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I’ve had my fair share of failed renovation projects. There’s just so much to consider, so it’s natural to make a mistake or two. In fact, I made eight major ones. These renovation fails ended up costing a lot, so I hope you learn from my mistakes and make the most of your projects.
Here are my renovation failures and what I learned from the experience.
In 2022, renovation spending in the country amounted to $567 billion, growing by 15% compared to the previous year. One of my major renovation projects was pouring concrete for our driveway. The beginning part was easy, resulting in a nice and smooth surface.
However, things went wrong during the drying process. Our lovely beagle ran through the semi-wet concrete, resulting in a trip to the vet and paw prints on the driveway. I smile every time I see it—a fun reminder of our dog’s mischief. There was a viral post about a driveway near a neighboring duck pond. The result was permanent duck prints all over the driveway.
If you’re anything like me, you love color and painting. My mistake was rushing into the process. I didn’t properly clean the walls. The result was walls that had lumps and bumps due to painting over dust, dirt and debris. It was okay-looking from afar but unsightly up close. Plus, it can lead to premature chipping. I had to redo the whole room.
Another easy mistake people make is painting over outlets and light switches. Not only can this make your paint job look messy, but it can also make the items dangerous or hard to use. Cover your items or use water-based paint. Cleaning mistakes as you go can also prevent major painting redos.
A driveway can be one of the last things planned when building or remodeling a home. However, I would caution you to work on it last. Your driveway is your entry and exit point from your home. You use it every day. Working on it before other areas of the house ensures the driveway remains usable during the hectic renovation process.
This is incredibly important for homes on a steep hill. You don’t want your car to have a treacherous drive from the street to your house. I learned that the hard way.
This might seem specific, but it’s an important consideration. When you put the doors on your upstairs room, ensure they don’t open over a stair. I did that and quickly realized it made going inside and outside the room hazardous.
Someone could get struck by the door or a person can trip and fall down the stairs. According to a 2023 report by the CDC, 39,000 older adults died due to unintentional falls in 2021. Falls are the primary cause of injuries and injury-related deaths of people in this age group.
I didn’t wait for an accident. I immediately changed the door’s orientation. The result was a much safer option.
I’ve come to realize that drawer placement matters a lot when remodeling the kitchen or the bathroom. Corner cabinets are an excellent solution for making use of empty space. They are often roomy for cans or boxes but slim enough not to interfere with your other cabinetry. When planning corners, avoid placing two drawers in the same corner.
I thought that placing the drawers adjacent to one another could be useful. But one ended up not opening all the way. This is because I got large handles that blocked the other one from giving me access. The cabinet remains an unused space.
When redesigning a bathroom, kitchen or laundry area, you’ll likely need at least one outlet. However, I didn’t really consider where to put the outlet practically. Improperly placed outlets become hazardous. In fact, fire departments responded to approximately 46,652 electrical structure fires each year from 2020 to 2024.
When water gets into an outlet, it can electrocute you. So I don’t use that outlet and have it covered up. My advice is to put one across from your water source for extra protection and to see yourself using hair products.
When laying tiles, many people start laying before planning the floor layout. I was one of those people. My line of thought was that what could go wrong with a square room and square tiles? However, laying out your tiles can help you correctly space them and determine where and if you want to cut them. Trust me, not doing so leads to uneven spaces and clunky corners.
Moreover, pre-laying is incredibly important for wet rooms, where a level shower and a slight slope make tiling more challenging. Before you purchase the tile, measure your floor and the tile to determine the best size for your floor. Always lay out your tiles before you begin plastering. You can arrange them as necessary to create the perfect wall or floor.
The placement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) vents makes a huge difference. It affects the temperature, air quality and interior design of our home.
Think about your furniture layout and decor when deciding where to place your vents. Placing a vent in the middle of your floor is great for air circulation, but it can be inconvenient to walk on. Additionally, consider which items or furniture will be placed near your vents to ensure they operate efficiently. When you block a return vent, your HVAC system works less efficiently.
We all learn from mistakes, but they don’t have to be our own. These are the mistakes I learned over the years as a homeowner. My best advice for you is to do proper research before any project. By knowing more about the home renovation process, you can make the best decisions for your home.
Note: This article was first published on July 12, 2023, and was revised on June 26, 2026, to reflect the most current information.
