The No. 1 Regretted Home Design Decision, According to Hundreds of Reddit Users

Sometimes, home improvement projects don’t turn out how you envisioned. The wallpaper you loved in the store might end up being too busy for your living room, or the paint color you carefully picked out may look completely different under the bright lights of your bathroom. While it’s not uncommon to have second thoughts after completing a project, there are some that homeowners regret more than others. Hundreds of Reddit users are in agreement on one common home improvement project they wish they'd skipped—painting brick.

Painted Bricks Are the Most-Regretted Home Design Decision

Painting brick can be a quick, cost-effective way to update your home. It’s something you can usually do yourself, and it’s more budget-friendly than completely replacing brick that you’ve grown tired of, or that doesn’t fit your current style. When done correctly, you can paint a brick fireplace to make it look more modern, or even paint the exterior brick of your home for a whole new look.

However, painted brick is also a common regret for a reason. It could be as simple as not liking the new paint color as much as you expected. Or, it could be a more costly regret if you miss the natural look that the previous brick added, or if the paint job wasn’t done carefully and now makes your beautiful brick fireplace look sloppy, as some Reddit users complained.

But even when done correctly, painted brick can also lead to long-term problems. “Using painted brick traps moisture and prevents the air from passing through, which causes buildups of white salt, paint peeling, molds, and damage to the home’s structure,” says Bar Zakheim, CEO of Better Place Design & Build.

How to Fix Painted Bricks

If you initially used breathable paint meant for bricks and masonry, and your main regret with painted brick is the color, repainting can be an easy fix. But if you want the original, natural look of the brick back, removing paint can be a more extensive process.

“You can scrape and repaint your bricks with breathable masonry paint, which is designed to allow moisture vapor to escape from surfaces, or, if possible, fully remove all the paint,” Zakheim says. “This is costly and requires professional methods like sandblasting, repointing, and sealing.”

The easiest way to avoid design regrets and a potentially costly restoration is to make sure you follow the proper steps for painting brick. Don’t make the mistake of assuming it’s the same as painting the walls in your home; brick needs to be cleaned before painting to avoid chipping, and you need to use specialized paint to prevent moisture buildup, mildew, and future cracks. But with the right preparation, painted brick can update your home without a full remodel.

Other Popular Design Choices That Reddit Users Regret

Painted brick might be the most commonly regretted home design choice, but it’s hardly the only one.

1. Peel-and-Stick Tile

Peel-and-stick tile was another popular regret. One Reddit user described living with it for nine years before finally making a change. Their takeaway for other users was to get rid of the design choices you regret in your home sooner rather than later, instead of living with elements that you no longer enjoy.

Like painted brick, peel-and-stick tile is usually a quick, budget-friendly shortcut for a more extensive home project, like replacing bathroom tile or a bland backsplash in your kitchen. Luckily, peel-and-stick tile is much easier to replace if it ends up being a design change you regret.

“Although it’s easy to install, these tiles can peel, curl, or become damaged in high-moisture or high-traffic areas,” Zakheim says. “To fix them, add extra adhesive or double-sided flooring tape to the curling tiles and press them firmly. You can also use a heating gun or hair dryer to soften the adhesives for re-sticking or removal.”

2. Top-Mount Sinks

Another common regret was installing an above-mount or vessel sink, either in the kitchen or bathroom. While vessel sinks sit entirely above the counter, above-mount or top-mount sinks have a rim that sits on top of the counter. Both can look stylish and elegant in your home, but some Reddit users mentioned that above-mount sinks can be difficult to keep clean, while vessel sinks may just be awkward to use. 

“The most common issue with above-mount sinks is that their raised rims trap dirt, crumbs, and water, making them more difficult to clean,” Zakheim says. “The edges can collect soap scum, grime, and mildew. You need to use high-quality waterproof sealant around the sink rim during installation to prevent water from seeping under the sink and damaging the countertop or cabinet. You could add splash guards or a lip protector to reduce water spillage around the rim.”

3. Window Placement

Finally, many Reddit users had home regrets related to buying, rather than specific home improvement projects. One common regret was not considering the angle of the sun throughout the day or having enough shade at home. Several users mentioned that they didn’t realize how much of their yard or patio would be in direct sunlight throughout the day, while others said the direction their windows faced made certain rooms in their home, like the bedroom, too hot throughout the day.

If you have a room that gets hot from too much sun, blackout curtains can help reduce some of the light (though they won’t completely cancel out the extra heat). Planting trees or large shrubs can also be a solution to add more shade and keep your home cooler, though it’s definitely a long-term investment; it can take years for trees to mature enough to help cool sunny rooms in your home.

Don’t let potential regrets hold you back from making the design upgrades you want in your home. One person’s regret might be another’s favorite feature, and even most regrets can be fixed or upgraded into something you’ll love.