Home renovation shows make remodeling look easy, but not all projects are worth the investment.
Before you hire a contractor and start swinging the sledgehammer, here are five renovation projects that experts who spoke with The Spruce warn homeowners to avoid this year.
Open Shelves in the Kitchen
Having your dishes and glasses visible on open shelving may look trendy, but most kitchen design pros advise against it. Open shelves tend to get dusty and greasy over time. They're also impractical for storing less attractive kitchen items like bulky pots and food packages. Stick with closed cabinetry for a clean, functional kitchen.
Permanent Customizations
Making permanent, super-personalized changes to your home can make it feel dated quickly if design trends shift. Experts recommend avoiding bold wallpaper murals, wildly colored tiles, or heavily themed rooms. These customized styles may appeal to your specific tastes now but can turn off future buyers. Keep things fairly neutral if you plan to sell someday.
Recessed Light Fixtures
While recessed lighting was all the rage in the 90s and early 2000s, that fad is fading fast. Recessed "can" lights look outdated and provide inferior lighting compared to modern flush-mount or pendant fixtures. They also leave unsightly holes all over your ceiling if you change your mind later.
Instead of recessed lighting, consider adding a mix of decorative ceiling lights, wall sconces, and lamps.
Converted Bedrooms
Many homeowners consider converting spare bedrooms into home offices, game rooms, or walk-in closets. But real estate experts caution against this. Eliminating bedrooms often makes your home's resale value take a major hit, especially if it reduces the total bedroom count. Keep those bonus rooms as non-conforming spaces to increase future buyers' options.
Luxury Outdoor Amenities
Of course, everyone dreams of an amazing backyard pool, outdoor kitchen, and landscaped entertainment space. But the annual costs for maintaining those lavish outdoor features add up quickly. Additionally, some outdoor features are seasonal.
If you're already stretching your renovation budget, skip the showy exterior upgrades. Focus first on cost-effective indoor projects that will truly boost your home's livability and value.
By side-stepping these five potentially regrettable renovation projects, you can invest your money wisely into home improvements that make the most sense.
