Trading Spaces casting call announced: Would you give up design control?

Trading Spaces pioneered the reality television home renovation shows. After a 10 year hiatus, the Trading Spaces casting call is open for those wanting a home remodel.

Before Chip and Joanna Gaines were a household name, Trading Spaces was the popular home makeover show. The premise of the show was simple. Two neighbors agree to redesign a room in each other’s home. With $1000, two days and some professional help, the neighbors complete a remodel. Now, the popular series is getting a reboot. The Trading Spaces casting call is open now, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The TLC show Trading Spaces launched several home designers into stardom. Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder and Ty Pennington all were featured on the show. While the show provided good design tips, the show’s premise drew viewers.

Home design is very personal. Colors, styles, and design reflect the person who lives in the home. On Trading Spaces, the design control was given to a neighbor. Sometimes the neighbor incorporated the owner’s preferences and sometimes she did not. The resulting room makeover became the owner’s new room by the end of the episode. Sometimes owners were happy and sometimes the owners were ready for another remodel.

Home improvement shows are big business. Viewers watch as professionals easily tear down walls, install gorgeous kitchens and create magazine quality remodels. While these shows make for great television watching, viewers sometimes forget that these shows are entertainment. Of course, no viewer is going to actually know if the production company influenced the color choices or created a little extra drama. Still, a show is boring without drama and no one wants to watch a boring show.

Even more than good television, these home improvement shows are big business. Personally, I doubt that the original Trading Spaces remodels only cost $1,000. My guess is that the product placement of the flooring company, paint company or furniture company helped to get a discount off retail price. The companies got publicity and the participants got a remodel.

Home remodels, even a single room redesign, can be costly. Trading Spaces banks on people willing to let go of design control in exchange for a free makeover. But, as my dad told me, there’s no free lunch. Any of these reality television shows come with some compromise, catch or hidden clause. What that compromise will be remains to be seen.

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Would you let go of design control to have a remodeled room in your house? The Trading Spaces casting call is waiting for your application.