When it comes time to transform your tired bathroom into the luxe spa-like oasis of your dreams, you’ll be faced with a lot of choices. Would you rather squeeze a tub in, or create a larger walk-in shower? Do you want to squeeze in extra storage with a vanity, or would you rather free up floor space with a pedestal sink? And would you rather pick a regular shower head or indulge in a rain shower?

For every bathroom element you decide on, it’s important to remember that real life can be a little different from a Pinterest board. Not only do you want your space to look good, but it needs to be functional, too. That’s why I reached out to contractors who have experience in bathroom renovations to spill the tea on which renovation trends homeowners ask for the most … and then end up regretting the most. Think twice before opting for these features in your bathroom.

Contractors agree: The number one bathroom renovation trend people regret most is bold, over-the-top paint or tile fixtures. “You will probably get contractors who will say that oversized bathtub or storage issues [are the issue], but [it’s definitely] overly bold and gaudy choices when it comes to paint or tiles and fixtures,” explains Jonathan Klemm, founder and CEO at Quality Builders.

“This is fine if a homeowner intends to stay for 10 to 15 years, because they will end up changing it anyway before reselling it. But if they intend to move in less than five years, the homeowner will unfortunately not recoup that money and will likely have to redo at least part of that bathroom to appeal to the majority of the buyers,” he adds.

John Kirton, builder and director of Nexus Built, agrees. “Having too many hero tiles in a space is great when getting creative and imagining the future space, but to see the bold and sometimes ostentatious tiles, bold grout, or eclectic and chaotic tile designs daily can soon lead to regret,” he says.

Of course, there’s a caveat here: If you’re not worried about recouping costs on resale (you don’t have to be!) then that’s less pressure on picking a tile that will please everyone down the road. To highlight your bold tile selection, consider keeping the rest of the design minimal — or pick a bold tile design in a more muted color palette.

Along the lines of bold fixtures, Danny Niemela, vice president and CFO at ArDan Construction, says that although matte black fixtures and statement pieces are trending, this is another common regret he sees with his clients, mainly because of practical reasons. 

“Black plumbing fixtures might win the internet, but they lose against hard water, daily use, and cleaning,” he explains. “The matte coatings wear fast, show every droplet, and fade unevenly. I would say they age like milk, not wine. On top of that, most black finishes lack the backing of long-term warranties, and once they scratch (and they will) it is game over.”

However, if you still want a sleek look in the bathroom, “chrome and nickel still look polished five years in, and you do not need to baby them with microfiber cloths or filtered water,” says Niemela. “So if the goal is to build a space that looks good and stays that way, skip the trend trap and stick with finishes that prove themselves.”

The takeaway here seems to be, if you’re noticing yourself leaning towards a trend, make sure to ask around and talk to people who have already tried it. The last thing you want to deal with is floors or fixtures that are difficult to clean and don’t hold up over time. If you’re in the market of reselling, going bold might not get you more buyers.