Even the experts give questionable design advice from time to time. If you’ve ever completed a renovation or a DIY project and immediately regretted the endeavor, you’re not alone. In fact, the biggest HGTV stars aren’t immune to making bad suggestions. Ben and Erin Napier, the iconic couple from “Home Town,” are usually praised for their innovation and original style. However, they’ve also given homeowners some risky pointers. Before you blindly follow their advice, make sure to consider the possible pitfalls of some of the Napier’s most controversial design choices.

There are several reasons why a piece of design advice should be taken with a grain of salt. The first consideration is that every space is different, and each client has different needs. What might work for one homeowner won’t necessarily benefit the next. So, you have to weigh the pros and cons of certain interior and exterior upgrades, especially if they are costly. These are the pieces of advice that have been dished out on “Home Town” that you might want to think twice before following yourself.

In Season 8, Episode 15, of “Home Town,” Erin recommended that they remove the section where the skylights used to be, cover it with sheetrock, and mount wooden beams for added character. She told the client, “Where these skylights used to be, we could have beautiful natural raw wood beams.” The advice sounds solid, but replacing the skylights could have been a lot more beneficial. After the renovation, the living area looked much darker than the original space. 

If your skylights are old or leaking, replacing the windows is well worth maintaining the bright, welcoming interior. A skylight replacement typically costs between $2,000 and $5,300. While the ROI can be difficult to measure monetarily, skylights can enhance the aesthetic value of your home as an architectural asset. 

Plus, you don’t need to remove your skylights to add character through wooden accents and ceiling decor. If you want to incorporate the wooden beam trend, try mounting just a single box beam across the peak of your vaulted ceiling. A foam ceiling beam is ideal to avoid any weight-bearing issues. This is a simple way to DIY these beams for an upgraded ceiling makeover without the weight of real wood. You can also add raw wood to other areas of your living space, including your fireplace mantel, door frames, or window frames.

In Season 1, Episode 1 of “Home Town,” the original home had a partially enclosed porch — popular in southern homes. However, Ben suggested removing the glass panels and exposing the porch to onlookers. He advised the homeowners, “You take that glass off, take that wall off, and then your neighbors can actually see in without there being a glare.” While the result might be more attractive for street appeal, the practicality is questionable. Ben said it himself — neighbors will be able to see in. An enclosed porch has several pros, including year-round use and energy efficiency. Especially if your porch is your most-used outdoor space, keeping it closed off can be worth the extra privacy and protection from the elements.

If you’re struggling with an enclosed porch that looks dated, there are several ways you can give it a modern upgrade without sacrificing functionality. For example, a screened-in porch is ideal in areas that are humid to combat pesky mosquitoes while still allowing air flow. Certain screens are darker to allow for enhanced privacy, and they can be retracted when they aren’t in use. For example, the Abrotain Fence Privacy Screen also increases energy efficiency in the summer with UV protection. Another option to modernize your enclosed porch is to replace the glass blinds with larger glass panels. This will add a more contemporary look, and you can choose what kind of glass to install based on your priorities.

Season 8, Episode 1, is proof that a larger kitchen isn’t the right choice for every space. It’s easy to get caught up in the common designer approach of aiming for an expansive, luxurious kitchen. However, sometimes the sacrifice isn’t worth it. Erin explained her plan: “Here we steal that laundry room and utility room to make it part of the kitchen!” Before you take her advice, consider the importance of having a dedicated laundry space in a convenient location. Families without laundry rooms frequently wish they had a designated area to keep the home clutter-free. Plus, it is actually possible for a kitchen to be too big – especially if it means taking away an arguably essential room.

Even if you have the opportunity to relocate your laundry room to a different area in your home, consider what this will mean for convenience and practicality. If you’ll have to haul laundry up and down the stairs, it might be worth keeping your laundry room as-is. Beyond stealing space from precious utility rooms, you can make your kitchen feel roomier in other ways. Simple changes like the color scheme can make a small kitchen look larger. As tempting as two-toned, ultra-saturated color palettes can be, a low-contrast color scheme is ideal to visually expand your space. Reflective countertops and appliances can also make your cooking space look bigger. Most importantly, try to avoid clutter and embrace minimalism.

In Season 8, Episode 4, Erin gave this homeowner questionable advice on how to add storage in the kitchen: “If we lost this window beside the back door, you would be able to build more cabinetry and have your refrigerator built in there.” Even the homeowner was hesitant, responding, “I hate to lose that window…but I’m excited about that.” Erin herself commented on how light and bright the original kitchen appeared. Keep in mind that if you change your mind about removing a window, adding a window back is very costly and may require certain permits.

Although there were still plenty of windows nearby, storage space could have been added without removing the window. Instead, try using windows to your advantage by exploring concepts like a window seat with storage. Mounting shelves in front of your window will still allow some light to shine through, and this concept is much less permanent than removing the window altogether. 

Another bit of controversial advice comes from Season 7, Episode 15. Erin expressed that she didn’t like the “zig-zag” of getting to the den, so she and Ben suggested the idea of moving several doorways to create a more fluid floor plan. Ben shared their plan with the homeowners, saying, “Imagine, like, coming in. You have a door there, from the front room.” Erin added, “And that door would go away that we just came through.” Don’t let Ben and Erin’s nonchalant approach fool you. They made it sound simple, but this adjustment can come with unexpected costs and headaches. You may even need to acquire a permit to install a new door – even in the interior.

Before you decide to move an interior door, you have to consider what could be hiding in the wall itself, like load-bearing beams, electricity, and plumbing. If it’s just a matter of moving it a few feet over, it may not be worth it. One solution to improve the flow of your space is to remove the door altogether and have an open doorway. You can also create an arched doorway for a contemporary touch that adds intention to the layout. In fact, adding interior arches could increase the value of your home. 

In Season 7, Episode 18, Ben and Erin made a risky suggestion to turn one of the two bedrooms into a large bathroom. Erin urged the homeowner, explaining, “This bedroom could become a bathroom. You could have a walk-in shower, and I think there’s an opportunity to have a lot of fun with tile in here too!” The homeowners ended up taking Erin’s advice and going for the dicey floor plan. Typically, if you have a very small house (like the home in the episode), it is not advantageous to remove a bedroom in favor of a larger bathroom. It can affect the resale value and the practicality of your home. It’s a much better idea if you have several bedrooms to spare.

If you’re debating whether to turn an extra room into a bathroom, there are several practical issues to consider. First, determine whether the room offers enough space for your future bathroom. You will need a minimum of 18 square feet for a half bathroom, approximately 35 square feet for a .75 bathroom, and at least 50 square feet for a complete space with a shower and tub combo, sink, and toilet. Instead, look for ways to make the most of your small bathroom. Opt for a floating vanity or one with a compact footprint, install a space-saving shower, and keep the color scheme light for an airier feel.