If you want to make a big change where you live, you typically have two choices—update something about your current home or look for something entirely new. If you’re in the homebuying camp, it’s important to know that new home purchases are fairly sluggish, with generally high home prices and interest rates, and a limited supply of homes. Experts told Forbes Home that staying put and renovating an existing property is more appealing for many homeowners.
One of the biggest home trends of this year that we’ve noticed is genuinely custom home design, and homeowners and designers alike are adopting this practice. In fact, Paulina Hospod and Albert Rutkowski, founders at AhA Interiors, say that in this challenging home landscape, making a home that truly works for them is one of the most significant deciding factors for homeowners who decide to renovate over buying new.
Renovation Projects That Make a Big Impact
Focusing on the rooms you and your family use most frequently is a safe bet with any home renovation project, making upgrading bathrooms a top priority for many homeowners. If your bathroom looks like it belongs in a different decade, a full renovation may be in order, but there are plenty of options for smaller projects in this room that can make a major impact.
Jarrett Oakley, TOTO’s director of marketing, shared a variety of popular bathroom projects that help you see major changes without tearing down any walls. He pointed to replacing your vanity to change the room’s look and add more storage, as well as adding new flooring and lighting as popular bathroom projects that can level up the room. It’s important to note the order of operations here too: Hospod and Rutkowski note that big items like flooring should always come first.
But not all upgrades need to be so plainly practical: Both Oakley and Naomi Neilson, founder and CEO of Native Trails, pointed to a tub upgrade as a worthy project for many, especially those who like to wind down with a good soak.
“When space allows, ditching an older built-in bathtub for a beautiful, sculptural freestanding tub makes a huge visual impact, and can really be the key to transforming a standard bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary,” Neilson points out.
Fixtures generally are a good choice for upgrades, as Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager at Moen, mentioned. She pointed to sinks as the focal point of the bathroom and kitchen (more on the latter in a second), and a place where you can express creativity. Taking advantage of the mixed metal trend or opting for a tall or ornate sink can all be fun options if you want to make a bit of a statement.
Another obvious choice for home renovation projects is in the kitchen. This room is perhaps the most common one to receive a facelift, but knowing where to start and which projects to take on can be challenging.
“Kitchens are very impactful,” says Richard Davis from Remodeling Consultants LLC. “It’s the space we use the most in a home…Considering resale value in the future, it’s probably the most important space to a potential buyer as well. Kitchen remodels can be an overwhelming and stressful experience for people. Most would prefer to purchase a home with a newer kitchen so they don’t have to endure the hassle of renovating a kitchen, at least not immediately.”
Given this project’s resale value and potential ROI, many experts noted that you may want to consider putting more of your budget behind a kitchen renovation by upgrading more or all of the space. A common project is opening up the kitchen or generally making it bigger.
“In most older homes, the kitchen originally served primarily as a workspace; now we use kitchens as a gathering place for family and friends,” Stephen Pallrand, the owner of Home Front Build, points out. “How would a remodel that opens up the kitchen to an adjacent dining or living room make a difference in the way your family lives, interacts, entertains? Do you even still need a formal dining room—or can it be absorbed into the kitchen altogether?”
However, if your kitchen is still in fighting shape, but just needs a few new touches to make meal prep or Sunday dinner easier to whip up, upgrading your commonly used appliances like stoves, fridges and dishwashers can be great touches, as can redoing cabinets and flooring.
Impactful home design doesn’t end at your front door: The exterior of your home deserves some love too. Whether you decide to upgrade the outside of your home because of some damaged siding, to give it a refreshed look or to boost your home’s value, it can be a worthwhile project.
“Generally speaking, curb appeal can be very important and impactful,” Davis says. “It’s the first impression we get when we see a house. The nicer and larger a home looks means a great deal for resale value later.”
One obvious outdoor upgrade is your home’s siding. Eleni Vydra, director of brand marketing at James Hardie, suggested a low-maintenance material like fiber cement siding and says homeowners should generally look for materials that can stand up to the weather in their given climate and match the aesthetics of their home.
Experts also suggested upgrading another big home feature on your home’s exterior: the roof. If your roof is reaching the end of its life or has been giving you issues, renovating it can be a wise investment whether you stay put for a while or want to sell.
“Ensuring your roof is not only beautiful but also secure can make it easier to sell your home, as most people don’t want to deal with costly roof repairs right after buying a house,” says Stephen Riale, CARE area manager at GAF.
It’s also worth considering all of the features not attached to your home: A backyard oasis can serve as an extra entertainment space, a relaxing hobby in the form of gardening or just an extra bit of appeal to any potential buyers.
“Outdoor spaces also deserve attention,” says interior designer Alice T. Chan of Freemodel, a pre-sale home renovation company. “Upgrading your backyard can effectively extend your home’s living space. Outdoor living areas offer a means to expand your home’s perceived size without increasing its footprint.”
Consider touches like redoing the hardscaping, upping your landscaping game with low-maintenance native plants or adding small additions like a paver patio. If you want to take on a big project, adding a larger deck or even a pool may be in the cards. And if ROI is your aim, you’re in luck here: The National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Remodeling Impact Report found 100% cost recovery on projects like upgrading your landscaping and adding an outdoor kitchen.
