For those of you who didn’t have the chance to attend this year’s BC Home + Garden Show, REW was there to bring you the best advice from leading local and national home improvement, design and gardening experts.
Whether you are planning a small or large renovation, before you do anything, take a hint from Sarah Richardson, an experienced interior designer and author of four best selling books, including Sarah Style: “Get to know your personal style, what fits you. Believe in your ability to craft a home that suits you, your lifestyle, your goals and your budget.”
The 2025 top home design trends.
According to Richardson, the top 2025 home design trends emphasize creating environments that encourage relaxation, mindfulness and overall health. They should integrate warmth, comfort, and natural elements, with a focus on earthy tones, textured surfaces, a return to vintage style and calming colour palettes.
“Enjoy the trends that excite you, ignore the ones that don't," says Richardson. “Enjoy the process and remember there is joy in the art of making a home.” According to her:
- 2025 is about honest, soulful design; it’s about authenticity that is inspired and rooted in a more natural palette.
- Significant trends include large sliding doors, bi-fold windows and outdoor kitchens.
- Natural, raw and untreated materials, like stones, woods and natural fibres ground spaces and provide a sense of history.
A great tip that doesn’t cost too much is wallpaper – even on ceilings. “For a while, wallpaper was mainly reserved for smaller spaces, yet we’re seeing clients becoming more open to making a statement with wall treatments,” says Richardson. “It can add an extra element of comfort and luxury to every room.”
Planning your renovations.
What renovation projects are the best value for first-time buyers? Adam Weir, best known for his role on HGTV Island of Bryan and Vice President of Construction and Service, Adera Development, says, “Before starting any renovation project, I tell my clients to go in with a plan, one that includes knowing exactly what your budget is.” Weir’s top tips include:
- Focus your budget on cost-effective updates like a fresh coat of high-quality paint and faucets, swap out dated bathroom vanities and refresh kitchen cabinet frames.
- For texture and character, add shiplap on the walls.
- To make your home’s exterior appealing; tidy overgrown trees and shrubs and add landscaping. Use mulch to suppress weed growth in your garden beds.
- If you are on an especially tight budget, spend your money to address issues like a leaky roof and drafty windows and doors first.
Weir elaborates, “I also recommend that people talk to their [agent], because they know what buyers are looking for in your neighbourhood, and they can advise you on the best renovation projects within your budget.”
How to potentially increase your sale price.
Graham Huguet, founder of My House Design Build, has some advice for renovations that could potentially increase your sale price.
“It’s not necessary to fix everything to sell your house,” says Huguet. “When preparing to sell your home, strategic renovations can make all the difference in attracting buyers and maximizing your return, even minor upgrades can lead to significant gains, both in terms of selling price and buyer interest.”
- Most home owners start with cosmetic fixes and improvements like creating larger closets or bigger bathrooms, or replacing worn flooring and dated lighting.
- By removing walls, you can dramatically change the layout of your home. For instance, an updated, open-concept kitchen could significantly boost a home’s appeal and value.
- Huguet strongly advises clients to hire professionals for pre-sale inspections, like the roof, drainage, mechanical and plumbing.
- Don’t do one-off reno projects. Have a two-, five- and ten-year master plan in place and find someone you trust to renovate your home
- If your roof is between 15 to 25 years old, it is probably time to replace it.
“Finally, check out provincial and federal incentives and rebates offered to you,” says Huguet. “There are several rebates available right now, including the Home Renovation Rebate Program that provides up to $2,000 for upgrading your furnace and doors.”
Gardening tips to make a great first impression.
We have all heard the expression “first impressions matter.” If your home's curb appeal makes a great first impression, everyone will want to see what's inside. According to Emma Terrell, founder of The Urban Botanist, walkways, landscaping, and other eye-catching design elements should all work together to create an enticing ambience. After all, it is the first thing potential buyers will see when they pull up to your house.
“There are many unique ways to re-design unused or underwhelmed yard spaces into calm, serene ones,” says Terrell, who launched a free seven-part YouTube series called Sustainable Landscape Design during the show. Here are some highlights of Terrell’s gardening ideas:
- Trees, shrubs and tall grasses are known for softening the look of your garden beds. They also add visual interest, provide privacy and can be a barrier to outside noise
- Besides supporting local ecosystems and promoting biodiversity, Indigenous BC plants have adapted to our local climate. If used thoughtfully in a home garden or landscaping, they may require less water, fertilizer and maintenance compared to non-native plants.
- Plant walls create a beautiful sanctuary in backyards, and on townhome or condo patios. Not only does a plant wall look stunning, but a living wall is an opportunity to grow your own vegetables, fruits, herbs and colourful flowers.
“I am partial to native sustainable plants from BC, like salal, pacific dogwood, red columbine and sword fern,” says Terrell. “Choosing Indigenous plants is an eco-friendly decision that makes more of an impact and lets your exterior look more authentic.”
With spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to jump on the renovation bandwagon. A few strategic updates can make your home more appealing to potential buyers, or even just more enjoyable for yourself. Be sure to plan your updates with a real estate agent if you’re aiming to sell your home soon, and ask a mortgage broker if you anticipate taking out a loan to help pay for your plans.
