3 Common Renovation Mistakes Designers Really Hate (and How to Avoid Them)

Embarking on a home renovation can stir up a flurry of emotions. The process is exciting, daunting, fulfilling, and exhausting. Even one renovation hiccup can turn into a significant misstep down the road, inevitably costing you time and money.

To help avoid that scenario, we asked three experienced interior designers which common home renovation mistakes they see time and time again.

Scroll on to read the top home renovation mistakes to avoid so you can smoothly transform your space into a dream home. 

Neglecting the Home's Foundation

Jennifer Rogers, a kitchen and bath designer at BKC Kitchen and Bath, sees one prominent mistake all too often: homeowners neglecting the foundation of their homes in favor of spending their budget on the fun stuff. 

“It is tempting to focus on the glamorous aspect of a renovation: the kitchen countertops, bathroom tiles, and living room decor,” Rogers says.

Before you can begin sofa shopping or picking out a kitchen backsplash, there’s less alluring work to be done under the surface—literally. 

“Ignoring the potential underlying issues such as structural damage, outdated wiring, and inadequate insulation usually leads to costly and disruptive problems down the line,” Rogers says. 

By investing time and resources into addressing any potential foundation issues, you can save yourself from big headaches and even bigger bills in the future. 

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Not Having a Clear Renovation Plan

When advising homeowners during a home renovation, Alicia Hassen, an Austin, Texas-based interior designer, always encourages them to take a look at the big picture of the project.

Review each step of each phase of your renovation project to help you understand the full scope. Then, you can put together the ultimate renovation to-do list.

“Too many times I have seen homeowners kick off painting and flooring before build work is completed,” Hassen says. “After those items are completed, then you can move to finishing phases.” 

Considering the full project scope before scheduling various phases of work is imperative. Otherwise, you may end up redoing work, extending your timeline, and inevitably ballooning your budget.

Creating Poor Flooring Transitions

The biggest home renovation mistake Austin-based interior designer Shelagh Conway of Triple Heart Design commonly sees by clients—and begs them to avoid!—is clunky transitions between different flooring types. 

In a quality renovation, she says, the flooring isn’t an afterthought. Whether you’re considering new tile for a mudroom or refinishing the hardwood in your living room, how various types of flooring flow from room to room is an imperative part of design planning.

“I absolutely scream when I see transition strips,” Conway says. 

Consulting with your contractor and/or interior designer on the timing for installing tile and hardwoods is essential to executing a flush transition from one to the next.