Some decorating ideas gleam in glossy magazines but fall flat in real life. Several years ago, we spoke with New York architect Penny Fallman May to round up regrettable renovation decisions, and it turns out these common flourishes are still worth a second thought:

Dark-stained wood floors: Beautiful, sure. But you can also see every scratch and imperfection. (Try a satin polyurethane finish rather than a gloss to protect against this.)

Butcher-block countertops: An economical choice for kitchens, they are difficult to maintain, and areas around the sink discolor over time.

Vividly patterned kitchen backsplashes: These can start to look dated quicker than you can say "kitchen renovation."

White grout on floor tiles: Unsealed light-colored grout will get dirty in no time, and it's hard to clean. It should only be used if the contractor can seal the grout after applying it.

For more, read "8 renovation decisions you'll regret."