5 Min Read
The holidays have a way of showing you exactly what isn't working in your home.
Maybe everyone ends up crowded around the kitchen island while you're trying to prepare dinner. There's never enough room for guests to sit comfortably, or someone always has to head upstairs to use the bathroom.
If you're considering a whole-home remodel in Greater Lafayette in 2027, pay attention to these moments. They offer a useful starting point for deciding what you'd like to change and which improvements deserve priority.
Here are five things to watch for as you welcome family and friends into your home this holiday season.
In this checklist:
1. Notice Where Your Kitchen Gets Crowded
The kitchen tends to be the busiest room during holiday gatherings. It's where meals are prepared, drinks are served, and guests naturally gather.
But when several people are trying to use the same space, layout problems become hard to ignore.
Pay attention to where people stand and how they move around the room.
- Does the island block access to the refrigerator or oven?
- Do guests crowd the cooking area because there's nowhere else to gather?
- Is there enough counter space for food preparation and serving?
- Are dishes, cookware, and small appliances difficult to access?
- Does the kitchen feel disconnected from the dining or living room?
You might need more counter space, better cabinet storage, or a different island configuration. In some homes, the solution involves removing or relocating a wall to improve the connection between rooms.
2. Pay Attention to How Your Bathrooms Handle Guests
Hosting often means your bathrooms see more use than usual, particularly when several guests stay overnight.
A bathroom that works fine for two people might feel cramped when children, grandchildren, and extended family are visiting. Perhaps there's nowhere to set out extra towels, the guest bathroom lacks counter space, or the only convenient bathroom is attached to someone's bedroom.
A bathroom remodel might address these issues with better storage, a larger vanity, improved lighting, or a more efficient layout.
If your home has only one bathroom on the main floor, consider whether adding another would be worthwhile. Depending on the existing plumbing and floor plan, this could involve converting part of an adjacent room or incorporating a bathroom into a larger renovation.
Think about how the space serves your family throughout the year, too. A guest bathroom that's easier to access and maintain is useful long after the decorations come down.
3. Look at Where Everyone Gathers
You might have a formal living room, a separate dining room, and a family room, but that doesn't mean guests use them the way you expected.
Maybe everyone gathers in one room while another sits empty. Or there's plenty of square footage, but the arrangement makes conversations awkward.
Watch how people use your living and entertaining spaces.
Ask yourself:
- Is there enough seating without blocking walkways?
- Can people move easily between the kitchen, dining room, and living area?
- Are there rooms that rarely get used?
- Would opening a wall improve how the spaces connect?
- Do you need more room, or could the existing square footage be arranged differently?
Sometimes a larger living room is the answer. Other times, changing the layout creates more usable space without expanding the house.
If your family has outgrown the existing footprint, a home addition might provide the room you need while allowing you to stay in the neighborhood you love.
4. Make a List of the Storage Problems
Holiday decorations, serving dishes, extra coats, shoes, and overnight bags have a way of filling every available corner.
When you're pulling folding chairs out of the basement or clearing a kitchen counter just to serve dinner, consider whether better storage could solve the problem.
A few areas worth evaluating include:
| Area | What to Watch For | Possible Remodeling Improvement |
| Kitchen | Crowded counters and overflowing cabinetsCrowded counters and overflowing cabinets | Custom pantry or additional cabinetry |
| Entryway | Coats, shoes, and bags piling up | Mudroom or built-in storage |
| Dining Room | Serving dishes stored in other rooms | Built-in cabinetry or buffet storage |
| Living Room | Blankets, games, and electronics without a place | Custom shelving and concealed storage |
| Guest Bedroom | Limited space for luggage and belongings | Improved closet layout or built-ins |
Storage improvements are particularly useful when they're incorporated into a larger whole-home remodeling plan. Custom cabinetry can be designed around the available space rather than relying on freestanding furniture that might make rooms feel smaller.
5. Decide Whether Your Home Needs a Few Updates or a Bigger Change
By the end of the holidays, you might have a running list of things you'd like to improve.
Some could be relatively straightforward. Others may point to larger problems with your home's layout.
For example, a cramped kitchen, undersized dining room, and disconnected living area might all be related. Remodeling those rooms together could produce a better outcome than tackling each one separately.
A whole-home remodel also gives you an opportunity to address improvements that extend beyond the finishes, including lighting, electrical systems, flooring transitions, and structural changes.
The important question is whether the improvements you're considering will solve the problems you've noticed.
Keep a Remodeling Note on Your Phone This Holiday Season
You don't need to walk around your house with a clipboard while everyone's visiting. Just open a note on your phone and jot something down whenever you catch yourself thinking, "I wish this room had..."
It could be a larger pantry, another bathroom, better lighting, or more space around the dining table.
After the holidays, look through your notes and separate them into three groups:
- Must Change: Problems that regularly interfere with how you use your home.
- Would Like to Improve: Features that would make rooms more comfortable or convenient.
- Future Possibilities: Larger improvements you want to explore, such as an addition or complete layout change.
You'll have a useful starting point when you're ready to discuss your remodeling plans with a contractor.
Start Planning Your 2027 Greater Lafayette Home Remodel
The holidays might reveal a few things about your home that you've been meaning to change for years.
Whether you're interested in a larger kitchen, better entertaining spaces, additional bathrooms, or a complete layout redesign, S. Brown Construction can help you determine what makes sense for your property.
We work with homeowners throughout Lafayette, West Lafayette, and surrounding communities on major renovations and additions, with design and planning handled before construction begins.
Schedule a Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a Home Remodel
When Should I Start Planning a Whole-Home Remodel for 2027?
For a major renovation, it's worth starting several months before you'd like construction to begin. Design development, selections, budgeting, engineering, and permitting all take time. Larger or more complex projects may require a longer planning period.
Is It Better to Remodel Multiple Rooms at Once?
It depends on the changes you're considering. When rooms share plumbing, electrical systems, or structural walls, planning them together may provide a more cohesive design and reduce duplicated work. Remodeling several areas at once also means more disruption during construction.
How Do I Know if I Need a Home Addition or a New Layout?
Start by evaluating whether your existing square footage could be used more effectively. Moving walls, reconfiguring rooms, or changing how spaces connect might provide the room you need. If those changes won't solve the problem, an addition could be worth exploring.
How Much Does a Whole-Home Remodel Cost in Greater Lafayette?
Costs depend on the home's condition, square footage, structural modifications, materials, and overall scope. Remodeling an existing layout will have different costs than adding square footage or updating major mechanical systems. A detailed design and estimate will help determine the investment required for your home.
Can I Live in My House During a Whole-Home Remodel?
Smaller renovations sometimes allow homeowners to remain in the house, depending on the work involved. For extensive whole-home remodeling, S. Brown Construction generally recommends arranging alternative accommodations because multiple rooms and essential systems may be unavailable during construction.
