t speak to their own style or lifestyle. When you choose something purely because it’s trending, you risk building a home you’ll grow out of quickly.

Instead, we start with your essence. Your home should reflect you, not the Instagram algorithm. We dig deep into what you truly love and layer in design elements that stand the test of time, with just enough trend to keep things feeling fresh.



2. Underestimating the Power of Storage

There’s something almost magical about a room that just works. Drawers that open smoothly. Shelves that are the right depth. Charging outlets in the right spot. And usually, that magic comes down to thoughtful storage.

One of the biggest regrets we hear from clients who come to us mid-project, or after an initial DIY attempt, is that their home still doesn’t function. It may look prettier, but it’s not easier to live in.

Before we pick a single finish, we ask a hundred questions. Where do you put your keys when you walk in the door? Do you keep a toaster out or put it away? Are your kids responsible for their own backpacks? These insights inform cabinetry layouts, closet systems, and furniture selection—so your space *lives* as beautifully as it looks.

3. Ignoring Scale and Proportion

Design is emotional, yes. But it’s also mathematical.

There’s a reason a room might feel “off” even when everything in it is objectively beautiful. Most of the time, it comes down to scale. A sofa that’s too deep for the room. A rug that’s floating rather than grounding. Lighting that overpowers, or underwhelms.

When you work with The Modern Hive, we measure everything. Every piece we recommend is chosen with your room’s exact proportions in mind. That dramatic chandelier looks amazing in a showroom with 14-foot ceilings, but we’ll let you know if it’s going to overwhelm your 8-foot dining nook before you make the investment.



4. Choosing Materials in Isolation

It’s easy to fall in love with a material at the showroom. That quartz countertop. That green tile. That bold wallpaper. But materials never exist in a vacuum, they exist in context. And selecting them without considering how they play together can lead to some jarring results.

When we begin a design, we design in full palettes. We don’t just hand you a tile option, we show you how it works with the cabinetry, the paint color, the hardware, the lighting, the grout. We ensure every piece has a conversation with the others, so the final result feels curated and cohesive.


5. Trying to Piece the Design Together Along the Way

This one is a biggie. So many people start their remodel with only part of the puzzle. Maybe they have a contractor, maybe they’ve picked out a few finishes, and maybe they’re hoping to figure the rest out as they go.

But without a full design concept in place from the beginning, even the best contractor is left to guess. And guesswork almost always leads to mistakes, delays, and regrets.

We never guess. Our design process is comprehensive and strategic. Before any materials are ordered or walls come down, we create a full concept. We specify every item. We create drawings. We write detailed instructions. So when the build starts, it’s not a mystery—it’s a well-oiled machine.



So… Why Share All This?

Because we’ve seen the difference it makes. We’ve seen the relief on a client’s face when they realize we’ve already thought about how they’ll charge their phone next to their bed. We’ve heard the gratitude when a tile shipment arrives and it’s exactly what they expected. We’ve had the follow-up calls months later, telling us how much they *still* love every decision we helped them make.

We don’t design to impress. We design to support. To elevate. To protect you from costly missteps and help you create a home that truly fits you, now and in the years to come.



Design regret doesn’t have to be part of your story. With the right process, the right guidance, and the right team—it won’t be.

So before you choose your paint color or order that trendy faucet, ask yourself: 
“Am I making this decision in context, with a clear plan and expert guidance?”

If the answer is no, let’s talk. We’re here to make sure you never look at your new space and wonder what could have been.