15 Costly Home Upgrades You'll Pretty Much Instantly Regret

Upgrading your home can not only bring you more joy while you’re living it, but it can also help you to tap into your home equity if you increase the value of your property when you make some updates.

But not every home renovation has a happy ending. There are a few upgrades that homeowners have discovered that they almost universally regret. 

Between costly additions that turn into massive money pits to cute ideas that offer a big wow factor but small functionality, here are 15 home upgrades that you’re almost guaranteed to regret.

Every trend can look amazing through staged scenes. However, the reality of those coveted TikTok renovations may not live up to the hype once you get started on them in your own home, especially if you’re going the DIY route.

Doing a big renovation home renovation using an example you found on social media can spell disaster, especially if the person you’re following wasn’t as big of a novice as they let on.

A swimming pool sounds great, but if everybody started referring to them as “money pits made of water,” more homeowners might reconsider adding one to their backyard.

The recurring maintenance and upkeep costs, along with increased insurance pricing, are often missed in the planning stage. Focusing on the upfront fees can make adding a pool seem like an affordable dream, but it can quickly degenerate into a never-ending and expensive nightmare.

Adding a stand-alone addition to your house is significantly more expensive than converting an existing garage into an expanded indoor living space  — but these more affordable options can have downsides.

Many homeowners may find that they miss having indoor parking, while others can realize that they didn’t actually have enough space in their shed to store their lawn equipment afterall. Plus, a poorly done renovation can also drive up costs such as heating or cooling, which can turn this renovation into a big regret for some.

That sleek, modern, all-black counter looks amazing in the displays, but the daily upkeep might drive you mad.

This is also true of black fixtures like faucets, which show every errant splash and make lime deposits stick out like a sore thumb. 

Avoid regrets by checking out in-home installations and speaking with the homeowners about cleaning and upkeep to ensure it will fit your lifestyle. 

If not, consider opting for something with a little less upkeep to avoid those post-renovation woes.

Some people see the neutral updates made to homes that are getting ready to be listed for sale and think that they’ll be appealing in their own home — like a white and gray color scheme, gray LVP flooring, and white subway tiles everywhere — but many people complain that this setup feels a little soulless once they start living with it.

Unless you already have a significant portion of space dedicated to the mixing of beverages, or else yearning to be the hostess with the mostess, adding a wet bar to your home often becomes a big disappointment for homeowners.

Not only do many people find that wet bars eat up space that could be used for something that would see year-round action, the cost of adding plumbing and purchasing hardware can really add up.

Tiny circular tile discs look great but are time-consuming to install correctly.

Not only is the circular grout a nightmare during the renovation process, but many homeowners find that it’s the gift that keeps giving after it’s finished because keeping it clean requires harsh chemicals or a lot of scrubbing.

The biggest regret people have isn’t replacing the doors, but failing to do enough research and price comparison when they do.

Many folks are left feeling they overpaid for something that under-delivered. A temporary solution that can help cut down on things like heat transfer is a patio door weatherizing kit, which offers removable insulation options that can give families more time (and money) to decide on a permanent solution.

Can we blame the 90s-era sitcom Friends for this travesty in kitchen remodeling?

Sure, it makes for a more interesting background set on television, but not many people enjoy cleaning as much as Monica does, which is why they come to miss those cabinet doors that are designed to keep things like dust and oil splatter from covering everything in your kitchen.

Those who frequently take a long soak in the tub might legitimately improve their quality of life by adding a full-size bathtub to their bathrooms, but if that’s not you, adding one won’t suddenly transform you into the kind of person who lounges luxuriously in the bath while reading a book and sipping wine.

That’s why many people say that this renovation just isn’t worth the time, money, and effort in the long run.

How much quality of life is improved by having the entire front of a refrigerator be a screen instead of a magnet holder? It could be argued not enough for the price tag, and potentially much more annoying than a standard non-wifi appliance. 

Standard middle-quality appliances are also easier and less expensive to repair when they eventually malfunction.

Free-standing bowl sinks are making a comeback because of the variety of materials and styles that can be used, but this should be a “try it before you buy it” upgrade. 

Vessel sinks can create a lot more splash, and trying to wash your face over one can result in new and unusual facial injuries, making this update one that many people find to be better in theory than reality.

A lot of people love having a big open space connecting kitchen and living room, but it’s also a frequent remodel regret. If the idea of hearing every word of the TV — along with any conversations people might be having while watching — while preparing dinner makes you cringe, then you’ll want to reconsider knocking down walls for this frequent renovation regret.

Cutting lighting costs can initially seem like a good way to keep the price of a renovation down, but your light fixtures can play a big role in how your room looks.

 Homeowners often come to regret their decision to skimp on the more expensive lights to cut costs, but can end up spending more in the long run when they eventually have to upgrade them because they dislike them so much.

Do you want pea-sized gravel everywhere? From lawnmowers to snow plows, this is an often regretted landscaping choice for its inconvenience later. Consider large, flat paving stones instead, and save yourself a future headache.

An estimated 74% of renovators have regrets, with the most common complaints being they had to spend too much money and the project took too long to complete.

Making smart homeowner moves means thinking through renovations and remodels carefully, considering all possible outcomes, and researching how they could impact your future.