7 Reasons Why Your Interior Design SUCKS | Design Mistakes You Keep Making & How to Fix Them!

[@marthagilmore404]

Wise, wise words....I'm an RN who loves interior design and home decor, and I believe a home should be curated with the things that represent those who live in the home...not an interior designers home (unless your an interior designer!! Lol)...I have gathered items, some quickly and some over time, that I love and bring me peace and joy. And, nicely enough, everyone that comes to my home remarks on how beautiful and comfortable it is!! Mission accomplished.

[@KivaBrent]

Omg I'm sure your home is beautiful!! 💕

[@marthagilmore404]

@@KivaBrent thanks!! I'd rather be home than anywhere else. Love your channel and your advice is spot on!! Keep up the awesome work!!

[@BabyGirl-uy6sb]

You are absolutely right.🙌🏽🙌🏽 I love putting my touch into my home, and yes, I get so many compliments. I love when my plan come together.👍🏽🤗🤗

[@Pagingnursejackie]

@@marthagilmore404 same....Literally....lol. Fellow nurse who loves interior decor and KB 😊

[@vikkicholas729]

I think we sometimes forget what we want is a HOME, which to me is all about function and livability. Yes, I want a “pleasing to the eye” house. But not at the expense of function and form. So kudos to you for talking about these IMPORTANT ISSUES.

[@SF-si4yd]

Some other reasons why interior inspirations don't translate: The impact of the OG inspiration comes from: - Room structure/"bones" that you don't have (windows, ceiling height, fireplaces, floors, moulding) - Scale/proportion -- reproductions and copies are often not as large as originals - Quality -- reproductions and copies often don't look as expensive as the real deal That's why it's always better to work from what you have... instead of trying to force what works for a different room onto yours.

[@kelliwalters1728]

Not to mention, those 2-dimensional inspirational photos are of staged spaces! Most won’t look so dynamic or flow properly from any angle other than the few perspectives considered during the staging and photographing.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Your first reason wad the one I was thinking of the most. I wanted to do an industrial design with my living room and dining room, but my apartment is absolutely not set up for that, lol. So, I've decided on "industrial-esque" instead. You get an idea of what I wanted without me going all the way "there".

[@susanmckim6637]

Thank you for validating my 70 yr old self regarding the puffy leather recliner. I know how to decorate. Everyone loves my home including those recliners. Are they my choice aesthetically? No. But at my age I have to go against every designers choice.

[@dorothymasombwe4788]

Exactly. I tell people all the time that interior home design should reflect you, the person living in it.

[@KivaBrent]

Yes!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@patlangille5375]

KB, that color sweater is YOU! You are glowing!

[@KivaBrent]

You're TOO sweet! Thank you :)

[@melissaf8332]

I left this video feeling like although by some accounts things I have chosen may suck, I have some info on how to make them suck significantly less without breaking the bank. Another fantastic video, thanks!!!

[@wendyrichards7458]

I think one of the fundamental things people forget is the age / type of home they have .A modern single story home is never going to look like a regency town house ,it just won't .Another thing is that so many design pictures ,esp marketing ones ,aren't real .A studio shot of a "Room" with professional lighting and editing bares no relationship to an actual house where people have to live .I'm sure that contributes to the disappointment and frustration people feel when they try to copy a picture and it doesn't work .

[@barbaratafuri9975]

FYI, it’s studio 54. Iconic. Love this video. Thanks Kiva! 😘

[@Pagingnursejackie]

When I saw you come up in my notifications I was like “let me see if she’s coming for my neck so I can get my act together real quick”. You are giving gems.......I love you girl ❤

[@carolefreeman2544]

You have said something that I have never heard an interior designer “Ever” say, it’s ok to have something that is comfortable over beauty. We currently have a leather recliner love seat as well as two recliners one leather and one material. We have had these for years and they are very comfortable. The reason I have a recliner is due to my back problems which relieved when sitting with my legs up and with a comfortable back. My husband loves his especially after a long day at work, so he can relax in comfort. Now that we are getting ready to sell our place, everything I have heard on staging my home is to get rid of these big chairs, it has been very stressful for me. But you have made me feel better about keeping them. As long as they are in good shape and not worn, smelly etc..They should be ok. We are not designers, nor do we live in an expensive home or neighbour hood. Thanks Kiva, I feel my home is comfortable yet clean and good enough for potential buyers to see.

