Renovate or Redecorate? What does your home need?

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News/USA Today Network

Most homeowners reach a point where they wonder: Do I renovate or can I fix this with decorating?

The answer depends. And it could be a combination of both.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I am often called on to help clients decide what to do. So, I thought I would offer some practical guidelines to help determine what you and your home need. A renovation or is redecorating enough? 

Before you rip out cabinets or start pricing tile, take a step back. Many homes don’t need a renovation. They need a reboot and a plan.

 When is it time to Renovate?

Fact: Some issues go beyond surface-level updates. If your home isn’t functioning well, renovation is usually the right move. 

• Your layout no longer fits your life

If daily routines feel awkward: poor kitchen flow, no workspace, cramped rooms, the structure needs attention. 

• Outdated features affect usability

Bad lighting placement, limited storage, or aging systems make a home inefficient, not just in need of a refresh. 

• Obvious wear and tear.

Cracked tile, structural problems, electrical issues, water damage, or worn flooring often signal deeper issues that need to be addressed.  

• Cosmetic changes haven’t worked.

If you’ve tried paint or minor updates and the space still feels off, the problem likely isn’t visual. 

• You’re thinking long-term.

Strategic renovations, especially kitchens and bathrooms, will improve both livability and future value. 

Bottom line: If these are some of the issues you face, renovate.

When is decorating enough?

Fact: Not every home needs construction. Sometimes the issue isn’t structure. It’s cohesion.

• The layout works, but the space feels unfinished. Good bones, but no clear direction. 

• Color is off or nonexistent.

The right palette can completely change how a room feels. 

• Your space lacks personality.

Bare walls or outdated artwork can make a home feel sad. Even rotating pieces you already own can shift the mood. 

• You can’t pull it all together.

A decorator helps balance color, texture, scale, and finishes so everything feels intentional. 

• You want change without disruption

Decorating is faster, less invasive, and more budget-friendly. 

Bottom line: Not every homeowner is ready for a major project. And that’s okay.

Decorating may be an interim fix OR it may be the only fix that you need. From cabinet upgrades to simple bathroom refreshes, check out these ideas on how to update your home without starting over. Because many kitchens and bathrooms don’t need demolition to feel brand new. 

Simple bathroom updates that make a big impact

What to do with an outdated pink bathroom? Renovate or redecorate? Redecorate! Clean tile and grout. Peel and stick flooring. New hardware, lighting (ceiling and sconces) and mirror. Add wallpaper and new shade. Paint trim and ceiling. Add new, white countertop and rug. 

Bathrooms are one of the easiest spaces to refresh without major work:

• Replace vanity countertops instead of replacing entire vanity. 

• Change fixtures (faucet, showerhead, hardware) for a cohesive finish. 

• Upgrade lighting and mirrors to modernize instantly. 

• Refresh grout and caulking to make tile look new again. 

• Use peel-and-stick flooring or wall options for quick updates. 

• Layer in textiles and artwork to add warmth and personality. 

• Paint where needed.

Because plumbing stays in place, these updates deliver high impact with minimal disruption.

Smart kitchen updates 

Outdated kitchen with lots of clutter that makes the room look small. Renovation or redecorate? Redecorate! Declutter countertops and remove outdated wall art. Say goodbye to magnets on refrigerator and fake plant on top. Stain (you could also paint) cabinets and replace fronts and hardware. Replace countertops. New lighting. New window treatment. New chairs and new stainless appliances. Add a white tile backsplash. Paint ceiling.

A full kitchen renovation isn’t always necessary. Many kitchens improve dramatically with updates or a combination of renovating and decorating.

• Paint and/or reface cabinets instead of replacing them. 

• New hardware for an instant style change goes a long way.

• Update the backsplash for a fresh focal point. 

• Add under-cabinet lighting to improve both look and function. 

• Replace the faucet and sink details for a modern touch. 

• Replace countertops if needed.

• Painting is always a good idea. 

And if it means combining both options, start small. The best homes aren’t created all at once. They evolve over time.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit https://spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit https://spectacularspaces.com/blog

Spring decorating: a breath of fresh air

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network May 2023

My favorite season is spring. May is a breath of fresh air. A time to soak up the outdoors and beautiful days before the heat and humidity hit. And I am happy to say, color is back!

This island green is our latest color crush for spring with Majorelle wallcovering, Spring, by Brunschwig & Fils. Available at Kravet to the Trade. Photo: Kravet.

After three years of getting through a pandemic and then finding ourselves in recovery mode from a hurricane, neutrals and beiges are giving way to beautiful island greens, blues, yellows, creams and pink/purples. It’s as though we have crawled out into the light and want to create happy spaces with beautiful color again. Sofas, rugs, window treatments, accessories…they all cry out for color.

As a Bonita Springs-based interior decorator working throughout Southwest Florida, I see many homeowners looking for a refresh this spring that also updates their homes. And most of all, they want comfort. Pretty and comfortable. You can do a little or a lot depending upon your budget. Here are a few suggestions and new ideas:

• We are living in color again! Clients are brave and not afraid to try something new. Greens are hugely popular along with the return of yellow (proceed with caution).

• Rooms are being decluttered and heavy furnishings being swapped out for something lighter.

• Rattan continues to be popular especially in accent chairs, lighting and daybeds.

Key Haven, by Winfield Thybony Design, is a pretty, peaceful background for an island look. Wallcovering available at Kravet to the Trade. Photo: Kravet.

• Old rugs are being replaced for new and bold in jute and sisal.

• Lavender is finding its way into décor. Think: Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Ice.

• Freestanding bathtubs are being incorporated into master baths again. Whether most really use them or not, they look great.

• If your artwork is looking tired and faded, or just doesn’t work anymore, shop for something new.

Before you put a spring refresh plan together and think about new purchases, consider some things that keep your home from having a fresh, updated look:

• Patterned sofas. Go solid and save the patterns for chairs, window treatments and pillows.

• Trends. Let’s face it, trends are fun and we love to find some version of a new trend for our clients. But there is a reason that white cabinets are a timeless, classic choice. Before you go too far off the deep end with a trend, ask yourself: “Will I still love it in five years?”

• Tile countertops. The time has passed for these and who wants to clean grout every day?

• Cheap paint. You don’t need to buy the most expensive on the market but something in a middle range will go on better, clean easier. Worth a few extra dollars.

• Vertical blinds. These never looked good and there are options.

• Don’t cover every wall with family photos. This really dates a home and makes it look old. Pick a few and frame them in identical frames and display them on a table, desk, piano or on one wall for your family gallery.

• Wall to wall carpet. Just don’t.

• Old fixtures and drawer pulls. Things change and updating these will give your space a new look.

• Popcorn ceilings. Whatever you have to do to remove these, it’s worth it.

• Old wallpaper. Old as in more than five years old. I know, you paid a lot but it’s dated and needs to come down. Try a beautiful paint color for an option.

• Wood paneling. Paint it.

• Matchy, matchy anything. Don’t buy an entire room of furniture that matches. Unless it’s for a rental property. Otherwise, use some imagination and find some pieces that you love. Matchy matchy says, I just don’t care. And I know you do.

• Honey-stained oak cabinets. These were the rage but now, nothing dates a home more than this look. If they are in good shape, have them painted. It’s worth the investment.

• Fake plants. Please, just don’t.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit her blog at spectacularspaces.com/blog