7 HGTV Renovation Hacks That Might Not Hold Up, And 5 Others To Think Twice About

Home renovation shows make everything look so easy, don’t they? Just a quick montage with upbeat music, and suddenly that dated kitchen becomes a magazine-worthy masterpiece.

But as someone who’s fixed countless post-HGTV-inspired disasters, I’m here to spill the tea on what works on TV versus real life. These popular renovation shortcuts might look amazing under perfect lighting and camera angles, but trust me, they’re causing homeowners serious headaches once the crew packs up.

1. Open Shelving Everywhere

Ever tried dusting thirty decorative bowls while balancing on your countertop? Open shelving looks dreamy on camera with perfectly arranged dishware and zero real-life mess. These glorified dust collectors require constant styling and cleaning.

Open shelving works in showrooms where nobody actually cooks. Your kitchen shouldn’t need a daily styling session just to look presentable.

Most homeowners end up installing cabinet doors within a year, wondering why they ever thought displaying their mismatched mug collection was a good idea.

2. Barn Doors For Every Room

How about that bathroom barn door that doesn’t actually seal for sound or privacy? These sliding farmhouse features might look charming on your Pinterest board, but they’re basically glorified partial walls on tracks.

Barn doors create gaps that let sound, light, and smells travel freely between rooms. They’re particularly problematic for bathrooms where privacy matters most!

The novelty wears off quickly when family members can hear everything happening behind that trendy door that never quite closes properly.

3. Shiplap Overload

Where exactly did all this shiplap come from? Unless you live in an actual farmhouse or coastal cottage, covering every vertical surface with horizontal wooden planks makes zero architectural sense.

Shiplap collects dust in all those tiny grooves and cracks. The farmhouse trend peaked years ago, yet HGTV designers still slap it everywhere like it’s revolutionary.

When you’re scrubbing those dust-collecting crevices or paying someone to remove it all in five years, you’ll understand why this trend should have stayed in actual barns.

4. Painting Tile Instead Of Replacing It

This money-saving hack always looks miraculous on TV! Just a quick coat of special paint and suddenly those avocado green bathroom tiles look brand new. Fast forward three months later…

Painted tile chips, peels, and bubbles with moisture and cleaning, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. The grout lines absorb dirt that can’t be removed without damaging your paint job.

Those dramatic before-and-afters never show the six-month follow-up when the homeowner is scraping flaking paint off their shower walls.

5. Floating Vanities Without Wall Reinforcement

Though they look sleek and minimal on camera, floating vanities require serious structural support that most DIYers overlook. The show never mentions the specialized brackets and wall reinforcement needed.

Floating vanities installed without proper support eventually sag, crack, or completely tear away from the wall. What the renovation shows don’t reveal is the extensive behind-the-scenes structural work.

Your standard drywall simply cannot support a sink and counter that will hold water weight and bear downward pressure when leaned upon.

6. Reclaimed Wood Walls In Small Spaces

If claustrophobia is your goal, slap some chunky reclaimed wood on the walls of your already tiny bedroom! This trend makes small spaces feel even smaller while creating perfect hiding spots for bugs.

Reclaimed wood walls bring texture, and sometimes unwanted critters, into your home. These statement walls absorb light instead of reflecting it, making rooms feel darker and more confined.

The rustic charm quickly loses its appeal when you realize the rough surfaces collect cobwebs and dust that’s nearly impossible to clean properly.

7. Open-Concept Everything

Are you ready to hear your dishwasher from every corner of your house? Open-concept layouts look amazing during the big reveal moment, but ignore the practical realities of family living.

Open concepts mean cooking smells travel everywhere, noise has no boundaries, and privacy becomes non-existent. The pandemic taught us the hard way that sometimes walls serve important purposes!

Most homeowners end up installing sliding doors, room dividers, or even rebuilding walls after living with the echo chamber effect of completely open living spaces.

8. Fake Beams That Don’t Match The Architecture

Nothing screams “I watch too much HGTV” like adding massive faux ceiling beams to your 1990s suburban tract home. These decorative elements should complement your home’s actual architectural style, not fight against it.

Fake beams look particularly unconvincing when they don’t make structural sense. They’re often installed too low, making standard-height ceilings feel oppressive.

The worst offenders are the hollow foam or vinyl versions that warp over time and fool absolutely no one into thinking they’re supporting anything besides your dwindling renovation budget.

9. Overuse Of Peel-And-Stick Flooring

This temporary solution is portrayed as a permanent fix on renovation shows. Peel-and-stick products simply aren’t designed for high-traffic areas or spaces with moisture exposure.

The edges curl up within months, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Temperature changes cause expansion and contraction that break down the adhesive.

While these products work for quick rental makeovers or temporary fixes, they’re not the miracle solution TV makes them out to be. The disappointment hits hard when your seemingly budget-friendly floor starts peeling up during your first dinner party.

10. Excessive Accent Walls

When every room has an accent wall, none of them are actually accents. This quick design fix has become the equivalent of using too many exclamation points in writing, it loses impact when overused.

Accent walls work when they highlight architectural features or define spaces with purpose. Random bold walls in every room create a disjointed funhouse effect rather than a cohesive home.

The dramatic reveal looks great on camera, but living with a patchwork of statement walls feels chaotic and dated much faster than designers admit.

11. DIY Marble Countertop Kits

Those miraculous epoxy kits that promise to transform your laminate counters into marble masterpieces? They’re the renovation equivalent of Instagram filters versus reality.

DIY marble kits produce surfaces that scratch easily and can’t handle hot pans. The marbling effect often looks obviously fake in person, with patterns that repeat unnaturally.

Heat exposure causes yellowing and bubbling over time. Professional designers cringe at these kits because they know the homeowner will end up replacing the counters anyway after the novelty wears off.

12. Giant Kitchen Islands In Small Kitchens

Squeezing a massive island into a modest kitchen might look impressive during the reveal, but try actually cooking there! Proper clearance around islands requires at least 36 inches for safe, functional passage.

Oversized islands in undersized kitchens create traffic jams and safety hazards. What looks spacious with a single camera person becomes completely impractical when multiple people need to use the space.

The disappointment is real when you realize your dream island means constantly bumping into family members or being unable to fully open your dishwasher and refrigerator doors simultaneously.