Home Remodels in 2025: 7 Myths (and the Facts That Save You Money)

Renovating this year? Between TikTok “hacks” and glossy before-and-afters, it’s hard to separate noise from know-how. Here are seven common myths about home upgrades—plus the facts that protect your budget, sanity, and resale value.

Myth 1: Open-plan solves everything
 Fact: Openness without acoustic control equals echo and distraction. If you’re knocking through, balance it with soft surfaces (rugs, curtains, acoustic panels) and partial dividers (slatted screens, half-height units) to zone cooking, dining, and lounging. You’ll keep sightlines without the noise.

Myth 2: More square metres = more value
 Fact: Space only adds value when it works. A poorly planned 10m² extension often appraises worse than a tightly designed 6m² one. Prioritise circulation (the “how you move” bit), daylight paths, and storage at the source—then add area if the plan still needs it.

Myth 3: Kitchens are all about the triangle
 Fact: Modern kitchens run on micro-zones: prep, cook, breakfast/coffee, and clean-up. A tall larder beside the fridge, a charging drawer by the seating area, and a bin station near the exit solve daily friction better than forcing a classic triangle into the wrong room.

Myth 4: Fancy finishes first
 Fact: The envelope (insulation, airtightness, glazing) governs comfort and bills. Spending here before splashy surfaces gives you a home that feels warm in winter, cool in summer, and quiet all year. Surfaces look better—and last longer—when the building performs.

Myth 5: One big meeting room at home (aka the giant island) fixes hosting
 Fact: Hosting needs flow, not bulk. Right-size the island so people can pass behind a stool without shuffling; add a banquette for casual seating and a slim servery shelf for drinks and plates. You’ll host more often because the room stops bottlenecking.

Myth 6: Lighting is a single ceiling decision
 Fact: Good rooms use three layers—ambient (even, dimmable), task (worktops, desks, mirrors), and accent (wall washers, toe-kicks, shelf lights). Tie them to scenes: “Cook,” “Eat,” “Evening.” It’s the cheapest way to make a remodel feel premium every day.

Myth 7: DIY saves the most
 Fact: DIY can work for paint and small fixes; it backfires on sequencing (services, waterproofing, tiling, commissioning). One wrong order and you’re paying twice. A design-build partner coordinates trades and timings so the job finishes cleanly the first time.

Who’s doing this well?

For a sense of how design clarity + build discipline looks in practice, explore HouseIdea—a residential remodeler that pairs planning (micro-zones, storage maps, lighting scenes) with tidy delivery and clear scopes. Their approach is straightforward: set the plan, fix the envelope, then invest in the visible layers you’ll touch daily.