Stuck in a Dated Home? Here’s How to Fake a Remodel, According to Designers

Let’s be real: moving right now feels… unlikely. Between sky-high interest rates, low inventory, and “you paid what for that?” prices, plenty of people are pressing pause on the dream home hunt. But staying put doesn’t have to mean settling.

If your space is starting to feel a little tired, good news: you don’t need a new address to get a fresh start. With a few smart, style-forward updates, your current home can feel brand new (and yes, wildly chic). No demo, no construction dust, no stressful Zillow rabbit holes required.

Ahead, Havenly designer Heather Goerzen shares her tips for “remodeling” your current home without breaking the bank, from paint to wallpaper and beyond. Her genius tips will help you make a dated, builder-grade home look custom and expensive — her home is exhibit A.

1. Embrace a fresh color palette

When it comes to camouflaging and styling dated or builder-grade features you hate, never underestimate the power of color. If you have 90s-era walnut floors, for example, a cooler color palette will soften the orange undertones. Dealing with builder-grade gray-on-gray everything? Warm it up with shades of rich brown, tan, terra cotta, and natural wood. Use color to your advantage!

2. Do a DIY kitchen reno

Believe it or not, there’s a lot you can do to update an old kitchen without renovating a thing. Have orange-toned wood cabinets and tan stone backsplash that just screams 2004? Paint your cabinets and backsplash tile and upgrade the hardware and voila! Your space feels modernized for $200 (cabinetry details here and tiling here).

3. Paint builder-grade tile

If ripping out floor or backsplash tile just isn’t in the budget, embrace the power of paint. You’ll have to hit Home Depot and do a little prep work (don’t forget the high-quality bonding primer and epoxy, latex, or oil tile paint!), but this scrappy DIY can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

4. Disguise dated carpet

Have dull, greige carpet throughout your home? Disguise it with a healthy dose of color and pattern. Layer colorful rugs throughout each room (bonus points for a hide-style rug for some shape variation), and consider adding even more eye-catching color and pattern through textiles (bed spreads, curtains, throw blankets, and colorful upholstery are all fair game).

5. Embrace bold colors

Speaking of color, sometimes a builder-grade home just needs a moody touch. Consider deep charcoal, navy, emerald green, or even rich brown paint on the walls to liven up a dated space. Going the bold route adds personality and makes a design statement, as opposed to staying in blah neutral territory.

6. Consider wallpaper

To that end, wallpaper is the gold standard when it comes to camouflaging less-than-desirable design details and livening up a builder-grade space. Consider a wallpapered accent wall for an eye-catching focal point, or go wall-to-wall for a charming, traditional touch.

7. Embrace unique details

We know: it’s easy to see dated features in a home and immediately want to update them. Take this traditional dutch door in our VP of Creative and Design’s home, for example. But rather than replace it with a more modern solution, she embraced the character, and balanced out the look with clean white walls and chic, edgy furnishings.

8. Install wall paneling

Dealing with a modern, builder-grade space straight out of the nineties or 2000s? Add character, personality, and visual interest with wall moulding. From shiplap and board and batten to intricate picture moulding, millwork can add so much charm to a dated space.

9. Get creative with paint

While we love an all-over monochrome paint job, you can use paint in more selective, creative ways to camouflage dated design features. In the above living room, for example, Havenly designer Melissa Wagner used teal and white paint to disguise the 90s-era tile around her fireplace — and the end result is a show-stopper.

10. Textiles on textiles

A designer’s secret weapon for transforming a builder-grade space? Layering textiles. Oversized rugs hide dated flooring — whether it’s tile, carpet, or vinyl plank — while colorful curtains add softness to blank walls (not to mention making ceilings and windows look larger — if you know you know).

11. DIY a fireplace mantel

Have a fireplace, but hate the look of it? Give your mantle a DIY upgrade. While paint is always an easy fix for dated tile, you can actually buy vintage mantles fully intact online or at certain antique stores. Simply remove your old fireplace mantle, and replace it with the mantle that suits your style.

12. Never underestimate furniture

A functional layout filled with expertly-curated furniture and decor can dramatically alleviate any “dated” feeling present in a home (wink, wink). But seriously — investing in the furniture and decor that suit your unique style can make any builder-grade or old-school space feel homey.

13. Take risks

Probably the biggest mistake you can make when styling a builder-grade space is playing it safe.  Sticking to the bland, boring aesthetic will just make it look even more tired and stale. Taking bold risks, from paint to furnishings, is a great way to breathe modern life into a dated home. Have fun with color, pattern, and silhouette, and let your personality shine.

14. Decor can go a long way

And finally, the obvious: invest in decor you absolutely love to refresh any builder-grade feature. Hate your kitchen countertops? Style them up with layered cutting boards, fresh florals, and stacked books. Is your bathroom straight out of 1970? Lean into the vibe with retro accents and funky decor. Just remember: less is more, and quality over quantity!

Want expert advice on your own space, straight from an interior designer? Get started today with ourstyle quiz.