How to Design a Profitable Flip: Expert Tips for Real Estate Investors

In today’s evolving real estate landscape, good design is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessary strategy.

Buyers expect more. Flips and rentals that look like every other white-and-black box on the MLS? They sit. But when your design speaks directly to the buyer’s lifestyle, complements the home’s character, and maximizes the rehab budget with intention—that’s where profits grow.

That’s the approach Cody and Sarah Caswell of Ivory Home shared during their exclusive webinar with our members. After designing 100+ homes for investors and being active flippers themselves, they’ve developed a replicable system for strategic design that sells.

This guide will break down their expert-backed house flipping design tips and take you deeper into why each decision matters—and how to make the right ones.

Design for Your Buyer

This is where most flippers go wrong: they choose finishes they like. But success in flipping means knowing who your end buyer is—and designing the home to feel like it was made for them.

How to define your buyer persona:

• Location-based: Urban condo vs. suburban family home
• Price point: A $250K flip vs. a $750K home attract different priorities
• Demographics: First-time homebuyers? Young families? Retirees?
• Lifestyle cues: Are they entertaining? Working from home? Raising kids?

Let’s say you’re flipping a three-bedroom ranch in a school district. Your ideal buyer likely has kids. Focus on storage, durability, and family flow: a built-in mudroom bench near the entrance, soft-close drawers, and dual sinks in the bathroom.

Contrast that with a city studio condo—sleek finishes, bold lighting, and compact multifunctional design will connect better.

💡 Flip Tip: Every design decision should ask: Will this speak to my target buyer?

Respect the Architecture: Let the House Guide the Design

One of the most overlooked flipping design tips? Letting the home’s original architecture dictate the renovation style.

The Caswells break down six common home types investors frequently flip:

• Ranch
• Mid-Century
• Modern
• Farmhouse
• Traditional
• Coastal

Each has key design elements that should influence everything from your roofline to your bathroom tile. Don’t fight the home’s bones—enhance them.

Check out their full webinar here!

Where to Spend vs. Where to Save on Flip Renovations

When flipping houses in 2025, it’s critical to make rehab decisions that balance design impact with ROI.

Spend More On:

• Kitchen & bath cabinetry – Buyers open cabinets. Cheap, damaged, or misaligned doors break trust. Go for pre-assembled or RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets with soft-close features and modern profiles.
• Quartz countertops – Quartz has become the standard across price points. It’s stain-resistant, durable, and signals modern quality.
• Statement accent tile – Think backsplashes, shower walls, or powder room floors. Use patterned or zellige-style tile for a boutique, custom feel—without the boutique price tag.
• Front door and curb appeal – First impressions matter. A well-installed, stylish front door (with a bold color or matte black hardware) can boost curb appeal dramatically.

These areas have the biggest emotional impact and are where buyers form their first (and most lasting) impressions.

Save On:

• Lighting – A $90 light from Amazon can look like a $300 fixture. Focus on shape, finish, and scale—buyers won’t know the brand, but they’ll feel the vibe.
• Plumbing fixtures – For mid-range flips, stick with brands like Allen + Roth or Project Source. For higher-end homes, consider Delta or Kohler—but use basic lines, not premium SKUs.
• Flooring – LVP and water-resistant laminate are both durable, affordable, and stylish. Avoid gray (more on that later) and choose warm, natural wood tones instead.

Read Next: 8 Reno Tips to Cut Rehab Costs

Design Plan First, Demo Later

Experienced investors know the worst time to make design decisions is mid-reno. The Caswells’ biggest piece of advice? Create a comprehensive design plan for your house flip before demo begins.

They use a 3-part system:

1. Design Boards – Visuals for each room showing fixtures, lighting, finishes—printed and shared with contractors.

2. Finish Schedule – A detailed spreadsheet of all materials (with links, quantities, and prices) to avoid delays and budgeting issues.

3. Project Board – Timeline and materials ordering tracker—helps you manage deliveries and hold General Contractors/subs accountable.

💡 Flip tip: Print the design board for each room and tape it to the wall. It becomes your job site cheat sheet—and holds everyone accountable.

Design Trends That Sell Homes Fast

To stand out in a crowded flipping market, your renovation needs one word: intention.

Here are the highest-impact trends for house flips:

🔥 What’s In:

• Mixed metals: Brass + black = unexpected sophistication.
• Furniture-style vanities: Especially in powder rooms or guest baths.
• Natural wood tones: Oak, walnut, or white oak finish cabinetry.
• Bold tile patterns: Zellige, terrazzo, or basketweave layouts.
• Green, navy, or deep moody tones: Adds depth and richness.
• Vertical or stacked tile installs: Horizontal subway tile is out.

Each room should have one clear “wow moment”—a standout detail that sticks in buyers’ minds.

Watch: Renovation Reveal – Cody & Sarah’s Flip in Austin, TX

Don’t Skip Staging or Pro Photography

Fact: According to NAR, staged homes sell 73% faster than unstaged ones and typically earn a 5–10% higher offer.Staging for house flips isn’t fluff—it’s a performance enhancer.

Whether you use a staging company or DIY it, staged homes:

• Sell faster
• Show better online
• Help buyers imagine themselves living there

They also suggest guide your stager. If your flip leans farmhouse, don’t let them bring in mid-century furniture and modern artwork. Cohesion matters. Just as important? Professional photos. Bad lighting or off angles can ruin the impact of your design, no matter how beautiful the home is in person.

Design That Feels as Good as It Looks

The Caswells remind us that emotional resonance sells homes.

Design is not just about how it looks. It’s about how it makes people feel.

In a crowded market, successful flips are no longer about cutting corners or mimicking HGTV. They’re about understanding what buyers want, translating that into design decisions, and executing with the level of detail and organization that gets homes sold.

Take Your Flips to the Next Level

Want to save time, improve quality, and get better margins? Use Ivory Home’s design packages tailored specifically for real estate investors.

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