6 Design Decisions You’re Probably Overthinking

After seeing a lot of the same questions come through over the years, I’ve noticed a handful of things that, in my opinion, we tend to worry about more than we need to when designing a home.

That’s not to say these things aren’t worth considering—they absolutely are. But I think they often get more attention than they deserve. Meanwhile, there are other design elements, like window treatments, that I wish we would spend a little more time thinking about.

Below are a few of the things I think homeowners tend to overemphasize, and why they may not matter quite as much as you think.

1. picking a paint color

People often get caught up worrying about north-facing light versus south-facing light, winter light versus summer light, and every other lighting scenario imaginable when choosing a paint color.

The truth is, picking paint is already tricky enough without overcomplicating it. If you have a room that gets an extreme amount of natural light—or almost none at all—it’s worth taking that into consideration. But light changes throughout the day and across the seasons, so there’s no perfect way to account for every condition.

Instead, choose a color you genuinely love, put a large swatch on the wall, and live with it for a few days. If you still love it after seeing it in different lighting throughout the day, go for it.

2. grid windows

We hear this concern all the time—that grid windows will block the view or be a pain to clean.

In reality, neither of these is much of a concern. The next time you’re in a home, restaurant, or shop with grid windows, pay attention to whether the grids actually bother you. I think that they won’t be as much of a distraction as you’d think, your eye tends to look right through them.

As for cleaning, they really aren’t any more difficult to maintain.

3. planning for every scenario

You don’t need a dedicated room for every possible activity in your house. While it’s important to prioritize the things you truly value, trying to plan for every scenario can quickly lead to wasted square footage and budget.

You’ve probably seen large homes with different types of rec rooms like a basketball court, golf simulator, theater, bowling alley, etc. I’m not saying you should completely get rid of these rooms, but they do take up a lot of space, so I’d focus on keeping rooms in your plan that you know you’ll use daily (or let some spaces serve multiple purposes).

Sometimes we also put too much emphasis on how our homes will function for rare occasions instead of everyday life. Try to plan your living spaces around the 6 people who live there every day rather than the handful of times each year you'll be entertaining 40 people.

4. zooming in too much

It’s easy to zoom in on individual decisions during construction. The flooring gets installed and suddenly feels way too warm-toned—but it’s sitting next to bright white drywall with none of the other finishes in place.

I understand why this feels stressful. These decisions are expensive, and it’s hard to know if you’ve made the right choice. But most design decisions can’t be judged in isolation. Just like putting together an outfit or viewing a painting halfway through, you need to see all the pieces together before deciding whether something works.

5. how things wear overtime

We often put too much emphasis on how things will wear over time. It’s natural to want a home that looks “perfect” forever, so it’s easy to gravitate toward products that promise to be indestructible. But nothing is bulletproof, and sometimes those choices aren’t the most timeless design decisions.

Homes are meant to be lived in. Floors get scuffed, marble gets stained, and furniture develops character. That’s part of the story of a well-loved home. You don’t walk through a centuries-old castle in Europe and criticize every worn stone or scratch; those marks are part of its history and charm. I actually wrote about some of the furniture in my own home, how it’s aging, and why I think that’s OK.

6. home technology & appliances

We sometimes focus too heavily on technology (speaker systems or smart home systems) or high-end appliances that can be overrated and hard to maintain (ice makers), instead of investing in finishes that truly impact the look, feel, and function of a home.

Appliances and gadgets come and go, but materials, lighting, and thoughtful design choices are what you’ll live with every day.

The goal isn't to care less about your home, it's to worry less about the things that probably won't make or break it. Every project involves hundreds of decisions, and in my opinion, not all of them deserve the same amount of mental energy. If you can keep the bigger picture in mind, the whole process will be that much better.

I would love to know your thoughts on these things and if there’s anything you’d add to the list - comment below!