Beauty or Regret? 9 Aesthetic Design Features to Think Twice About

Why pay extra for aesthetic AND regret?

If you’re like us – that is, obsessively scrolling social media feeds and saving eye-catching homes – have you ever wondered what makes all these homes so captivating? Chances are, it’s things like their use of textured surfaces for visual appeal, traditional (but trendy) designs, and the way they hide away unsightly loose ends like piping for a seamless finish.

Before you attempt to recreate such features in your own home though, take a step back and think about the pros and cons. Like with most renovation decisions, you have to pit aesthetics against practicality, or wind up with some costly regrets down the road.

Keep reading to find out what some of these features are, and how much you can expect to pay for them based on insights from Max Lee, co-founder of SG Interior KJ.

1. Limewash paint

While textured surfaces look remarkably charming in photos, what you see in reality could be more overwhelming than you expect. One such case is limewash paint, which you’ve probably been seeing around on your social feed.

This eco-friendly paint gives spaces an appealing rustic look (read the pros and cons of limewash paint here), but here’s a word of caution from designers we’ve spoken to: given that it’s made from natural materials, expect this paint to have imperfections and a look that’s much more ‘raw’ than the smooth surface you see in pictures.

For a better idea of what it actually looks like, be sure to request for samples from the supplier before you commit to it, since it could cost minimally $1,000 for a feature wall in the living room alone.

2. Microcement coating

Apart from how different textured surfaces could look compared to photos, there’s the matter of maintenance. Microcement is also an up-and-coming surface coating that some homeowners choose over cement screed because it’s much more versatile and less permeable.

While it reduces the maintenance woes like cracks and flaky surfaces, you should reconsider using it in wet areas like the bathroom that don’t get much ventilation – or you might have to contend with mould growth (eek!) that needs to be cleaned frequently. On top of that, rough scrubbing can cause the microcement to flake, exposing the raw bathroom walls.

Going by Max’s estimates, that would be one expensive regret because microcement can cost more than $20 per square foot, which is nearly four times more than regular cement screed which costs around $5 to $7 per square foot.

3. Natural stone countertops

Although engineered stone can imitate the texture and patterns of natural stone countertops, they still can’t quite achieve the luxurious one-of-a-kind look natural stone has. Plus, the latter is an eco-friendly option, since they’re extracted from nature, rather than being produced in a factory.

They’re a hefty investment, though, and without proper care and maintenance, natural stone countertops will wear down because they’re highly porous – so they need to be re-sealed whenever necessary, and spills should be wiped up immediately.

4. Recessed shelves

Done well, shelves in recessed nooks can help you to maximise dead space and create the perfect spot to display sentimental items.

But if you don’t consider whether the shelf’s maximum load is sufficient for your needs, you’ll end up with one regret too many. Just imagine… setting up an open bookshelf, only to realise you can’t place more books as your collection grows because the shelf can’t hold up!

This is a more likely scenario if you engage a contractor directly, as they might not advise you ahead of the installation unless you ask. We’ve spoken to a homeowner who experienced just that; they ended up having to hack the walls on either side of the niche to add spaces to slot in the shelf, in order for it to be stable enough to support heavier items.

5. Ornate detailing and patterns

Breeze blocks

Adding a nostalgic touch to your home is as simple as installing breeze blocks (also ‘ventilation blocks’), typically as a partition between spaces. While this design features amps up the retro vibes, you might not enjoy maintaining them as much.

Particularly with more intricate patterns, you can bet that dust will settle in corners and nooks that are difficult to get to. So, if you’re grimacing at the thought of having to clean these frequently, rethink installing breeze blocks on a large scale.

There’s the cost to consider too: according to Max, depending on the design and scale, the cost for one block can range from $8 to $20, with tilers charging per block or a lump sum.

Louvered doors

Another feature with detailing that can add lots of character to your home: louvered doors.

Their charm lies in the inclined horizontal slats that cover part or all of the door – but these can be a double-edged sword when it comes to maintenance. Much like ventilation blocks, the horizontal slats are a dust trap, so a shallow clean won’t cut it.

Cleaning them can be a chore, and since they cost about two to two-and-a-half times more than regular doors (following Max’s numbers), have a think about whether the benefits outweigh the cons based on your lifestyle.

6. Small mosaic tiles

With small mosaic/patterned tiles for your floors and/or walls, you can create quite the impression. But all those grout lines you’ll have to clean? Not so impressive.

Ultimately, when it comes to tiles, you’d have to compromise one over the other – the aesthetics over fuss-free maintenance and vice versa.

Here’s a cheat code for the best of both worlds: large-format tiles designed to look like they’re made up of smaller tiles, like the accent wall featured above.

Just note that you’d still have to give such tiles a thorough clean to make sure mould doesn’t grow in the lines.

7. Glass and mirrored surfaces

All these surfaces look great, make your space feel bigger and more airy – and unfortunately get dirty real fast, no thanks to finger smudges, dust and stains.

Keeping glass and mirrored surfaces requires a fair bit of effort, so you should expect to clean them at least once a week. This applies especially to shower doors, since they get damp and joints and seals could be a breeding ground for mildew.

If you’re set on having them in your home but are worried about keeping them spotless, keep them to a minimum and in low-traffic areas.

8. Designer floor traps

While designer floor traps with their ‘concealed’ style covers are a stylish solution, they tend to trap more hair under the cover. To prevent clogged pipes as a result, you’d have to clear the hair regularly – and to do that, you need to first use an additional tool to remove the cover.

As you can see, maintenance would be troublesome.

On the other hand, traditional ‘holed’ covers may not be as 'visually pleasant', but easier to clean.

Essentially, it’s about whether you value aesthetics over practicality (or vice versa) and make it a habit to clean your designer floor trap more often, if you get one.

9. Box ups for bathroom piping

Hiding eyesores like piping is nothing unusual, but when it comes to areas that may require maintenance in the future, your priority should be keeping them easy to access.

Bathroom piping is one such eyesore which often gets boxed up to keep the space looking sleek. Max shares that there are typically no problems with straight piping, but there are chances of leaking for areas with joints – so make sure the box up still leaves access for these.

This is also an HDB requirement, which necessitates a minimum removable access opening for inspection and maintenance.

So, what does this all boil down to? Even if you leave access for these, in case of a situation where you’re required to replace the service ducts/piping, the box ups would all have to be removed at your own cost.

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