Commonly Overlooked Aspects Of A Home Remodel

Essential Elements to Consider for a Better Home Remodel

A home remodel is one of the most significant investments a homeowner can make. Beyond the obvious selections—such as flooring, cabinetry, and fixtures—there are critical details that directly impact comfort, function, and long-term value. With all the excitement of design decisions, several of these elements are often overlooked aspects of a home remodel, yet they play a key role in how well a remodeled space performs and how satisfied a homeowner is with their remodel.

At PGC Building + Design, we believe successful home remodels begin with thoughtful planning and attention to both the big picture and the finer details. With over 20 years of experience as a remodel contractor in Central Oregon, these are several of the most overlooked considerations we often see, which can truly elevate a home remodel from average to exceptional.

6 Commonly Overlooked Aspects Of A Home Remodel

Electrical Outlets: Planning for Everyday Convenience

Electrical planning is one of the most common areas forgotten when planning for a remodel. It’s a seemingly small item, but strategic electrical outlet placement has a huge impact on home functionality. Beyond function, outlet placement can minimize clutter and support more modern living, especially when you are considering remodeling an older home.

Here are a few of our top recommendations to think about when considering electrical outlet placement during your remodel. Whether it’s a kitchen remodel, a smaller bathroom redesign, or a full home remodel, it’s worth your time to consider electrical outlet placement while planning a remodel.

Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most used areas of any home and having well placed outlets in this room can make a significant impact on functionality and convenience in your day to day life. In the kitchen, consider outlets on the kitchen island, along the backsplash, or tucked into cabinets to create flexibility for small appliances while maintaining a clean look. 

Bathrooms

As another of the most used spaces in the home, smart electrical outlet placement in bathrooms also enhances convenience. In bathrooms, consider hidden outlets within vanities or medicine cabinets. These allow you to easily charge electric toothbrushes or razors without cluttering the countertop. It’s also important to ensure you have enough outlets in the bathroom for the users occupying it. Usually, you’ll want at least two outlets in close proximity to the bathroom vanity for improved functionality.

Closets

Closets are another often-overlooked location where electrical outlets are useful, particularly for charging a cordless vacuum or creating a discreet charging station for electronics. If in the closet of your home office, you can consider storing office appliances like a paper shredder or even your wifi router in the closet. There are many ways you can use closet outlets for added convenience depending on your lifestyle and needs.

Common Areas

In larger or open-concept spaces, floor outlets can be invaluable. They provide power for lamps or furniture without forcing cords across walkways. Entertainment spaces benefit from outlets placed at TV mounting height, ensuring a seamless installation with no visible wires.

In addition to where you place the outlets, it’s also a good idea to consider the type of outlets. Incorporating USB or USB-C outlets alongside traditional ones makes a home more adaptable to evolving technology and can be particularly useful in charging everyday devices like cell phones and tablets.

Visual Cohesion: Unifying Old and New

A remodel should feel like a natural extension of the existing home, not an abrupt stylistic departure. Attempting to shift from one extreme design language to another—for instance, from traditional architecture to ultra-modern—often results in spaces that feel disjointed and can reduce long-term value. For homeowners thinking about a remodel, it’s important to talk with your remodel contractor or design-build firm about the style you’d like and how you can adjust to create a look you love throughout your home, versus just the updated space.

To help you as you are thinking about this often overlooked aspect of a home removal, these are a few of our top tips for visual consistency throughout your home - parts old and new. 

Consistency

Achieving visual cohesion requires consistency. A carefully selected color palette that carries throughout the home creates harmony. Natural materials used in your home, such as wood finishes, should be chosen in tones in similar tones. Flooring continuity is another element that can provide unity throughout your home, as uninterrupted flooring visually expands spaces and reduces harsh breaks between rooms.

Architectural Details

Architectural details also play a vital role in a cohesive remodel. Baseboards, trim, and millwork should maintain a consistent profile across remodeled and existing areas, while doors and hardware should align in style and finish. 

Understand that creating this visual consistency may require upgrades or changes to spaces in your home that aren’t part of the full remodel; however, these details, though subtle, create a sense of intention and elevate the overall result.

