What HGTV doesn’t tell you about kitchen renovations is how many decisions you’ll need to make once the cameras stop rolling.
The glossy before-and-after reveals feel great, but they skip over the parts that really matter to you, like budgets, timelines, and actual install day. That’s a problem, especially if you’re planning kitchen renovations and think it’s going to feel like a home improvement show.
Let’s talk about what’s missing, and what to expect in real life.
What HGTV doesn’t show about kitchen renovations and your budget
On TV, the budget is usually one number. “We’re doing this for $50,000.”
But in real kitchen renovations, you need at least three numbers:
Your ideal budget
Your maximum budget
And the budget for things that will go wrong
No one talks about the 10 to 20 percent you should always set aside for unexpected costs, like structural surprises, electrical changes, or mid-reno swaps. On TV, those are solved in minutes. In real life, they can delay your whole project.
Be honest about your budget and share your range with your designer or contractor. They need to know where to spend and where to save.
TV kitchen renovations often include sponsored content and discounted materials.
Many of the materials shown on renovation shows are sponsored, donated, or discounted. That’s not always and most likely not the case for you.
TV designers often use specific products they received for promotion at no cost to the client. This will distort your perspective of what can be achieved at your budget without proper disclosure or awareness.
The real timeline behind kitchen renovations
HGTV timelines are not real. Most kitchen renovations don’t happen in 6 weeks. And if they do, it’s because dozens of trades and crews are booked for back-to-back days, often working around the clock.
In real life:
Cabinet lead times can be 6 to 12 weeks
Permits can delay your project by a month or more
Backordered items can stall everything
Different trades will have differing availability
A realistic renovation timeline is often 3 to 6 months. That includes planning, product ordering, demolition, and installation.
While your designer will do their best to create an efficient timeline, keep in mind, roadblocks may stall your project.
Every kitchen renovation has delays, and you can't fast forward them!
Weather, permits, inspections, backorders, illness, errors—these things happen. What matters is how your team communicates with you when they do.
HGTV shows always stay on track because they have massive budgets and production teams managing every detail.
Your renovation won’t go exactly as planned, and that’s okay. What matters is having clear expectations and good communication.
Structural changes in kitchen renovations are a big deal
Moving walls, plumbing, or windows is expensive. It takes time. It usually requires permits and engineers.
TV shows make it feel like you can knock out a wall and suddenly get an open-concept dream kitchen.
Before you start swinging a hammer, check what’s possible with your space. A structural wall may limit your design. Plumbing locations might not be flexible. Sometimes, it’s smarter (and cheaper) to work within your existing footprint.
HGTV Doesn't Show What living through kitchen renovations really feels like
They never show where the homeowners are living during construction. Most people don’t move out. You’re washing dishes in the bathroom sink, storing groceries in totes, and walking over dust every day.
And if you have pets or kids, the inconvenience multiplies.
You won’t be waving at the door and come home to a perfect picture renovation (unless you previously arrange it).
Plan for temporary storage, simple meals, and limited access to water or power. It’s survivable, but it’s not as effortless as TV makes it seem.
Kitchen renovations depend on great installers
Designers and contractors on HGTV are supported behind the scenes. Most of the real install work is done off-camera by full crews.
In your renovation, the installer is one of the most important people. You want someone experienced, detail-oriented, and familiar with your product line.
Make sure your contractor has worked with the cabinets you’re ordering.
You play a bigger role in kitchen renovations than TV shows you
On TV, the homeowner disappears for most of the renovation. You don’t.
You’ll be making decisions, approving changes, checking in with your team, and answering questions along the way. Some days it will feel fun. Other days it will feel overwhelming.
Expect to stay involved. And trust your team to keep you informed.
Kitchen renovations involve hundreds of decisions
You don’t see the hours that go into choosing finishes. On screen, there’s usually a five-minute segment with tile, paint, and cabinet samples magically falling into place.
Oh how fun it is to see the final moodboard on screen!
In reality, you’ll need to:
Review door styles and profiles
Decide on stain vs paint
Choose hardware, lighting, tile, flooring, plumbing, and paint
Coordinate colors and textures
- Approve preliminary drawings
Every product choice affects another one.
Give yourself time to decide. Work with someone who helps you narrow things down. A good kitchen designer will save you from decision fatigue and keep you in a cohesive direction.
Your kitchen renovation needs to work for your life
TV kitchens are often built for a dramatic before and after. Big reveals. Studio lighting. It’s fun, but not always representative of how you will live in the space.
Your kitchen needs to support your everyday life.
Think through:
How you cook
Who uses the space
What storage you need
How much maintenance you’re okay with
Style is important, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of usability. And remember, your kitchen will still be in your home, replacing your cabinets won’t give you the feeling of a mansion.
Real kitchen renovations need real support
You’ll get honest input. Realistic timelines. Material guidance. Budget options.
A good kitchen designer does what HGTV can’t. They work with you, in your space, on your terms. You won’t get a TV moment, but you’ll get a kitchen that actually works for your life.
And that’s the kind of fulfillment you won’t get from TV.
Talk to a designer early. It’s the best way to avoid regrets later.
