Before you commit to the latest home upgrade, contractors say these trendy renovation choices could create more problems than they solve.
Renovating your home is personal. That’s why jumping on the trend bandwagon isn’t always the right choice. “Do what you like for you, but keep in mind that your taste might change later, your family will change, and if you ever need to sell, you do not want it to be detrimental,” says Gary Knowles, owner of GJK Building & Remodeling. “Thoughtful design is very important to check all the boxes.”
So just how does one go about making that happen? Harrison Polsky, principal at Catēna Homes, says it’s all about curating a feeling of timelessness that’s still contemporary, and designing spaces that will evolve with the people who live there. “The best homes are not built around trends, they’re built around lifestyle,” he says.
Read on to learn the top four trends contractors urge you to avoid, plus four more that they give a thumbs-up.
Meet the Experts
- Gary Knowlesis theowner of GJK Building & Remodeling, a full-service remodeling contractor in Charlotte.
- Harrison Polsky is the principal at Catēna Homes, an interior design firm based in Dallas.
- Skyler Buckner is the owner of Rise Above Remodeling, a general contracting company in Phoenix.
1. Too-Open Layouts
While open concept layouts aren’t phasing out completely, Knowles says how we use our spaces is—and that should be part of the equation. “People are looking for more segmented, usable rooms for family members to work in, relax in, and spend time in with each other without disturbing the folks in other spaces,” he explains…