Photography: Jacqui Turk
Building your dream home is one of life’s biggest milestones. It’s also one of the biggest tests of a relationship. Between choosing layouts, finishes, fixtures and colours, it’s easy for couples to become so focused on creating a beautiful home that they overlook how it will actually function once everyday life begins. According to David Reid Homes Australia managing director Matt Jackson, many of the biggest design mistakes aren’t dramatic or expensive mistakes—they’re the small frustrations that homeowners encounter every single day.
NEED TO KNOW
- Beautiful doesn’t always mean practical
- The bathroom causes more arguments than almost any other room
- Think carefully about bathroom storage
- You will never regret extra PowerPoints
- Design your kitchen for real life
“It’s often only after people move in that someone says, ‘I wish we’d thought about that before we built,'” says Matt.
The good news? Most of these design mistakes can be avoided long before construction begins.
Beautiful doesn’t always mean practical
Pinterest boards and Instagram saves are wonderful sources of inspiration, but Matt says social media can encourage homeowners to prioritise aesthetics over functionality.
“Everyone sees these amazing kitchens and bathrooms online,” he says. “Our job is often bringing people back to reality and asking how they’re actually going to live in the space.”
Instead of asking whether something looks good, he recommends asking questions like:
- Will this work with young children?
- Will it still suit us in 10 years?
- Is it easy to clean?
- Does it make everyday life easier?
The most successful homes, he says, are designed around the people who live there—not the latest trend.
The bathroom causes more arguments than almost any other room
Bathrooms may be among the smallest rooms in the house, but they often create the biggest disagreements and the biggest design mistakes.
Rainfall showers are a classic example.
Many homeowners love the luxurious hotel feel of a ceiling-mounted rain shower, but not everyone wants to wash their hair every time they step inside.
Matt recommends installing both a rainfall showerhead and an adjustable handheld shower to suit different preferences. “It’s one of those simple decisions that keeps everybody happy,” he says.
Don’t put your shower controls under the showerhead
Another one of the biggest design mistakes is the placement of shower controls. Installing the tapware directly beneath the showerhead could mean stepping into freezing water every morning just to turn the shower on.
Instead, position the controls near the entrance so the water can warm up before anyone steps inside.
Think carefully about bathroom storage
Mirror cabinets are another surprisingly divisive design decision. Some people want generous storage for skincare, makeup and toiletries, while others simply want a mirror positioned at a comfortable height. Rather than compromising on storage, Matt suggests thinking about the wall behind the vanity during the design stage.
“If the bathroom backs onto a wardrobe or bedroom, you can sometimes make the wall thicker,” he explains. “That allows for a deeper shaving cabinet without it protruding into the bathroom.”
It’s a clever design tweak that creates significantly more storage without making the room feel smaller.
You will never regret extra PowerPoints
If there’s one piece of advice Matt gives every client, it’s this: Install more PowerPoints than you think you’ll ever need.
Modern homes are filled with phones, laptops, tablets, cordless vacuums, gaming consoles, smart speakers, coffee machines and chargers—and they’re only increasing. One of the smartest things David Reid Homes does during construction is walk clients through the framed house before plaster goes up.
“It’s very different seeing PowerPoints on paper compared to physically walking through the rooms,” Matt says. “That’s when people realise they’ll probably want a lamp over there, or a charger beside the sofa.”
Making those changes before the walls are lined is far easier—and much cheaper—than after moving in.
Design your kitchen for real life
The kitchen isn’t simply somewhere to cook dinner anymore. It’s where children complete homework, friends gather around the island, people work from home and families spend much of their day together. That means practical workflow, generous bench space, appliance storage and a pantry that suits your shopping habits should always come before chasing the latest social media trend.
A kitchen that photographs beautifully but doesn’t function well quickly loses its shine.
Design for your life—not someone else’s
Perhaps Matt’s biggest piece of advice is to stop thinking about resale before you’ve even moved in. While it’s wise to consider future value, he believes it shouldn’t dictate every design decision.
“If it’s your forever home, design it for how you want to live,” he says. “Resale should be a secondary consideration, not the thing defining every decision.”
After all, you’re the one living with those choices every day.
Before you sign off your plans…
Ask yourselves these questions:
- Have both partners had equal input?
- Are there enough PowerPoints in every room?
- Can the shower be turned on without getting wet?
- Is there enough bathroom storage?
- Will the garage still be big enough in five or ten years?
- Does the kitchen suit the way you actually cook and entertain?
- Have you designed for your current life—and your future one?
The most successful homes aren’t necessarily the biggest or the most expensive. They’re the ones that quietly make everyday life easier, year after year. As Matt puts it, “The best homes are the ones that genuinely suit the people living in them.”
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