3 min readThere’s no arguing that HGTV showcases some seriously gorgeous homes. Sprawling pool decks, bespoke bedrooms, and luxe kitchens are all common features across the network’s titles. While they make a point of showcasing installation, design, and manufacturing details, designers say the most crucial elements are routinely cut from the plot. Details like realistic timelines, project drawings, in-field collaborations, and budget often don’t make it to the final script, leaving viewers with unrealistic expectations for their own projects.
We asked designers to compare what they see on these home-improvement shows to what the renovation process is really like. Spoiler: There’s a lot that ends up on the cutting room floor.
Real-World Timelines
“One of the biggest misconceptions I see is how long the design and documentation process actually takes,” says designer Ali Burgoon Nolan.
Off-screen, projects can take months to complete after months of planning. For Nolan, a project that needs to be furnished by December starts production well before Labor Day, as pieces are typically selected, researched, revised, and ordered by the end of July.
“For a thoughtful project, the design phase itself can take months,” says Nolan. “A reveal may happen in a matter of minutes on television, but there is an enormous amount of work that has to happen before you ever get to that point.”
Johanna Lyle, founder and principal designer at the North Carolina-based design firm Jo Lyle & Co., couldn’t agree more.
“These shows work on incredibly fast timelines. They have multiple crews coming in to complete the renovation work quickly, to stick with production timelines. You can't feel the pace of a true renovation project within a 30-minute episode,” says Lyle.
To address the off-screen shock factor, Lyle sets realistic expectations upfront.
“Clients are almost always surprised at how long we estimate their renovation will take. I've never had a kitchen renovation take less than three months start to finish—and that's just for construction. The whole project typically takes more like eight months or longer.”
The Whole Budget Picture
For Marie Cloud, founder of Indigo Pruitt, the biggest bone to pick is with unrealistic budgets. While many HGTV titles work with existing or secondhand finds, small businesses and local craft folks, there’s no denying that a decent amount of product placement is used throughout finished projects.
“The budget on screen is rarely the real budget,” says Cloud. “The number you see often leaves out labor, mentioning donated or discounted product, and the design fee itself. Homeowners then build their own budget around a figure that was never complete. When their numbers come in higher, they think they did something wrong. They didn't. They were working from half the picture.”
With a platform as large and beloved as HGTV, features like paint, tile, and even appliances are often sponsorship opportunities.
“I think this is particularly important because there is such a wide range within the design industry,” Nolan explains. “A renovation using readily available plumbing, lighting, tile, and cabinetry from big-box or mass-market sources is going to have a completely different budget from a luxury residential project sourcing through boutique and trade-only manufacturers.”
Nolan continues, “Neither approach is inherently right or wrong, but they aren’t interchangeable. When a project is presented without explaining the level of product being specified, or whether materials have been discounted or provided for the show, it can create an unrealistic benchmark for what a comparable project should cost.”
The Tag Team Duo Just Isn’t Enough
While we all love HGTV’s collection of eclectic hosts, these renovations are hardly one- or two-person jobs.
“A designer’s role doesn’t end once the selections are made,” says Nolan. “We are constantly reviewing, troubleshooting, coordinating with the architect and contractor, answering questions from trades, checking installation logs, and making sure that hundreds of individual decisions continue to support the larger vision. Conditions change once walls are opened, trades have questions, dimensions need to be verified, products arrive differently than expected, and details have to be worked through in real time.”
Personally, we think designers and contractors going head-to-head would make for great television.
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Alyssa Khan is the Assistant Editor at House Beautiful, where she keeps tabs on all things home, style, and trending. Previously a freelance writer with a passion for pop culture, she’s developed a keen eye for trends on the helm and gets them on our feeds before they hit the mainstream beat. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and began her career just days after graduation, working on the Gen Z business desk for Inc. Magazine. When she’s not writing or eyeing the latest on celebrity Insta grids, you can find her snapping photos of her latest bakes or curled up with #BookTok’s next favorite read.
