Haus Rules Vol.003
Inspiration Images: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
How to use design inspiration the right way, and avoid costly mistakes.
If you’re a visual thinker, you probably have a saved folder or Pinterest board full of dream spaces.
We get it, we do it too.
Inspiration images are incredibly helpful, especially when you’re starting a new interior design project or working with a designer to define your style. They help you communicate what you’re drawn to, even if you don’t have the words. But they can also be…tricky.
Let’s break it down.
Inspiration Board from Studio Rhodes
The Good
Used well, inspiration images are a powerful tool. They give us a starting point. A jumping-off moment. If it just feels right, show us. That image becomes a conversation about mood, palette, scale, and materiality.
They also help us notice patterns. Do you lean warm or cool? Patterned or minimal? Organic or architectural? Often, our clients don’t even realize what they’re consistently drawn to until we put the images side-by-side.
The goal is not to replicate the image, but to extract the essence and use that as a foundation to build a design around you and your lifestyle.
Project: Bathroom Retreat In Collaboration with Hi-Luxe Interiors
The Bad
The trouble starts when inspiration turns into expectation. One person’s dream kitchen might be built in a 20-foot vaulted space with steel beams and custom millwork. That same look, in a home with 8-foot ceilings, might feel crowded, or require a structural overhaul with a five-figure price tag.
Simply put, design isn’t copy-paste. Trying to recreate an image without considering layout, light, or your day-to-day needs can lead to disappointment.
Great design starts with how you use a space.
The Ugly
Here’s where inspiration, when misused, can go really sideways.
Pinterest and Instagram are full of images from homes that have completely different proportions, budgets, and structural realities. Trying to replicate those blindly can lead to real-world interior design mistakes, ones that are hard and expensive to fix.
We’ve seen homeowners spend thousands chasing a look they loved online, only to find it didn’t fit their home’s architecture, lighting, or purpose.
Here’s What We Do Instead
We treat inspiration images as clues, visual breadcrumbs. Then we start asking deeper questions.
Things like:
How do you spend your mornings?
Do you entertain often, and how casually?
Do you need space to tuck things away quickly?
What’s the one room in your house you never use, and why?
These questions help us design a space that supports your daily rhythm, not someone else’s.
Even if you plan to sell someday, thoughtful design that prioritizes function over trends is what adds lasting value. Working with a Denver interior designer who understands your lifestyle ensures every selection is both beautiful and purposeful.
Kitchen Design Concept Drawings by Studio Rhodes
So what do we recommend?
Keep saving images, stay inspired, and build your folder of “Yes, this!” moments.
But don’t be surprised if we ask, “What is it about this image that you love?”
That’s where the real design conversation begins.
Thanks for being here,
Sarah Rhodes
Founder, Studio Rhodes