It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two years since we wrapped up the major renovation of our 1980s American Colonial. Overall, I’m still so happy with how everything turned out—but now that we’ve lived in the space for a while, a few things stand out that I’d probably do differently if I had the chance to go back.

If you’re planning a renovation or knee-deep in one right now, maybe these reflections will help you avoid a few of my “why did I do that?” moments.

1. Light-Colored Carpet on the Stairs (and Upstairs)

This is my biggest regret—going with a light-colored carpet on the stairs and the entire upper floor. It shows everything. Dirt, dust, footprints, even the smallest scuffs. The stairs are especially hard to keep clean, and I constantly find myself wondering why we didn’t just install wood treads. The good news? This can be changed eventually. And honestly, I’m already dreaming about a beautiful runner with classic brass stair rods. Wouldn’t that be fun?

2. Black Hardware in the Primary Bathroom

This one might be a little controversial, but I really don’t love the black hardware in our primary bathroom. At first, it looked sleek and modern—but it’s so hard to keep clean. Water spots, toothpaste splatter, and general grime show up constantly. And if I’m being honest, I’m kind of over the black-and-white farmhouse vibe. The upside: hardware is one of the easiest things to swap out. I’m leaning toward brushed nickel or even a soft brass next time around.

3. Skipping Updated Trim Upstairs

When we moved into the house, it had teeny-tiny baseboards—honestly, I think the builder just used door trim. During the renovation, we updated all the downstairs baseboards to beautiful 6” planks, and it made such a difference. For some reason, though, we didn’t do the same upstairs. No clue why! I think we were so focused on the big-ticket items that we overlooked it. Now, updating the upstairs trim is on my project list. It’s a relatively small change that makes a big visual impact.

4. Painting the Fireplace White

Here’s one that might surprise you: I kind of regret painting our fireplace white. Don’t get me wrong—it really brightens up the space—but I wish I’d taken more time to consider other options. I love the idea of incorporating custom molding with a bit of exposed brick around the hearth. If I could do it over, I’d probably enclose the top portion of the fireplace, add detailed trim, and finish it off with a beautiful mantle. Lesson learned: sometimes it’s worth sitting with a decision a little longer.

Final Thoughts

Renovating your home is full of decisions—so many decisions—and it can be hard to know what’s going to work until you actually live in the space. I don’t see these things as mistakes. They’re just opportunities to tweak and improve as our style evolves and we get to know our home better.

If you’re in the middle of a renovation, give yourself some grace. It’s impossible to get every single detail perfect, but thankfully, most things can be changed down the line. That’s the beauty of making a house your home—it’s always a work in progress.