The one home design rule that guarantees a solid investment with staying power
Want your construction project to run smoothly, stay on budget, and produce something that truly works for your daily life? There’s one simple rule I tell every homeowner planning a new build or renovation.
Follow this rule and you’ll get…
A solid investment instead of a money pit
Your home that actually works for your needs, now and in the future
The flexibility to adapt to changing trends and styles without having to tear everything down and start again
Here it is:
Budget first. Space next. Colour last.
Let’s break it down.
Budget first
Before you start picking out floor tiles or fancy faucets, there’s a fundamental question you should ask yourself first. That question is: “What can I afford?”
This might seem obvious, but I've seen too many projects where "The Look" took priority over the budget, with disastrous financial consequences. All those gorgeous homes in magazines and HGTV might show off beautiful end results, but they don’t mention the intensive planning or massive price tag behind them.
Your budget should dictate your plan — not the other way around. At a minimum, this means three things.
1. Start by getting very clear on what you can afford to spend
Have a real number written down and know where you will get it from.
2. Be sure you’ve set a solid contingency fund to cover any surprises (there are always surprises!)
The more complex and risky the projects (big renovations, I’m looking at you), the more you should have in your back pocket for emergencies. 15% for new builds and 30% for renos is a good general rule of thumb.
3. Do your research to understand what things actually cost in your area
If you’re DIYing a smaller reno, that means pricing out everything you’ll need, plus any labour you plan to hire. If you have a bigger project planned, take the time to find a solid and trustworthy contractor who can help you with this.
Want to learn more about construction budgeting? (Gold star for you.)
I talk about finding your number and setting a contingency (plus 5 more realistic budget-setting tips) in this article. And I walk you through every step of the planning process in this article. You should read them.
But for now: Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not order that “statement fixture”, until you have these three things in place.
Space next
Once you have a budget and contingency in place, the next question to ask yourself is: “How do I need this space to work?”
Most people confuse what their space looks like with how it works… but unless you live in a magazine, that’s a recipe for disaster. Building or renovating is your chance to create a home that truly functions for your daily life. That means asking questions like:
How does your family actually use each room throughout the day?
What frustrates you most about your current space?
Which spaces need to serve multiple purposes?
What everyday activities feel harder than they should because of your current layout?
What's currently stored in the wrong place because there's nowhere better to put it?
What spaces do you avoid using because they just don't work well?
By working through these questions, you may find that what looks great in a picture would make the worst possible living space for you and your family.
As you think about what you need from your space, keep these two points in mind:
Think long term.
As you move through seasons of life, a well-designed space will adapt with you. For example:
Will your bedroom and bathroom setup still work when your toddlers are teens?
Do you need to account for future needs around accessibility or aging in place?
Could your kitchen handle both family dinners and future entertaining needs?
Where will you actually live?
By this I mean, focus your space and investment on the areas you’ll actually spend your time.
Grand entryways are a great example. They’re gorgeous, but if you always come in through the garage, you’ve dedicated 10% of your living space to something you’ll never use. But if the front door is Traffic Control Central, you probably want it to feel welcoming AND functional.
Here’s another one: master suites. If you’re only there when you’re sleeping, is it really where you want to spend a huge chunk of money? On the other hand, if it’s truly your retreat in a house full of teenagers, you might decide it’s worth it to invest in a space where you can catch your breath and read a book in peace.
It’s your home. You get to decide. But focus your design choices on how you’ll use the space, and how much — not just on the wow factor.
Colour last
We’re finally at the part that most people start with when they think about design: the colours, materials and finishes you see and touch in your home every day.
But there’s a reason this is last on the list. Without a clear sense of your budget and how you need your space to work for the long term, you won’t know how to make smart design decisions for your home — decisions that make sense financially and will stand the test of time.
Making decisions at this stage can still be overwhelming, though. Here’s my best advice on where to focus and prioritize.
Think long-term value, not short-term trends
As you think about your home’s design, think about what you'll be happy living with for the next 15-20 years. Our "want it now" culture pushes us toward choosing whatever's trendy at the moment. But remember: trends change fast, and replacing finishes is expensive. This is especially true for the structural stuff that’s hard to undo: walls, doors, windows, cabinets, floors.
To really make your investment last, choose a look that will last, too.
Where to invest (and where to play it safe)
I suggest you focus your spending on quality materials and neutral “bones” that can stand the test of time. This includes:
Flooring
Cabinets
Countertops
Tile
Save trends for things that are easier and more affordable to update, like:
Paint colors
Cabinet hardware
Light fixtures
Furniture and decor like pillows and artwork
This approach lets you update your space as styles change without breaking the bank or living through another major renovation.
Key takeaways
Start with your budget and stick to it. Before you look at a single design photo, know what you can afford and set aside a healthy contingency.
Design your space around how you actually live, not how it looks in a photo. Focus on function first and invest in the areas you use most.
Choose timeless materials for expensive, hard-to-change elements like flooring and cabinets. Save trendy choices for things that are easy to update like paint and hardware.
One rule, three parts. Keep them in the right order, and I guarantee you’ll start making design choices that deliver solid, lasting ROI — and a home that works the way you need it to for a long time to come.
