3 min readThe specifications of a dream home are likely to change over time. What someone wants out of a home in their 20s is likely different from what they want in their 40s. People get married, they have kids, they move their aging parents in—or they realize they can't actually handle sharing a closet with their spouse. As people change, so do their goals. Your home should reflect these desires and needs. And if you're one of those people who's looking to drastically change a part of your house, then you should learn the difference between a renovation vs. a remodel.
That's right: these terms are not interchangeable. Whether you're fixing up a house you just bought or refreshing the one you currently live in, knowing the difference between these two words can help you better communicate what you want to a designer or contractor. Keep reading to learn more about renovations vs. remodels and when to choose one over the other.
Additional copy by Meghan Shouse.
What Is a Renovation?
Plainly speaking, most pros consider a renovation to be cosmetic improvements to a space that don’t involve changing its intended purpose. This could constitute a range of projects, ranging in budget (and impact), both big and small. Take a kitchen, for example; a renovation of the space may include things like painting or replacing cabinetry, upgrading the countertops, or even installing new light fixtures. There’s no denying these changes can have a serious impact on how you live in the space—they can even increase your equity in your home. That being said, you are not changing the overall structure of your space, making “renovation” the right identifier for this type of project.
What Is a Remodel?
On the flip side, a remodeling project is any venture where you set out to drastically change the overall function or purpose of a space. Whether you’re looking to add a primary bathroom to your bedroom or want to create an open floor plan between your living room, dining room, and kitchen, those are all major structural changes. While there are exceptions, a remodeling project will almost always cost more than a renovation project, thanks in large part to the need for more specialized contractors, permits, and design pros. It may take a bit more planning, but a remodel is often a great way to make a house function better for your needs and infuse it with customizations suited to your lifestyle.
Choosing Between a Renovation vs. Remodel
When deciding whether either type of project is right for you, it’s important to consider what your goals for your home are. Are you looking to make it more in line with your preferred aesthetics, or drag it out of the 1980s time warp it seems to be stuck in? Renovate away. Want to add a room for in-laws to spend the weekend or a private space for newly-minted teenagers to hang with friends? A remodel may be more your speed.
Budget is also an important consideration. If a remodel is on your horizon five or more years down the road, there still may be some low-key renovations you can undertake in the meantime (think: new fixtures, upgraded floors) to ensure you love your space in the interim.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: Maybe you’re just in the wrong house for you. Before undertaking a renovation or remodel (or really, sinking any large amount of money into your home), it’s important to have an honest conversation with yourself as to whether the space is worth investing in. “We get people who want to know, ‘Should I invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in this house or not?’” says designer Victoria Sass. “At some point, it’s not a good investment if what you really want is a different house. It’s like a marriage: Is this the one, or are you trying to make it into something it’ll never be?”
Ready to take the next steps? Whether you’ve decided that a renovation or a remodel is right for your space, your best bet is assembling a trusted team of pros to help you navigate everything from drawing up floor plans to securing permits (which, yes, you may still need with a renovation).
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Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist with a background in interior and lifestyle content. Her work helps readers digest design trends and provides actionable expert advice for creating a home they love. She has over a decade of experience in the media industry, and her work has appeared in Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, SELF, Apartment Therapy, The Knot, Domino, HGTV Magazine, Country Living, and more. Alyssa holds a BA in Journalism and Public Relations from Marist College and interior design certifications from NYIAD and RIDQC.
