Home-Based Business Owner? Don’t Make These Renovation Mistakes

The eighties kids will probably remember the U.S. sitcom Designing Women. The show centered on four interior designers, all women, working from their office in a residential home in Atlanta, Georgia.

What stood out for viewers was the set design inside the Victorian-era Italianate house. Every piece was curated to exhibit the foursome’s design prowess, letting their work speak for itself. It was a stroke of genius to incorporate functional art into a home and workspace.

Very seldom do businesses get it right by creating a dual office and living space. Due to the high cost of living, many companies are moving to residential areas. And if you intend to transform your existing home into a work area as well, don’t make the following renovation mistakes.

You Didn’t Plan for ‘Future You’

Future you is smart. Organized. Maybe successful enough to need an assistant. But current you? You’re planning purely for today.

Big mistake.

Business renovation experts warn that failing to plan long-term leads to costly rework later. They emphasize future-proofing from the very beginning.

Think Beyond Your Laptop-and-Ring-Light Setup

Depending on the number of team members you’re bringing on board, space is a major issue in many residential offices.

Will you need more storage? A meeting nook? A backdrop that doesn’t look like you live inside a laundry basket? Design for tomorrow, not yesterday.

You Underestimated the ‘Small Space Spiral’

Talking about space or the lack thereof, you’re at maximum risk of making design mistakes.

The interior pros at Homes & Gardens say that cluttered surfaces, poor lighting, and furniture that’s “just a little too big” are the top offenders in tiny spaces.

Many Filipino residents already live in high-rise residential apartments where space is a luxury. So, please, refrain from the following.

Resist the Pinterest Trap

Pinterest will have you convinced you need a wall-length bookshelf, a floating desk, and 17 plants. Realtor.com warns that many trending remodel ideas simply don’t work in real homes.

Make it Functional First, Aesthetic Second

Ideal Home calls this the most common home office mistake of all time. Your office isn’t a showroom. It’s command central. Let it work for you.

You Forgot Accessibility

Home-based business owners don’t think about accessibility until someone gets injured or the stairs become a daily cardio challenge.

If your workspace is upstairs or you run a home business that brings clients into multi-level areas, accessibility matters.

Enter: compact home elevators. Convenience. Safety. Quality.

Lift home elevators by Cibes Philippines are space-saving, energy-efficient, and don’t require the heavy installation people associate with traditional lifts.

With no pit and no machine room construction, these elegant home lifts have zero impact on your roof structure. It not only adds style, but is a great investment for families, pushing up your property value.

You Ignored Office Renovation Red Flags

If big organizations struggle to renovate efficiently, what chance does your solo setup have?

Case in point: Singapore’s HTX’s S$13 million renovation disaster was recently flagged for major lapses and poor oversight. If a government agency can get blindsided, imagine what could happen in your living room.

No Clear Plan

Unclear scopes lead to ballooning budgets and chaos. The cheapest contractor is rarely the best. And sometimes, they’re the ones hiding surprises under the floorboards, which leads us to…

You Didn’t Check What’s Under the Floor

A U.S. couple, Mark and Jenny Ronsman, discovered an entire hot tub under their home office floor during renovation work. Yes. A literal hot tub.

Your home could be hiding secrets. Not fun secrets. Expensive secrets. Before any remodeling, inspect, test, verify, and assume nothing.

Because nothing derails productivity like discovering a surprise spa under your desk.

You Over-Customized Your Workspace

We get it. You want the dream office. But Entrepreneur warns that getting hyper-specific with your remodel can turn your workspace into a future liability.

Avoid niche choices that age badly. Stay away from neon wall paint, permanent themed murals, and built-in cat jungle gym unless you’re in the pet business.

Think timeless, not trendy.

You Didn’t Budget for the ‘Oh No’ Moments

Even the best renovations come with surprises. Renovation experts repeat the same caution in chorus: a buffer saves you from financial heartbreak.

Your budget needs backup. Plan it meticulously to include 10 – 20% on top. This is the “sanity tax.” Pay it gladly.

Blending work and life doesn’t mean your workspace should swallow your entire house. Boundaries matter. While devising your budget, factor in dedicated zones. Somewhere that signals “I’m working now, please don’t ask me where the vinegar is.”

Be Smart, Not Stressed Out

A home-based business gives you freedom. Your renovation should support that, not sabotage it.

Plan ahead. Stay realistic. Keep it functional. And maybe check for hidden hot tubs. Happy renovating!