When we renovated, I fell in love with a glossy white tile. It was gorgeous until we realized every footprint and water spot showed up like a spotlight.
That’s when maintenance entered the conversation in a serious way.
Materials have personalities. Some want gentle cleaning. Some don’t care what you throw at them. Some age beautifully, and others just look worn out.
We started asking better questions at the store:
Will this stain?
Does it scratch easily?
How often does it need sealing, polishing, or refinishing?
It sounds boring, but those questions saved us from future headaches. We ended up choosing matte finishes in busy areas, washable paints in hallways, and grout colors that don’t highlight every speck of dirt.
Now the house looks better… without us constantly chasing after it.
Maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it’s the difference between “new for one year” and “nice for ten.”
I learnt a lot here fr