When we watch home improvement shows, we easily fall in love with the regional style of the homes we see on TV, without really thinking about what it will look like in our real-life space. From shiplap to exposed brick, open-concept designs, bold paint colors to muted neutrals, we want it all.
When you see so many great ideas and options, it can be hard to narrow down what will actually suit your space, and you might feel like you don't know where to start. This is especially true for the kitchen, which requires far more choices than any other room in the house, not just in paint colors but also cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, fixtures, lighting, and more.
With all these factors having to be juggled, it's no wonder homeowners later find themselves regretting some of their choices. No one knows more about the most regretted home renovations than contractors, who are often called back to replace certain features within a year or two. So I asked five contractors what renovations homeowners most regret and why. And as you know, the same answers came up time and time again. Here's what the pros had to say about the renovation trends their customers regret most and why:
Concrete countertops are the most regretted kitchen remodel trend
Richard Ara, co-founder of Six Brothers Contractors in New Jersey, sees this mistake a lot in his contracting business. “Concrete countertops were all the rage back then,” he says. [a few years ago]”And in the right kitchen, it certainly looks great,” he says. But looking back, he has a lot of regrets about the choice.
“Because it's made of concrete, you would think it would be low maintenance and very sturdy,” says Ara, “but in reality, concrete worktops require great care and can be easily damaged if not properly maintained.”
The biggest problem Ara sees is stains. “Many people don't realize how porous concrete is, and when seals are damaged by heat or lack of maintenance, liquids that aren't cleaned up quickly can stain the concrete,” Ara says. “I've seen some really unsightly stains, and I can understand the homeowner's regret.”
Paige Warrington, project supervisor for ASAP Restoration in Arizona, agrees: It's important for homeowners to understand the construction of the materials they'll be using before using them purely for aesthetic purposes.
“Clients looking to save money on their kitchen remodeling sometimes take on the trendy but nearly impossible task of building their own concrete countertops,” she says. “These almost always fail, because it's very difficult to get everything to work properly before the concrete sets. Without good, regular sealant protection, concrete countertops can wear down quickly,” she adds.
What's the moral of this story? If you're deciding on concrete countertops, make sure you understand what kind of maintenance they'll require and how to do it effectively.
The second most common kitchen remodeling regret: The wrong flooring
While this option isn't mentioned as often as concrete countertops, it still gets featured in a variety of ways. First, Al Ruggie, marketing director for ASAP Restoration, says he's seen a lot of people regret installing carpet in both the kitchen and bathroom.
“There's no world in which you wouldn't regret having carpet in your kitchen,” says Ruggie. “Cooking barefoot might seem like it would keep your feet warm, but ultimately, carpeting attracts spills, splatters, dust, food particles, and everything else. Over time, your kitchen carpet will start to smell bad and become a home for ground-dwelling creepies and crawlies. For the sake of your sanity, don't have carpet in your kitchen or bathroom.”
Matthew Consolo, owner of Air Force Roofing and Dreamscape Construction in Florida, believes the type of flooring pattern used in kitchens is the cause of flooring regrets.
“Patterned flooring has been trendy for a while, but it's very restrictive and has to be the main feature of the kitchen,” explains Consolo. “We're seeing a lot of flooring replaced, mainly because owners are tired of the look or feel that their decorating options are limited. No matter how beautiful the flooring is, you can't pattern other areas or choose a different color scheme. Homeowners are replacing patterned flooring with something very neutral and traditional. They want flooring that will always be timeless and won't limit their future decorating options.”
Of course, you can always add any features you want to your kitchen. Half the fun of owning a home is being able to make the most creative decisions you want. But when the options seem endless, it helps to learn from other people's mistakes. Hearing inside information on certain materials and trends can help you narrow down your choices to something that really suits your lifestyle. If you're planning on remodeling your kitchen this year, you might just avoid the heartache of one of these big regrets.
