Decorating is always a very personal thing. Family photos, custom tile, a favorite chair in a quirky pattern — these are the kind of things that can turn an empty shell into a home. But is it possible to take it too far?

Could, say, an all-gold master bathroom, a saltwater pool inside a townhouse or a rock-climbing wall in a finished basement cost more than the price of the renovation? As special as these places may be, appraisers and brokers say that excessive customization can affect the price of a property when it is time to sell — and, perhaps more important, limit the pool of potential buyers.

“One of the biggest misunderstandings about property value is that the amenities you choose to add will translate to value,” said Jonathan Miller, president of the appraisal firm Miller Samuel. Because taste can be so specific, he said, “unless you find the perfect buyer, you’re probably going to have to factor in a discount for the price to rip it out and renovate.”

Simply put: That rock-climbing wall may have cost $15,000 to build, but you shouldn’t assume that you can automatically tack that sum onto the asking price when you decide to sell, because not everyone will want a custom feature like that.