[@sjsp7631]

The reason recliners and ceiling fans are still best sellers are because the serve a purpose by making our homes comfortable. I say decorate for you and not the visitor that stops by for 10minutes once a year😂😂

[@marciabyram6003]

I won't get rid of my t recliner either. It's vinyl because I have animals and it may need to get wiped off time to time. They also like to sit with me and get rocked like babies. I did get an inexpensive stretch cover for it, though that I can take off and wash. It also makes sitting on the vinyl less cold or sticky feeling. Along with a throw, it looks just fine. 🤠😻

[@loristerling3877]

All great points! I think if a home is clean, smells great and proper lighting, you are well on your way!! Thanks Kiva!

[@lillieherrera6564]

OMG!!! I love you and this segment. We just finished remodeling our little rental house because this is where we are going to retire. I got a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest and you and others here on KZbin. But when it came time to decorate I just couldn’t go to the store and start buying random nick nack paddy wack items to throw up on walls and shelves. I love the look of those things but they mean absolutely nothing to me. So my newly remodeled home does not look like a Lone Fox or Studio McGee or Magnolia house. I took their (your) ideas and did make them my own. I love the things that I have on display. They remind me of my kids my grandkiddos and our travels and that makes me happy to be home. Thank you for all the hard work you do. Love Lillie❤❤❤❤❤

[@lhalison87]

Thank you for vaildating mixing cool and warm colors. My whole house is a mix of cool and warm and it is amazing!

[@angelageikowski8849]

Thank you for saying that comfy is not a bad thing and just because it’s not brand new and pure white it’s not acceptable as far as furniture goes.My husband bought our recliner (yes I said it) and our couch it was a set few years before we started dating we have been married for 6,it’s from Ashley furniture and it’s held up beautifully.At one point I considered trying to convince my husband to let me buy ones that a ton of influencers have pushed but I’m glad I never jumped completely on board,I don’t think I will ever find a more comfy furniture set in my entire life.Everyone that sits on my couch said it makes them want to fall asleep.

[@docmarmalade5224]

Mixing cool and warm colors was a game changer for me. I was really stuck decorating my Livingston for years. Then I learned that I can mix cool and warm colors. After that, I was finally able to solve a design problem.

[@vanakamtsiou3089]

Great advice. Also Kira this blouse is very nice on you. The colour is amazing and suits you very well!

[@KivaBrent]

Aw you're too sweet! Thank you!! 💕

[@charlotteschaefers5129]

I bought the lamp there over your shoulder. Except mine is black and it enhances my individual living room. Thank you so much for sharing inspiration pieces. I love you for helping me find things that fit my style.

[@whoizzdan]

Not stressed, but loving the clear up on what and nots to do. I really love your style :D

[@KivaBrent]

Aw thanks so much! 💕

[@VolcanoGroupie]

One of the DIY projects which appeals to me is what Valentina suggests - taking a painting purchased at Home Goods and painting over it with your own paint to add texture and realism.

[@jane-cn6nd]

What an interesting idea!

[@cassidyfromtexas4324]

Or getting one from a thrift store like other creators have suggested 👍🏾

[@quepasa1254]

Done that plenty of times, with same pic.

