10 Overlooked Factors Everyone Forgets During A Home Renovation

Home renovation is stressful. So say 85% of homeowner respondents in Block Renovation's 2025 "How America Renovates" report. Realizing at the end of the process that you've overlooked important aspects of the renovation simply adds to that stress. It's especially disappointing to have forgotten critical design elements that uplift your home's style and character. Several features, like entryways and moldings, are commonly overlooked in a renovation. Clearly, careful planning is one weapon against overlooked design features. 

Once you've made all the big-picture decisions, give a long, hard think to all the design aspects that you don't want to forget about. Some items are commonly overlooked because they're small, such as hardware for cabinets and drawers. Others, like storage and window treatments, are forgotten because homeowners think they'll figure them out after the renovation. Parts of the home we're not used to thinking about, such as entryways and pet spaces. Consider tips to help prep your home for a renovation, such as taking the opportunity to declutter and placing belongings in storage during the reno. That way you don't miss these important design features in your renovation.

Ever watched a home-renovation TV show in which the homeowner did not ask the designer for more storage space? Neither have we, which affirms that homes tend to be built without sufficient storage for all the stuff homeowners possess, especially in smaller homes. You may know you need to add storage when you renovate, but are you overlooking the best ways to ensure your renovated home accommodates your storage needs? Many clever storage solutions are available these days, from built-in cabinets to under-stairs compartments and banquette seats that lift up to reveal trunk space. 

It pays to come up with a well-thought-out lighting design for your renovation and to know how to choose the perfect lighting for your space. You'll want to plan for all three types of home lighting – ambient, the overall lighting that illuminates your home; task lighting for specific activities, especially in the kitchen; and accent lighting to call attention to specific decor features, such as artwork. Also consider outlet and wall-switch locations for both convenience and appearance.

While baseboards and molding don't bring a lot of function to a room, they give it a finished and high-end look. They can, however, be one of those little design details that fall by the wayside. Consider them a picture frame for the room. You could contemplate an innovative way to use color in your home renovation, given that you can purchase these architectural features in colors other than white, or paint them your chosen color for a custom look.

Windows and window treatments are the most overlooked part of a house, according to David Bromstad, but they don't have to be in your renovation. While we think of window treatments as part of the last phase of the renovation, it's a good idea to start planning them early in the process. Numerous considerations go into window-treatment decisions — the amount of natural light you want, degree to which you need window treatments to help with temperature control, type of treatment (drapes? curtains? blinds?), material, and hardware to hold up the treatment.

Interior entryways may not be top of mind during your renovation, but when you think about it, this is the spot where the interior of your home makes its first impression. You'd probably like it to be inviting, perhaps with artwork or greenery, well lit, and conveying the tone of the rest of your home. Entryways can also offer functionality, with a spot to put down a purse and keys, a bench or chair for taking off or putting on footwear, and storage for outerwear.

Including your pet's needs in your planned renovation may seem frivolous, but once you think about pet feeding bowls on the floor, scruffy-looking pet beds, and unsightly dog crates taking up space, the idea of built-in pet beds and crates, feeding stations, bathing stations, and litter-box spaces start to make more sense. Also consider easy-to-clean finishes and flooring to make pet messes easier to deal with. After all, for many, pets are part of the family and should be considered in home renovation. 

While in remodeling mode, you're much more likely to be thinking about what to put into every space rather than what to leave out. But for designers, intentional use of negative space is highly prized for helping to maintain a balance among visual design elements. Mindfully leaving spaces bare or blank helps create a feeling of calm and enables the design elements left behind to stand out. Further, an uncluttered feel gets your remodel off to a clean start.

Cabinet and drawer pulls represent one of those little detail areas that may fall by the wayside during a remodel. These hardware elements are indeed a small part of the overall remodel, yet they pack a punch in showing your style. You'll need to choose your preferred finish, whether metal (nickel, chrome, oil-rubbed bronze brass) or a natural material like wood, enamel, porcelain, or glass. The hardware should match the scale and style of the cabinets and drawers you put them on.

A remodel can be the opportunity to convert a mishmash of styles into a cohesive design, in which one room flows seamlessly into the next and every design element feels like it belongs — yet sometimes this opportunity is missed. You can integrate elements such as colors, flooring, patterns, and shapes into a cohesive design. A good first step toward this flowing design is deciding on a color palette you can carry through your home. Then look for design features — architectural elements, textures, and even types of lighting — that you can intentionally repeat throughout the space.  

Small details that reflect your personal style and give it character make a house a home. Some homeowners are undoubtedly reluctant to add personalization to their remodel for fear of hurting resale value, but statistics from a 2025 survey by My Financial Programs indicate that only an average of 12% of respondents had resale in mind when they remodeled. You're in good company if your priority is improving your living space — ideally for the long haul. Plants and floral accents are a great way to warm up your home and express your personal taste.