In the interior design industry, design trends are constantly coming in and out of style as people's preferences change or as knowledge of materials change. However, there are certain design aspects that have gone out of style and have been deemed huge no-no's, also known as a Faux Pas. Some common design faux pas are having insufficient lighting for a space or not choosing the right size rug for your living room. While some of these traditional faux pas are valid design concerns, we do not like to be boxed into rules! In this article, we are going to debate a few common faux pas that we disagree with. Let us know if you agree with us.

This particular faux pas gets brought up between us and clients all the time! Most people have been lead to believe that it is not a good idea to mix your finishes in your home, but this is not true. Mixing finishes creates character and depth throughout a space instead of being super matchy-matchy. The three main mixing issues revolve around wood types, metals, and appliance finishes.

Just because the range you choose is stainless steel does not mean the rest of the metal in your space also has to be stainless steel! The main reason people can end up unhappy with their mixed furnishes is not planning ahead. A good tip is to pick one metal as your primary finish for your space and then base your other picks off of what complements the primary finish. Also, try grouping similar pieces with the same finish. For example, pick the same finish for all of your cabinet knobs and pulls, but pick a different complementary finish for your plumbing fixtures such as your faucet and pot filler.

Similar to mixing metals, the key to mixing wood tones successfully is making sure the colors and tones complement one another. This also means that all the wood in a space does not have to be the same species. How crazy. Most woods can be stained to any color so matching new wood to an existing finish is not near the hassle.

A common misconception is that light colors make a room feel bigger while dark colors make a room feel smaller. In fact, painting a wall a dark color can actually make the wall recede, looking like it is further back than it actually is. Even just painting one wall a dark color as a focal point in a room can add dynamic interest and contrast to space.

We often see wood used in a variety of ways in a kitchen, but some people are wary to incorporate it into their kitchen. This is due to all the myths surrounding wood. For example, a well-known myth is wood is not as water-resistant as other options. While this is true, it can be prevented and managed. Fear of spills is not a good reason to avoid using wood in your kitchen! Also, if there is wood flooring throughout the rest of a home, it can be more cost-effective to continue it into the kitchen rather than picking a different floor just for one room. If wood flooring just isn't your style, there are still other ways to incorporate wood into your kitchen. Try unfinished wood cabinets, floating shelves or countertops.

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