If the new style you are going for is a full departure from your home’s current style, you may want to consider building a custom home versus a remodel to avoid any compromise in the style that is necessary for visual cohesion in your home.

Natural Lighting: Designing with Light in Mind

Natural light is one of the most influential design elements in a remodel. It’s also one of the most overlooked aspects of a home remodel. Natural light in your home impacts the atmosphere, functionality, and perception of your space. When walls are moved or layouts are reconfigured, careful thought must be given to how light enters each area.

Maximizing daylight ensures that spaces feel warm and inviting. Kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas benefit greatly from abundant natural light, while media rooms or wine cellars may intentionally limit it. Even small adjustments, such as enlarging a window or reorienting its placement, can dramatically improve the experience of a room.

By considering natural lighting at the outset of design, homeowners avoid creating dark or closed-off spaces and instead achieve a balanced, welcoming environment throughout the home.

Flow: Creating Comfortable Movement & Functionality

The way people move through a home has a direct impact on how welcoming and functional it feels. Remodeling offers an opportunity to reimagine traffic patterns and correct awkward layouts. Often, when planning a remodel, this critical aspect of movement throughout the home is overlooked. To avoid creating any awkward or less functional spaces, here are a few aspects to review that can help you create a high-functioning space.

Removing unnecessary doors or thresholds eliminates bottlenecks and improves circulation. Addressing sunken living rooms or uneven flooring not only modernizes the home but also creates safer, more intuitive transitions. Enlarging a cramped entryway can transform the first impression of the home, setting a more inviting tone for the rest of the space.

In many cases, removing non-structural walls creates stronger connections between rooms and supports today’s popular preference for open-concept living. When flow is addressed during the remodel, the end product feels more comfortable, efficient, and aligned with modern lifestyles.

Specialty Spaces: Tailoring to Your Lifestyle

One of the greatest benefits of remodeling is the ability to customize your home to suit your lifestyle and your specific interests and needs. It seems counterintuitive to suggest that this is an overlooked aspect of a home remodel, but most people are really thinking about improving the space they have versus adding specialty spaces they’ll love.. These specialty spaces do not always require extensive investment, but they add immense personal value and enjoyment.

Here are a few examples of specialty spaces we’ve helped create in our previous projects. For avid readers, a dedicated reading nook with built-in shelves can provide a retreat. Musicians may benefit from a soundproofed music room designed for both practice and storage. Wine enthusiasts often choose to incorporate a wine cellar or tasting area, while families may prefer a game room for entertainment. Creative homeowners may wish to dedicate space for an art studio, yoga room, or hobby workshop.

By incorporating spaces that reflect personal passions, a home remodel goes beyond aesthetics to create a home that is both highly functional and deeply personal.

The Bathroom Tub Decision

Bathrooms are among the most complex spaces to remodel, and the decision of whether to include a bathtub has both practical and design implications, which is why it is important to consider during your initial remodel planning.

A separate tub and shower create a spa-like experience, but also require ample square footage. In smaller bathrooms, a tub-shower combination may be more efficient, though some homeowners opt to expand the footprint to achieve a standalone tub. Lifestyle also plays an important role. Families with children often find a bathtub indispensable, while others who rarely take baths may prefer the efficiency and spaciousness of a large walk-in shower in place of a bathtub.

Making this decision early ensures the bathroom layout supports both current needs and long-term goals for the space.

Final Thoughts On A Successful Home Remodel In Central Oregon

A successful remodel is not defined solely by finishes and fixtures but by the sum of countless thoughtful decisions. Many decisions, which are often overlooked aspects of a home remodel, are the ones that take a space from good enough to amazing.  Attention to these details, such as outlet placement, natural light, flow, and visual cohesion, transforms a project from a cosmetic update into a comprehensive improvement that enhances both daily living and long-term value.

At PGC Building + Design, our design-build approach emphasizes these critical details from the start. By combining design expertise with precise planning, we ensure every remodel results in a home that feels cohesive, functional, and tailored to your lifestyle. When overlooked elements are addressed early, the outcome is not only beautiful but enduring.

If you are looking for a remodel contractor in Bend or Central Oregon, we’d love to talk with you. Contact us today to discuss your remodeling project and learn how we can help bring your ideas to life.