Planning a ‘small’ renovation?

Well, small does not always mean simple. Learn where these renovations often go wrong, and how to avoid the most common traps.

Listen to the episode now.

Hello! This is Episode 393, and in this episode, I want to talk about one of the most common and most misleading phrases I hear homeowners use when they’re planning work on their home.

And it’s this: “We’re just doing a small renovation.”

Now, I understand why people say it. Usually, what they mean is that they’re not doing a full new build, they’re not taking on a huge extension, they’re not redesigning the whole house, or they’re only touching one part of the home rather than everything at once. 

So the phrase can sound logical enough. And it can feel accurate in comparison to some other, much bigger project.

But here’s the problem.

That phrase, “small renovation”, often creates a whole set of assumptions that can be super deceptive. 

It can make you think the work will be straightforward, that the process will be simpler, that the risks are lower, that you do not need much documentation or planning, and that you can largely sort it out as you go, keeping yourself on hand to help navigate decisions and timing.

But most of the time, it’s not a motivation or confidence issue.

And what I see again and again is that this framing can get homeowners into trouble, because what they are calling “small” is often still complex, expensive, disruptive, and deeply connected to how the home functions overall.

So in this episode, I want to bust that myth open. I want to help you think more clearly about what a small renovation actually is, why “small” does not automatically mean simple, why these projects can become surprisingly chaotic, and why even modest work in your home still benefits enormously from strategy, sequence, and proper preparation.

The myth of the small renovation is built on a very simple assumption.

And that assumption is this: If a project is small, then it should be simple.

On the surface, that seems logical enough. If you’re not building a whole new home, if you’re not doing a large extension, if you’re not demolishing half the house and starting again, then surely the project should be easier to navigate. Surely the stakes are lower. Surely the process should be more manageable.

But the reality is often quite different.

Because what actually determines complexity in a renovation project is not the size of the area you’re working in. It’s how the intended work interacts with the existing building.

Once you begin altering the systems of the home, you are dealing with a web of interconnected decisions. Plumbing, electrical systems, structure, ventilation, cabinetry, surfaces, lighting, circulation, waterproofing, thermal performance. All of these things begin to intersect, and decisions in one area quickly ripple across the rest of the house.

And this is where things begin to unravel for many homeowners.

Because if the project is labelled as “small,” it often gets approached without the same level of preparation or clarity that a larger project would receive.

Want to avoid the common traps that exist in ‘small renovations’?

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE NOW.

RESOURCES: 

One of the biggest risks in a small renovation project is sourcing your own fixtures and finishes. Learn more with these episodes:

• EPISODE 198 (Part 1) ‘Can you save money by supplying your own fixtures and finishes?’ >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-supplying-own-fixtures-finishes 
• EPISODE 199 (Part 2) ‘Three reasons why supplying your own fixtures and finishes is recommended for homeowners and builders’ >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-supplying-own-fixtures-finishes-three-reasons 

Learn more about how to get started on your home design, whoever you’re working with >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/happy-home-design

Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program, HOME METHOD >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/

Learn more about how to interview and select the right builder with the Choose Your  Builder mini-course >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/choose-your-builder 

Want to create a sustainable home when building or renovating? Grab the 44 Ways to Create a Sustainable free e-guide here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/44-ways