These expert tips explain which home features you can do without and which you may want to pay a little more to enjoy. Many cabinets come standard with built-in features, so select midrange cabinetry instead of top-of-the-line. Also opt for storage-savvy solutions instead of expensive finishes or hardware—those elements can always be updated later. If you’re building a new home or adding on, consider a 10-foot or higher ceiling. It opens up a room, which is especially important in small spaces. Make the vault even more wow-worthy by installing a rustic beam across the ceiling’s slope. Ceramic tile is cheap, widely available, and comes in a variety of colors, so you can easily get the look you want. It works especially well in bathrooms, kitchens, and around fireplaces. If you must have expensive tiles, use them only for accents—like for a border or backsplash—and use ceramic tile everywhere else.
No one likes the shock of a cold bathroom floor in the morning, so many homeowners are willing to spend the extra cash on heated bathroom floors. Radiant-heating systems warm a room via hot water or electrical wires installed beneath a finished floor. Ceramic tile, concrete, and wood floors are ideal surfaces for radiant heating.
