We all love a good gut renovation—there’s a reason total-home renovation shows are eternally popular—but in real life, with real budgets, a full renovation sometimes just isn’t an option. Tearing your home down to the studs, as they say on those shows, costs a lot of money, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a space that doesn’t serve you if you don’t have the funds for a full renovation. Enter: the No-Demo Reno.
Smaller-scale home updates are always a great option, whether you’re biding your time until you can afford a larger update or you simply want to take your time sprucing up your space—and the right ones can make an enormous difference in your enjoyment of your home. Better Homes and Gardens spoke with Bobby Berk (yes, that Bobby Berk) for his top tips for affordably increasing the value of your home—and, more importantly, loving it.
Bobby Berk is a design expert and TV host. He is the author of Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good for the Mind, an interior design book published in 2023, and was one of the stars of Netflix’s Emmy-winning Queer Eye series for eight seasons.
Bobby Berk’s Top No-Demo Reno Tips
Paint, Paint, Paint
The answer to many of your no-demo renovation conundrums is simple, according to Berk: paint. Painting (almost anything you can) is Berk’s simple solution for an inexpensive and easy way to boost your home’s value and appearance.
“If you’re planning to eventually demo something and are just waiting until you can afford it, don’t be afraid to paint something. Paint’s great,” Berk—who has partnered with home services site Thumbtack—says.
Whether it’s countertops, backsplashes, or cabinets, Berk encourages painting anything that will help you love your home more. No need to wait until you can do that big renovation that’s years away, love the home that you’re in now!
You Can Keep the Oak Cabinets
Many of us write off warm oak cabinetry as dated and something that should either be removed or painted, but Berk says that doesn’t always have to be the case. Changing other materials around the cabinets can make a huge difference.
“If you install a nice neutral countertop and a neutral backsplash, oak cabinets can actually be gorgeous. If you get rid of any other dated tones, like browns and reds, that are usually found in ’90s countertops and backsplashes, it completely changes how the cabinets look,” Berk says. He also recommends replacing any old hardware with a new, modern set.
JOHN BESSLER
Bobby Berk’s Tips for Curb Appeal
Berk is a minimalist when it comes to his exterior design preferences. “When it comes to the front of your house, a lot of people tend to think that more is more. I think that less is more,” he says.
A Simple Rule
Berk tends to stick to a simple design rule to keep home exteriors from looking too busy: Stick with three materials and colors. Keeping it simple will not only help you when designing your home’s exterior materials, but will also result in a tidy-looking appearance.
Color Schemes
Monochromatic is Berk’s ideal exterior color scheme, but if you prefer more color on the outside of your home, he has another easy piece of advice for choosing them.
“I like to add some dimension by painting the trim just one shade lighter or darker. Just look at the paint swatch of the house color, and choose the one that’s one level above or below it,” Berk says.
Landscaping Advice
Berk prefers wild and low-maintenance plants and flowers rather than neatly trimmed and high-maintenance ones. Wild lavender and rosemary are some of his favorite herbs to plant, as the bees love them—and the deer do not. He recommends using other multi-functional plants that are not only beautiful to look at but serve a purpose in the environment.
Partnering with Thumbtack
As part of their partnership, Berk is offering his own design advice to two Thumbtack users.
“Thumbtack is a great way to project manage everything you’re doing in your home. From listing all of the products you need, to getting quotes from contractors, and even setting goals for your home,” Berk says.
Whether you’re looking to make your home more energy-efficient or are getting your home ready to sell, Thumbtack makes it easy to track these goals, including sending you reminders and suggestions.
“I’m a Virgo, I love goals and I love to track goals. So this is a great way to add more to my life [laughs],” Berk says.
Berk and Thumbtack are partnering to offer free design consultations with Berk for two lucky winners. Further information on how to apply for this unique experience can be found on Thumbtack.