Embarking on home improvements can be both exciting and rewarding. However, not all upgrades deliver the anticipated value or enhance your home’s functionality and aesthetics. Experienced designers often identify trends and features that, despite their initial appeal, may not justify the investment. Prioritizing upgrades that genuinely improve comfort and increase resale potential is crucial, rather than succumbing to costly fads that offer little in return. This article highlights ten home upgrades that designers advise homeowners to reconsider.
Versatile, timeless built-ins enhance appeal; overly personalized features may deter future homebuyers.
Tailoring built-in features too closely to personal preferences—such as unique shelving units or specialized bookcases—can limit future buyers’ options and may make spaces feel dated. Designers recommend keeping built-ins versatile and classic to appeal to a broader audience. For example, overly ornate media walls can be off-putting to potential buyers (housebeautiful.com).
Choosing high-maintenance marble over durable quartz can cause regret in busy kitchen settings.
Opting for porous stones like marble, which require constant sealing and special care, can lead to regret for homeowners who later prefer easy-to-maintain materials like quartz. High style isn’t always practical for busy kitchens. Sometimes the simpler option is more practical and functional (home.howstuffworks.com).
Hardwood floors with area rugs offer greater durability, easier cleaning, and timeless aesthetic appeal.
Wall-to-wall carpeting, especially in living rooms or even bathrooms, can stain, hold odors, and become quickly outdated. Hard floors with area rugs are preferred for longevity and easier cleaning. For example, replacing whole house carpet with hardwood can enhance durability and appeal (diffen.com).
While eye-catching wallpaper can make a statement, bold patterns are hard to remove and may clash with buyers’ tastes. Designers suggest opting for paint or removable murals to keep flexibility and avoid regrets with ever-changing trends (houzz.com).
High-end tubs, complex showers with built-in speakers, or bidets rarely see frequent use, especially in average homes. These upgrades often fail to recoup costs at resale. Simpler, quality basics tend to appeal more broadly. For instance, a midrange bathroom remodel can yield a higher return on investment compared to an upscale one (forbes.com).
Full outdoor kitchens can be enticing, but in areas with cold winters or unpredictable weather, these features often remain unused for months. Installing expensive grills, sinks, and counters may underdeliver compared to a simple patio setup. For example, a basic patio with a fire pit can provide year-round enjoyment without the high costs associated with a full outdoor kitchen (bhg.com).
Excessive built-in tech—a flood of smart lights, cameras, or speakers—can become obsolete quickly or intimidate non-tech-savvy buyers. Flexible and easy-to-update devices provide a safer bet without permanent installation. For instance, smart thermostats and plug-in smart lights can be easily added or removed, allowing homeowners to customize their living spaces without committing to complex systems. This approach ensures that technology enhances the home without overwhelming future occupants (nytimes.com).
Designers warn that open shelving requires picture-perfect organization to look good and can make kitchens feel cluttered. Poorly installed or placed shelves collect dust and quickly become impractical. Cabinets with doors hide clutter and work better for most families. For instance, open shelving can make kitchen items visible and easily accessible, but it also requires regular maintenance to keep items clean and organized (bobvila.com).
Cut-rate laminate flooring, designed to mimic wood or tile, often wears poorly, develops visible seams, and diminishes a home’s appeal and value. Durable engineered wood or luxury vinyl offer similar aesthetics without the drawbacks. Engineered wood flooring combines a real hardwood veneer layer bonded to a stable composite base, offering more dimensional stability than solid hardwood. It provides an authentic wood aesthetic and can often be refinished once or twice, typically commanding a higher resale value than laminate (eastonflooring.com). In contrast, laminate flooring is a high-density fiberboard (HDF) floor covering with a wood-look photographic layer topped with a hardy, clear wear layer. While laminate is more budget-friendly, it cannot be refinished, and once the wear layer is damaged, the planks must be replaced. Additionally, laminate flooring is more susceptible to moisture damage compared to engineered wood (forbes.com). Investing in higher-quality flooring options like engineered wood or luxury vinyl can enhance the home’s durability, aesthetic appeal, and resale value.
Whirlpool tubs demand more space, water, and energy than standard tubs or walk-in showers.
These bulky fixtures occupy valuable bathroom space, consume significant water, and are often underused. Designers recommend investing in a high-quality standard tub or a spacious walk-in shower instead. Whirlpool tubs can be costly to install and maintain, and their size may not suit all bathroom layouts. Additionally, they require more water and energy, leading to higher utility bills. For example, a standard bathtub uses approximately 40-50 gallons of water, while a 10-minute shower with a water-efficient showerhead uses around 20-25 gallons (wellfor.com).
