5 Home Reno Updates That Are Not Worth Your Time, Pros Say

Not everyone has the fortune of living in their ultimate dream home the first time around, and even if they do, their tastes and needs may change over time. So, it’s more likely that homeowners will find elements and spaces in and around the house that they feel can be improved and updated.

If you’re one such homeowner and trying to budget wisely, consider the following advice from the pros on what updates you can likely skip.

Open Kitchen Shelving

This one is going to be very controversial, especially as open shelving in kitchens has been a long-running trend. But Kyle Dutton, founder of Kyle Dutton Home & Design believes this fad has run its course and is now being replaced with conventional kitchen cabinetry.

“Clients are always looking for more cabinet space,” Dutton says. “This approach gives them the functionality and overall design aesthetic for today’s updated kitchen.”

Permanent and Immovable Customization

Outside of kitchen cabinetry, Dutton recommends skipping overly intricate or complicated built-ins. Dutton explains how it can be a costly update that may initially feel like a necessity to homeowners, but it won’t add value or fit their needs over time or even the next homeowner’s.

He suggests modifying universal spaces with cost-effective storage components that can easily be store-purchased, modified, and removed down the road.

Similarly, Kim Gordon, founder of Kim Gordon Designs, recommends realistically reflecting on how long you plan to live in your current home. From there, you can estimate how much you can afford to customize your space, and to what extent you should renovate.

“If you think you may move or sell the home, you’ll need to be choosier and smarter,” Gordon says.

Those likely to move or only rent may want to consider spending money on items and furniture rather than a whole renovation.

Recessed Lighting

It’s tempting to add a sea of recessed lights in the ceiling of rooms of certain challenges (such as a basement or windowless space). But Hannah Goldberg, founder and principal of Hannah Charlotte Interiors, says that the downlights can easily overwhelm a space as well as make lighting very one-dimensional.

“Instead, mix decorative ceiling lights, wall sconces, and lamps with a restrained amount of recessed ceiling lighting to provide layers of light throughout a space,” Goldberg says.

Converted Bedrooms

Specialty spaces centered around specific and niche activities, such as home theaters or game rooms might be nice for the current homeowner, but they might not appeal to future potential buyers.

“When thinking of resale, the space could be used for other much-needed spaces such as additional bedrooms or a home office,” Debbe Daley, principal of Debbe Daley Designs, says.

Along the same lines, she reminds homeowners that more bedrooms tend to increase the value of a home, so taking away a bedroom, even a small one, to expand the size of another isn’t necessarily a smart update.

Outdoor Luxury

While some homeowners and their house guests are enamored with resort-like outdoor amenities— think a swimming pool, hot tub, or fancy grilling station—they need to remember that such backyard features are only good for seasonal use (depending on the region, of course) and can come with liability costs and lots of maintenance, Daley says.

That’s not to say homeowners should rule out all outdoor living and dining areas, on the other hand. Such features and simple outdoor furniture additions can be important like bringing sunlight, nature and greenery, and fresh air into one’s day-to-day routine.

Just be sure to consider your household budget and be realistic about which updates you can comfortably splurge on.

Additional Designer Tips

Rather than a renovation you should skip, Gordon advises homeowners to not overlook and deprioritize infrastructure items—such as air conditioning, heating, electrical, windows, and doors— that don’t typically impact your space visually.

“These may feel like they’re no fun, but they’ll actually up your home’s value,” Gordon says.

She also recommends that you factor in timing when purchasing realities—such as product or material back orders, delivery, and storage while waiting to be installed—and management of the people who will be doing the actual work. This will all be time dependent.

Finally, while thinking about your budget, be sure to figure out if you can pay for everything or will need to put items on a credit card, and just how much you can afford to pay off immediately.

“Once you have these questions answered you can prioritize upgrades in your home,” Gordan says.