Most villa design mistakes do not show on the drawings but after moving in: a grand majlis that is never used, a hot kitchen far from everything, long corridors that eat up space, and a high electricity bill caused by a west-facing glass facade. The problem is that fixing these mistakes after construction is costly, and sometimes impossible without demolition. So a few extra hours at the design stage save years of frustration. This guide covers the most common villa design mistakes in Saudi Arabia and how to avoid them before the first concrete is poured.
1. Designing Bigger Than Needed
Huge majlis rooms used twice a year, at the expense of everyday living rooms. Solution: design for daily use and make some spaces flexible, such as a majlis that can open onto the dining room for occasions. Read: Majlis and entrance design.
2. Poor Privacy
The guest route passes through the family lounge, or windows overlook the neighbours. Solution: separate routes, a careful study of window positions and heights, and separate guest entrances.
3. Neglecting Natural Ventilation and Light
Internal rooms without windows and bathrooms without ventilation. Solution: a layout that gives every main space a facade, and an internal courtyard or light well where needed.
4. A Kitchen in the Wrong Place
A kitchen far from the service entrance or dining room. Solution: link the kitchen to a service entrance, the parking and the dining room. Read: Kitchen design layouts by area.
5. Long Corridors and Wasted Space
Every metre of corridor is a metre lost from the rooms. Solution: a centrally placed staircase, and grouping rooms around lounges. This matters most on small plots. Read: Designing a 300 m² villa.
6. Ignoring the Future
No room for a lift, no ground-floor bedroom for elderly family members, no flexibility to separate a unit later. Solution: think ten years ahead. Read: Adding a lift to an existing villa and Modifying the plan to add an apartment.
7. Neglecting the Climate
Large west-facing glass facades and weak insulation. Solution: careful orientation, shading, thermal insulation of walls and roof, and double glazing. See our energy-efficient design service.
8. Lack of Coordination Between Disciplines
Columns in the middle of rooms, AC ducts that lower ceilings, and services that clash with beams. Solution: integrated architectural, structural and MEP design. Read: Clashes between drawings.
9. Changes During Construction
Decisions made on site without drawings, so the villa differs from its permit, which can hold up the occupancy certificate. Read: Made changes without amending the drawings?.
10. A Facade Without Identity, or Non-Compliant
A facade copied from internet images that ignores the urban code, or uses prohibited materials. Solution: a considered facade that follows the area's architectural character. Read: The Salmani style and Alternatives to cladding.
Summary of Mistakes and the Cost of Fixing Them
| Mistake | When it is discovered | Cost of fixing after construction |
|---|---|---|
| Poor privacy | After moving in | Medium to high |
| Kitchen position | After moving in | High (services and breaking out) |
| No space for a lift | When needed | Very high (structural openings) |
| Weak insulation | With the first summer | High |
| Discipline clashes | During construction | Medium, with delays |
How to Catch Mistakes Early
- Discuss the family's needs in detail with the designer before drawing.
- Ask for a 3D design of the spaces and facades.
- Review the drawings while imagining a full day in the house.
- Make sure the drawings are coordinated before the permit.
- Choose engineering supervision that ensures construction follows the drawings. Read: Supervisor and contractor responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I catch mistakes before construction?
At the concept design stage, where 3D design helps a great deal.
Can mistakes be fixed after construction?
Some can, but at a higher cost and sometimes with modification permits.
Does a ready-made plan from the internet save money?
Rarely, because it does not suit your plot, its requirements or your family's needs, and adapting it often equals a new design.
What is the most important thing to focus on in the design?
Privacy and daily circulation, as they are the hardest to change later.
Where do I start?
With The villa design guide for Saudi Arabia, then a session with the designer to define your needs.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that designs villas with layouts that respect privacy, climate and the future, with 3D design, drawings coordinated across disciplines and the building permit. Learn about our design services, or For professional support, see our Energy Efficiency Drawings & Studies service. contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.