[@darnellcollier8391]

You are correct...what an interesting concept....This i will try. Thanks

[@yart123]

This video is a gem, Kiva. So many good points to unpack here. You don’t disappoint. 👍🏼

[@KivaBrent]

Aw thank you!! 💕

[@Yasmine_WilliamsWoods]

I loooove Leanne Ford :)! I miss her and her brother's show on HGTV. Great tips. I was most grateful for you show us how you can be inspired by a space but make it you. I thrive off of examples, lol.

[@lindakleiner5734]

Love coming on and finding you’ve put up a video. Always with common sense and great fixes. 😊

[@KivaBrent]

Thanks so much, Linda!! 💕

[@YanickFM]

For some reason the fact that you said a bunch of your past diys haven't worked out surprised me the most. I was like, oh good so it's not just me 😂

[@sandieedward993]

Elegantly Said with Empathy and Understanding but diffinately done with Class

[@gailmiller6333]

Sandie Edward 👍🏿Best comment in the section!!

[@lauriealmaeena8713]

Thank you Kiva I have an ugly recliner and I put it away in my storage room but missed it so much brought it back into my house lol my doggie and I missed the ugly thing but love the comfort. Love your sweater you wear it well .Thanks again and I'm looking forward to more of your advice .

[@gypsybelle4757]

Love your wisdom and your personality!! You are my interior design guru. ❤️❤️❤️

[@KivaBrent]

Aw thank you so much!!!

[@geoffsmiley8252]

Great message, I love how your home has been looking recently!

[@confessionsofaslapaddict]

I love your Christmas tree lights reaction. Keep spreading the joy and fantastic information. You’ve helped me plan my new home. ❤❤❤

[@mommamoabitess3465]

Can you share where you got your sweater from? It's absolutely gorgeous! Perfect and just in time for fall/winter!

[@lesliehoward887]

This is my favorite video from you, 😊great job!

[@BabyGirl-uy6sb]

Yes!!! Indeed.👍🏽 if I can’t put my ideals into my home with what I like, it wouldn’t be me, my style, my touch.🙌🏽🤗💓 thanks a bunch!!!🤗🤗🙌🏽

[@jemrawc]

Excellent video where I stand up and applaud you for your truth, thank you!! I sincerely appreciate your honesty and that you are an actual real human person who is living in the real world. I absolutely love the look of a “staged” house but that’s not what I really want. I want a beautiful inviting house filled with genuine personality, memories, light and comfort that all together create a loving home. Cause home truly is where the heart is and am forever grateful that you are helping me to create our families. Thank you Kieva! ❤ from Shannon in Canada 🇨🇦 PS Thank you for the Canadian Chesterfield shout out!! That was awesome!! LOL wondering how many people googled What the heck is a chesterfield? after watching this lol

[@donnalangdon8600]

How do you feel about painting leather chairs that don’t match other furniture. Have you done this with r seen any pieces that were done like this. LOVE all your videos!!!!

[@traceywiseheart6424]

Love your advice and the way you present it. Enjoy your videos and you have taught me sooo much!!

[@maunarose]

Excellent video, Kiva 🎃 My favorite part is the beginning, “Make it you!”

[@adrabruzzese7610]

You cracked me up with "sucks"! Everything you said is so true. Thanks for the giggle.😊

[@CathyS_Bx]

Several laugh-out-louds here and I lerve that! Comfort is indeed critical. I just wish that some furniture pieces retained their looks, their integrity, after years of use. Back in the 80s, my hubs and I splurged on a gorgeous leather sectional, but within a few years it sort of ... caved in. We called it the "palm of god" couch because it was so comfy. We also called it the "elephant scrotum" couch because it went kaput, visually. We bought a nice couch from a respectable retailer, but the back cushions caved in after a few months and looked like K_r_a_a_p. Keep it comfy, retailers, but please make it last!

[@marilynrich]

Always love to hear your ideas Kiva! 💛

[@solar2607]

Okay this makes sense. It's great to have all these explained so clelarly.

