Renovations require a significant investment, and most families don’t have the luxury of an unlimited budget. But the decisions you make now will shape not only how your home looks, but how it lives. Whether you’re updating one room or completing a whole-home renovation, spending more on certain materials and finishes can make all the difference.
I’ve seen firsthand which quality upgrades truly stand the test of time…and which ones homeowners regret or outgrow quickly. There really is a good–better–best approach when it comes to splurging, and it often comes down to choosing the elements that serve you every single day.
I believe in creating spaces that spark joy and have lasting beauty. But the sweet spot between design selections is not always as straightforward as you might think. Investing intentionally, and splurging on the elements that bring lasting value and comfort, is often a mix of both fixed and easy-to-change upgrades.
Here are my Top 5 Renovation Splurges I encourage homeowners to consider, and why each one matters.
Built-ins are the quiet heroes of a home. They define your space, set the tone for the overall look, and are one of the last things you want to replace down the road. Cabinetry is a significant investment, and depending on the quality you choose it will either bring tremendous joy or create a lackluster experience as you live in your home.
One mistake I often see is homeowners choosing freestanding cabinetry instead of built-ins. When freestanding pieces are in the wrong room or on the wrong wall, they become one of the biggest eyesores in a room. Have you ever seen all the wires and cords behind a cabinet? This happens because freestanding cabinets can never sit flush against the wall due to baseboards and their unfinished edges. Built-ins, however, are designed to be seamless. They sit flush, eliminate visual clutter, and give you everything you need and more.
Built-ins create the elevated, seamless look most homeowners crave. And once they’re in, you’ll appreciate them every single day.
Your flooring is the foundation of your home. It’s what your family walks on, plays on, spills on, and lives on. Flooring adds warmth, character, and continuity, and it happens to be one of the most difficult and disruptive things to replace.
Whether my client wants to be budget-conscious or splurge on flooring, I always encourage them to choose materials that will truly stand the test of time. Flooring selections should never be driven by trends.
My personal benchmark for avoiding trends is the following:
With hardwood it’s simple: if the color didn’t exist in homes 50–100 years ago, then it’s not timeless.
Tile is trickier because many people feel this is a license to get creative. My advice is to carefully consider your color and pattern. If it’s all over HGTV it has already moved from unique to trendy, which often means it will look dated in 5–10 years.
One of the easiest ways to “trend-proof” your flooring is to increase the quality. Trends are typically priced for the masses, so the lower price points often carry the most short-lived styles.
With flooring, choose once and choose well. You’ll thank yourself later.
Plumbing fixtures, like faucets and hardware, like cabinet pulls and door handles, are among the most underrated splurges homeowners overlook, as they can significantly impact how your home feels.
You’ve probably heard that fixtures are the “jewelry” of the home, but they’re also the workhorses. You touch these pieces multiple times a day, and the difference between builder-grade and well-crafted materials is immediate.
Plumbing fixtures and hardware also cost much less than built-ins or flooring, making them a great option for elevating your space even if your budget is tighter. And because of that lower price point, you can lean into a trend if you want to, knowing that swapping them out in 5 to 10 years is far less costly.
You don’t have to splurge everywhere; focus on the kitchen, primary bath, and door hardware, and you can save in secondary spaces.
Lighting is transformative. It sets the mood, adds depth, and determines how a room functions. Poor lighting, or the wrong fixture, can make even a beautifully designed space fall flat.
When renovation costs start adding up, many homeowners lean toward the lowest-priced lighting options, sacrificing far more than just quality. Lighting, like plumbing fixtures and hardware, is also the jewelry of the home. It’s the finishing piece that pulls everything together and draws you in because of its visual impact.
Lighting is also worth the splurge because of its directional impact. Recessed lighting can only cast light downward. But decorative lighting like pendants, chandeliers, sconces, and picture lights adds dimension because it casts light in multiple directions. Lighting should always be an integral part of a renovation design plan, and not an afterthought.
Leveling up your lighting may be the single thing that transforms and completes your room.
Trim, molding, paneling, door casings, doors, and baseboards are the quiet architectural framework of your home. You may not think about them daily, but you absolutely feel the difference.
Upgrading to taller baseboards, adding crown molding, incorporating paneling, or swapping contractor-grade doors for something more custom can make an enormous impact.
During my husband’s military career, we moved often. Whether we lived in Oklahoma, Washington, Virginia, or somewhere else, I started noticing that every home had the same builder-grade doors and trim. I longed for something different, but also found it strange that across the entire country homes were built with the exact same doors and trim. When we finally renovated our own home, replacing all the doors and trim was a major undertaking, but not a day goes by that I regret it.
Architectural details are the subtle but powerful elements that give a home its soul.
Renovations come with countless decisions—some exciting, others overwhelming. But when you focus on splurging where it truly counts, you create a home that not only looks beautiful today, but one that continues to bring joy for years to come.
At Joy Edwards Design, we help clients balance the art of saving intentionally in the areas that won’t impact the overall vision, while investing in the pieces that deliver the greatest return in beauty and longevity.
If you’re curious what’s possible for your home—or you’re ready to start planning your project—I’d love to help.
Fill out a Project Inquiry Form, and let’s dream up something beautiful together.
