The author reflects on his experience transitioning from a segmented VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) setup to a single VLAN for his home network. Initially, he believed that having multiple segments—such as IoT, trusted devices, and guest VLANs—was essential for a professional homelab. However, this complexity led to significant operational issues, including broken access to network-attached storage (NAS) and media servers. The segmentation created barriers to communication between devices that needed to interact regularly, resulting in frustrating troubleshooting processes. After realizing that the operational costs of maintaining the segmented network outweighed its security benefits, he reverted to a single VLAN. This simplified structure allowed for seamless device interaction, improved performance, and reduced troubleshooting time. The author concluded that while VLAN segmentation is valuable in larger networks with multiple users, it is not practical for home networks where devices frequently communicate with one another. Ultimately, he learned that a simpler network design can be more effective than an overly complex one.