[@JonathonV]

Your description of work made me laugh out loud! 😂 I’m sorry people have been saying your designs suck … that’s awful and unfair. I wouldn’t say that you and I agree on everything when it comes to design, but I know that you are exceptionally talented! I’m glad you don’t entertain the haters. 🙂 The biggest flaw in my current design is simply because I’m having difficulty making my style work with my home’s style. I’m renting so I’m limited in what I can do, but I also don’t want to move (it’s got huge entertaining space, perfect neighbourhood, hundreds of dollars below market average in price). The owners made it look very transitional, with curved mouldings, French cabinet doors, warm whites, and so on, and they did a good job but my style is super contemporary (Memphis, Joy Trend, touches of Industrial and Glam) and so I’m having difficulty making it look like me. 🤷‍♂️

[@peghamilton765]

That color is STUNNING on you!!♥️

[@RMCole02]

What bothers me is that I really like wall decor that I bought many years ago, such as American Home wall decor but I never see anything like it these days. Should I just throw away those items that I like so well or is it ok to enhance them with something else? Not sure what to do. Love all your great ideas.

[@gailmiller6333]

Rhonda Cole Keep them just enhance them. If nothing works for you via the enhancing, still keep them and continue enjoying them. You have live in your residence, not others who only visit. Good luck.

[@miamiceprincess]

Great tips and I LOVE your sweater!

[@KivaBrent]

Thank you!!

[@mettamia2008]

Great video. Yes to comfort. Yes to home.

[@laceywhite4380]

Lol. Maybe it’s because I’ve lived ina hot area with no AC for 12 years, but I love when it’s grey outside. Lol. Fall vibes all year would make my early menopause soooo happy. Lol.

[@KivaBrent]

Please move to Pittsburgh! You'd love it!

[@ktrayan1]

I had to combine cool and warm colors when we moved because our house is all different shades of cold gray but everything we own was warm colored…..I tried to get some cool blue rugs to go in that direction but ugh

[@apriltheInvincible]

I meant to tell you, I bought those magnetic measuring spoons you recommended. Life changing lol Cheers from Nova Scotia!

[@brendaperrone1177]

KB, it seems all rooms and homes all the designers work with are either exquisite or mansions. What about someone like me who has a small moderate home and a small budget. My home was destroyed in hurricane Ida. I have had to replace everything I owned. I am so lost and want my home cozy, warm and attractive too. On top of the storm my first contractor stole 75,000. I had to finish the house ( still not complete) on a strict budget. The finish work is terrible and even though I am blessed to have a roof over my head I am unhappy with the work done. My husband passed away before the storm and he was a master carpenter. All the pretty perfect finish work he did was ruined. I think I may not live long enough to see my home finished and decorated. Help KB!!! I have an older ranch style brick home and I am so tired and could use some help! Thanks so much for any help you can give me❤️B.Perrone

[@boldennotaryla]

Kiva I love the video and I love your sweater, I've been dying for a great sweater, where did you get it?

[@JustJoia]

I think these are some great points!

[@quaillady1ify]

And lighting is also what drives the color I always think that if the light is not right the color is not right

[@pamb2868]

I’m sitting in my husband’s comfy recliner as I watch this video. I guess I’m one of the few wives that let their husband have a recliner in their living room. I sit in it when he goes to bed. My sofa is also comfortable. It’s a lovely goldish yellow color. And it has down filled cushions. Some of it has come out of the pillows that came with it. But they stay in the sofa and cushions. And I move them around every few days so they don’t get worn down. That’s also why I bought the sofa, all the cushions can be changed around. Back and bottom. And my husband and the dogs sit on the sofa in the morning before I get up. Right now, since it just rained here I have the cover on the sofa. Because the mud here is orange, and it doesn’t go with the bayou sun colored couch. I had it off the other day. But not if there’s mud outside. My dogs get on the back cushions, and they get very squished down. They can’t sit on the seat cushions. And the only light I have in my living room is the light with the ceiling fan. I don’t like it. But I just have never looked for lamps. I should, but I had some at our old house, that I loved. And they didn’t make it here when we moved. I am going to start looking for some lamps. Then I don’t have to have this bright light on. We have can lights in the kitchen and dining room. They’re bright too. I should probably just move to a different house that’s a little bigger, with a pool. That’s what I want. I live on the side of a mountain in Georgia and there is nowhere close to the house to put a pool. So I’m ready to move. I found one with a salt water pool. I’m ready. We could make enough out of this house to have a nice down payment. And even if the house isn’t that much bigger it’s a house. We live in a manufactured home. So we could add on to a house. My husband looked into adding on to this place and I would be way too much.

