So your renovation is almost done… but something still feels off?
The walls are up. The floors are down. The kitchen looks amazing. But still the room seems cold, barren and slightly incomplete.
Here’s the problem:
The typical homeowner pours all of their funds and efforts into the large items. By the time they get to finishing work, they’re low on funds and eager to just be done. This causes them to forego the details.
The details are what turn a house into a home.
Plus, homeowners are doing work. Americans spent about $603 billion on home remodeling in 2024 alone. Additionally, 52% of homeowners decorated their homes in 2025.
7x’s Complete Guide to Finishing Touches: From Paint & Lighting to Custom Size Area Rugs
Time to jump in!
Inside This Guide:
- Why Finishing Touches Make or Break a Renovation
- 7x Finishing Touches That Complete a Home Renovation
- How To Plan Your Finishing Touches (Without Blowing the Budget)
Why Finishing Touches Make or Break a Renovation
Think of your renovation like a new outfit.
The home’s shell is the suit. The accessories are the shoes, the watch and the tie. You can live without them and the outfit will work… but it won’t impress anyone.
The same goes for your home. Finishing touches:
- Add warmth and personality
- Tie colours and textures together
- Make big spaces feel cosy (and small spaces feel bigger)
But they matter for more than just appearances. According to NAR and NARI’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, the number one reason to remodel is upgrading worn-out surfaces and finishes (27%).
Pretty simple, right?
7x Finishing Touches That Complete a Home Renovation
Choose the touches that work for you and your budget. You don’t have to do all seven. However, the more touches you include, the more “complete” your home will look and feel.
1. Custom Size Area Rugs
Of all the accessories in the world of design, rugs are easily one of the most underestimated. And one of the most powerful.
An area rug helps to tie your furniture together, warm up hard floors and bring colour to a room. However, if you choose a rug that is too big or small, it can make an otherwise beautiful new room look funny. Custom size area rugs are a great option after a home renovation. Why try and force an “off-the-rack” rug to fit an oddly sized room when you can select area rugs that are made to your specific dimensions?
Too little and your furniture will float. Too much and you’ll be living in a jungle.
A few quick sizing tips:
- Make sure the front legs of your sofa and chairs are on the rug in your living room.
- Rug in dining room should extend at least 24 inches beyond dining table on all sides
- Bedroom: leave 18-24 inches of rug on each side of the bed
This one change can make a newly renovated room feel planned and pulled together.
2. Fresh Paint and Clean Trim
Paint is the cheapest way to make a big impact.
When you renovate there always seem to be scuffs, marks and patches on the walls. Painting everything is like giving the room a fresh start. You’ll forget about the messy parts of renovating once it’s painted. Fresh walls really make a difference. Also, remember to paint your trim, doors and skirting boards too. White trim against fresh wall colour really pops, it’s like framing a picture.
Fun fact: Warmer, earth toned colors are trending. Off whites and greys are going out of style.
3. Layered Lighting
Lighting can make or break the mood of a room.
Most rooms are equipped with just one ceiling light. This creates ugly shadows and a boring appearance. Here’s the secret, layer your lighting in three tiers:
- Ambient: ceiling lights that fill the whole room
- Task: reading lamps and under-cabinet lights for getting jobs done
- Accent: wall lights or LED strips that highlight features
Install dimmers wherever possible. They allow you to alter the mood of a room at the push of a button.
4. Hardware Swaps
Here’s a finishing touch that takes about an hour…
Replace old cabinet handles, drawer pulls and door knobs. It seems like such a small thing. But updating to new hardware in matte black, brushed brass or nickel can give your kitchen or bathroom a designer upgrade. Just make sure the finish matches throughout the room.
5. Window Treatments
Bare windows make a room feel unfinished.
Curtains, blinds and shutters offer softness, privacy and light control. Hang curtain rods high and wide. Take them close to the ceiling and past the window frame. This easy trick will make your windows (and ceilings) appear larger.
6. Wall Art and Mirrors
Blank walls are a missed opportunity.
Artwork reflects the personality of those that live there. Mirrors help reflect light and make a small space feel larger. Hang art at eye level with the center around 57 inches from the floor. Mix up frames, sizes, and shapes when creating a gallery wall.
7. Plants and Greenery
Want the fastest way to bring a room to life?
Include some plants. Plants are a great way to add colour, texture, and a refreshing feeling that no other item can replicate. Some easy plants for beginners are snake plants, pothos, and ZZ plants. They require very little effort and can complement any room.
How To Plan Your Finishing Touches (Without Blowing the Budget)
Remodeling is expensive. With a median spend of $20,000 in 2025, it’s understandable that your budget can feel drained by renovation’s end.
Here’s how to stay on track:
Allocate a few percent of your total remodel budget for details right at the start. That way you’ll have the funds when the time comes — and the details won’t be sacrificed.
Then tackle it room by room. Begin with your highest traffic rooms — typically the living room, kitchen and primary bedroom. Complete one room entirely before starting another. You’ll have the satisfaction of enjoying a “finished” space sooner rather than living in a perpetually half-way completed home.
Lastly don’t overwhelm your space with cheap décor. One good rug, one great light and one awesome piece of art will trump a cluttered room any day.
The Final Touch
A house remodel is not complete when the contractors walk away. It’s complete when your room feels like your own.
The finishing touches are what make that happen. To quickly recap:
- Ground each room with custom size area rugs
- Refresh walls and trim with paint
- Layer your lighting
- Swap tired hardware
- Dress your windows
- Hang art and mirrors
- Bring in plants
Start with one or two. Watch how the space changes. Then keep going.
Rinse and repeat — room by room — until your whole home feels complete.
