Five renovation mistakes we see again and again

1. Not enough outlets, in the wrong places. Walk the room with your phone charger before the electrician arrives.

2. Lighting designed for the ceiling, not the task. Layer it: ambient, task, accent. Put everything on a dimmer.

3. Skimping on the joinery. Built-ins outlast trends and free the floor.

4. Forgetting the dust. Plan where it will collect — top of cabinets, behind the TV — and design those edges so cleaning is one wipe.

5. Choosing finishes from samples in a showroom. Bring them home. Look at them at 7am, at noon, at 9pm with the lights on.