[@Person-mh6xq]

Lol. Omg that was a looong post.

[@TheAshleyThizzdale]

Ma’am, I have a sheet in one of my windows. Back way up, slow way down and use crayons please 😂 I love your channel! Thanks for teaching me about dovetail joints 🥰

[@micari_micari]

Yes! 😂😂My bedroom and dining room and kitchen Just stuck. I do go on Pinterest, Thrift shops until .."THAT IT" come to me. Hey what's a good wall color I have a boring beige in my dining room and bedroom but i like it in living room. Honesty i painted the entire house Beige a few years back (🙄 it was all white it wasnt bad

[@adventurenana]

I’m laughing so hard I had to pause to comment!!! “Listen to your boss go blah blah blah blah blah.” 😂😂😂

[@klarabarunovic9841]

My problem is that I like too many styles and I don't know which one to choose...

[@kayday1310]

Great tips!

[@KivaBrent]

Thank you!!

[@ellenotella]

“Allergic to DIY” that’s me 😭😂😭😂 I’m going to try though!

[@thandie67]

I feel that. Mine is disjointed.

[@jacquiedavis4918]

Love this!

[@KivaBrent]

Thank you!!

[@judythg]

OMG you are too cute! I really hate those comfortable leather sectionals - they hurt my eyes! But I do understand the message of comfort. I don't know how you could possibly accessorize them to look good.... It's a challenge to find comfort with style.

[@msjenkins]

Heyyyyyy Kiva!!!!

[@sandraredmond1212]

This is before my time but I think it’s “STUDIO 54”. 😮

[@angelawcorona]

Studio 54!

[@zanesutherland406]

Lol not the 50 year old family recliner 😩😂

[@drinkwatereatmelons7048]

🤭....Those derriere chairs

[@dramaqueen3457]

I'm so happy that I found your channel♥. DQ

[@jazzblackvalcin3097]

But Kiva I have never been in a date with serial killers before, so idk what their lightings look like.

[@danielc9430]

Not the point of this video but those nails are 🔥

[@demacwellheen8587]

ur hands r beautiful darling love from Pakistan 🇵🇰 😍

[@judytaylor7140]

Is it possible to add a feature to your posts that will allow me to slow down your speech? You talk very fast and I really want to hear and understand what you are saying..

[@lillieherrera6564]

KZbin does offer slow down mode

[@LynsAlteredArts]

Click on the settings gear in the KZbin video and down at the bottom it says playback speed, click on that and you can change the speed.

[@kimhaas7586]

We say “is of low quality” instead of sucks. But TBH we use sucks in appropriate scenarios.

[@VanessaSamparras]

I love Kiva and her tips! However anyone else gets annoyed by the mouth swallowing sounds she makes in between thoughts? I think the microphone is too close 😂

[@luvslagos]

I think it’s because she talks so fast she doesn’t breathe or manage her saliva. She has to pause occasionally to swallow her saliva and take a breath. I see this with people unaccustomed to public speaking. I do public speaking for a living and it is essential to learn how to breathe while talking and keep a moderate pace.

[@SpecsAppeal]

What noises‽ Maybe you just have an extreme sensitivity to noises. I am a bit hard of hearing but I turned it up to max volume & still can't hear it. 🤷🏼‍♀️