18 Bad Home Advices Dished Out On HGTV’s Home Town
HGTV’s Home Town has charmed viewers with its small-town renovation magic and hosts Ben and Erin Napier’s warm personalities. While the show offers plenty of inspiration, not all design choices translate well to everyday homes.
Before you grab a sledgehammer and channel your inner renovation star, consider these questionable pieces of advice that might look great on TV but cause headaches in real life.
1. Painting over original brick
Once you slap paint on brick, there’s no going back without serious effort and expense. Authentic brick adds character, historical value, and natural temperature regulation to homes.
Real estate experts often note that unpainted brick maintains higher resale value in many markets. Think twice before covering that beautiful texture with trendy white paint!
2. Ripping out vintage tile
Mid-century bathrooms with pastel tiles might seem dated at first glance, but quality vintage ceramic can last centuries. Many homeowners regret demolishing these durable pieces of history.
Modern replacements often lack the craftsmanship and longevity of original materials. Consider carefully whether that pink tile bathroom might actually become a selling point with the right complementary design elements.
3. Using too much shiplap
Walking into a home where every vertical surface has been covered in horizontal wooden planks creates a visual nightmare. What started as a charming accent has morphed into overwhelming overkill in many renovations.
Moderation is key with distinctive textures like shiplap. When every room features the same treatment, your home loses dimension and starts feeling like a themed restaurant rather than a comfortable living space.
4. Prioritizing aesthetics over function
Beautiful kitchen islands without electrical outlets make meal prep frustrating. Gorgeous vessel sinks without adequate counter space leave nowhere for toiletries. Stunning open shelving collects dust and requires constant styling.
Living with these Instagram-worthy but impractical choices quickly becomes tiresome. Functionality should always lead design decisions, with beauty following close behind—not the other way around.
5. Installing barn doors in every room
Sliding barn doors offer zero sound privacy and never fully seal a doorway. Light bleeds through gaps, conversations carry easily, and the hardware can be noisy during operation.
For bathrooms, bedrooms, or home offices, traditional doors remain superior for practical reasons. Save the barn door for decorative room dividers or spaces where privacy isn’t a primary concern.
6. Removing walls without considering flow
Knocking down walls creates impressive reveal moments on TV but can destroy your home’s functionality. Suddenly, private conversations become impossible and cooking odors waft everywhere.
Lost wall space means fewer places for furniture and artwork. Carefully evaluate whether you’re creating a truly better living experience or just chasing an open-concept trend that might not suit your family’s actual lifestyle.
7. Over-accessorizing small spaces
Cramming shelves with decorative objects might create a perfect TV reveal shot, but living with excessive tchotchkes creates visual chaos and maintenance headaches. Dusting becomes a part-time job!
Minimalism often serves small spaces better. Allow a few statement pieces room to breathe rather than competing for attention. Your home should feel like a sanctuary, not an antique store display.
8. Choosing impractical white furniture
Spotless white sofas look dreamy on camera but transform into stress-inducing nightmares for families with children, pets, or anyone who occasionally enjoys red wine. Stain resistance has limits!
Performance fabrics have improved dramatically, yet even the best require maintenance. Consider whether constantly worrying about keeping furniture pristine aligns with your desired lifestyle before committing to that cloud-white sectional.
9. Ignoring storage needs in favor of style
Minimalist kitchens with few cabinets make for stunning television but create daily frustration when you have nowhere to store your pasta maker. Real homes require practical storage solutions.
Consider your actual possessions before eliminating storage space. No matter how disciplined you are, everyone needs places to tuck away seasonal items, occasional-use appliances, and the inevitable accumulation of life’s necessities.
10. Faux finishing everything
Antiquing brand-new furniture or distressing pristine woodwork often looks obviously fake and ages poorly. Manufactured patina rarely fools anyone and can make quality pieces look cheap.
Genuine vintage items already exist if you desire character. Alternatively, allow new pieces to age naturally through use. Authenticity resonates more deeply than artificial aging techniques that follow fleeting trends.
11. Using trendy fixtures that age fast
Industrial Edison bulb fixtures and rose gold faucets quickly mark your renovation with a timestamp. Replacing dated fixtures becomes expensive when trends shift every few years.
Classic styles endure for good reason. Investing in timeless lighting, hardware, and plumbing fixtures saves money and frustration long-term. Choose statement pieces in areas that can be economically updated when your taste evolves.
12. Skipping window treatments altogether
Bare windows maximize natural light but sacrifice privacy, temperature control, and acoustics. Even minimal treatments provide essential functionality that naked windows cannot.
Window coverings needn’t be fussy or heavy. Simple roller shades, lightweight curtains, or modern blinds offer flexibility without compromising design. Remember that window treatments serve practical purposes beyond mere decoration.
13. Painting all rooms the same color
Covering every wall with identical gray paint creates a monotonous, institutional feel rather than the cohesive look many homeowners hope for. Each room serves different functions and deserves thoughtful color consideration.
Bedrooms benefit from restful hues while kitchens might warrant energizing tones. Even subtle variations between spaces help define zones and create appropriate atmospheres throughout your home.
14. Choosing open shelving for every kitchen
Perfectly styled open shelves with matching dishware make for great television, but maintaining that magazine-worthy look requires constant attention. Dust accumulates quickly, and not everyone owns Instagram-worthy dish collections.
Most families benefit from a mix of closed and open storage. Reserve visible shelving for frequently used or decorative items while hiding necessary but visually chaotic kitchen tools behind cabinet doors.
15. Downsizing kitchens for visual space
Sacrificing counter space or appliance capacity for aesthetic openness often creates regret after living with a too-small kitchen. Preparing meals becomes frustrating when you lack adequate work surfaces.
Prioritize functionality in cooking spaces above all else. Beautiful but impractical kitchens quickly lose their charm when you’re struggling to prepare dinner with nowhere to set down ingredients or accommodating modern appliances.
16. Going overboard on theme decor
Nautical elements make sense in coastal homes, but covering every surface with anchors, rope, and seashells creates a themed environment rather than a sophisticated living space. Subtle references work better than heavy-handed decorating.
Incorporate thematic elements sparingly through texture and color rather than literal objects. A blue and white palette suggests coastal style without requiring ship wheels on the walls.
17. Installing oversized light fixtures
Massive chandeliers might create dramatic focal points but often overwhelm average-sized rooms. Scale matters tremendously in lighting decisions, yet it’s frequently misjudged on renovation shows.
Properly sized lighting enhances spaces without dominating them. Remember that proportion errors become glaringly obvious with permanent installations like lighting.
18. Treating every home like a farmhouse
Forcing farmhouse aesthetics into mid-century ranches or urban condos creates design confusion rather than cohesion. Architecture should guide interior choices toward complementary styles.
Respect your home’s bones and location. A 1960s split-level deserves different treatment than an 1890s Victorian. Authentic design honors a structure’s inherent character rather than imposing trendy styles that fight against architectural reality.