I totally get what you mean about picking your battles. When we built our place, I was all about the “wow” features—heated floors, fancy lighting, the works. But honestly, the best decision was splurging on insulation and a killer HVAC system. The comfort level is just next-level, and it’s not something you really notice in a brochure. Did anyone else find that some of the “luxury” upgrades just didn’t feel worth it once you moved in? I still wonder if I should’ve skipped the built-in espresso machine...
Did anyone else find that some of the “luxury” upgrades just didn’t feel worth it once you moved in? I still wonder if I should’ve skipped the built-in espresso machine...
- Can definitely relate to this. When we did our custom build, I spent a ton of time researching “smart” features—automated blinds, integrated audio, all that jazz. Here’s what actually mattered after living in it for a year:
- Insulation and HVAC: 100% agree. We went with spray foam plus ERV system, and the air quality/comfort is on another level. The energy bills are way lower than our old place too.
- Fancy lighting: Looks cool for about a week. After that, we mostly use like three settings. The rest is just... there.
- Built-in espresso machine: Had one installed in the kitchen wall—thought it’d be a daily treat. Turns out, cleaning it is a pain and I still use my old pour-over half the time.
- Heated floors: Actually love these, especially in bathrooms. Not as “wow” as I thought but genuinely nice during winter.
- One thing I wish I’d done differently: spent less on tech upgrades and more on storage solutions. Custom closets and a mudroom bench have been way more useful than the voice-activated shower.
- If I had to do it again, I’d focus on stuff you can’t change later (insulation, windows, HVAC) and skip most of the gadgets. Some things sound amazing on paper but just don’t get used much day-to-day.
- Not saying all luxury upgrades are overrated—some are great—but yeah, comfort and practicality beat “wow” factor for me every time now.
Funny how you only realize what matters after living in the space for a while...
If I had to do it again, I’d focus on stuff you can’t change later (insulation, windows, HVAC) and skip most of the gadgets.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen folks drop serious cash on things like built-in wine fridges or smart mirrors, but then they’re stuck with drafty windows or a noisy furnace. The “wow” stuff is fun for a bit, but solid basics make life easier long-term. I always tell people—good storage and a mudroom will get used every single day, but that fancy shower? Maybe not so much.
I get where you’re coming from, but I gotta say, sometimes the “gadgets” aren’t just fluff. We put in a heated bathroom floor—wasn’t cheap, but it’s honestly my favorite thing in the house, especially in winter. Sure, windows and insulation matter, but if you know you’ll love something every day, maybe it’s worth the splurge? I just think it’s not always so black-and-white.
if you know you’ll love something every day, maybe it’s worth the splurge?
That’s a fair point. I’ve seen people regret cutting “non-essentials” that actually made their daily routines better. Heated floors, towel warmers, even built-in speakers—sometimes those are the things folks talk about years later. Of course, it’s a balance. I’d just say, prioritize what’ll actually get used, not just what looks cool in a brochure.
