Home design magazine features and TV shows make renovation look easy—even though it’s not.
Renovations, whether small or large-scale is an investment in your happiness. For most people, it is a once-in-a-lifetime task that needs to have careful planning and keen attention to detail. Little mistakes go a long way; causing bigger problems that may cost you thousands of dollars.
Working with architects and draftsmen, I’ve seen them help countless of clients in transforming their spaces. For every work they’ve done, I realised what a homeowner should do when facing a home renovation project:
Don’t let clutter win
During a remodelling project, some people are excited to fill their homes with brand new things in addition to what they already have. There’s nothing wrong with shopping—it’s a part of a new beginning that you want for your home. The problem comes when you keep too many stuff and have a hard time letting go the redundant or unneeded items.
Decluttering is an integral part of a renovation. It is the first thing that you should do before anyone builds or knocks a wall in your house. Release those items that no longer makes sense to your life. Celebrate negative space for it allows you to move around the house without any confusion.
Don’t hesitate to trim the design down
Overdesigning can happen in pursuit of perfection. People can get consumed with the transformation of their homes and only focusing on what they want to see. They tend to forget the effect of their decision decisions to the rest of their home.
A renovation is a tough, tiring, and hard process for you too. But no matter what happens, don’t let the process get in your head. Think of all the design decisions you make and if it’s too much to handle, downgrade the design. Like what we see in interior design shows, simplify things to achieve the perfect look.
Don’t stop experimenting with colour
White interiors became popular—white kitchen, bedroom, dining room, living area, so on and so forth. But white isn’t everything. Play with colours! Daub a fresh coat of paint to create a lively new wall. It’s a quick, low-cost, and easy way to refresh your interior design. Feel free to change it as often as you like, as long as you follow a colour palette that’s not too painful to look at.
Don’t fear monochromatic interiors
Designing a monochromatic room might look intimidating, but it provides an awesome aesthetic. It doesn’t have to be the exact same shade repeated over and over. Take a single colour or hue, run through its tints, tones, and shades, and use it as your colour palette.
Sticking to monochrome palettes is a good design move if you like simple and harmonious rooms. It lets you see the contrast between areas, which is beneficial when you’re balancing your interiors.
Don’t get comfortable in the Dark
When we renovate dark multipurpose rooms or attics to become livable spaces, we ensure that they are properly lit. Good design involves a strategic lighting plan. You may install pendant lights, chandeliers, wall sconces, or a new window (if possible).
Don’t forget the ceilings
Never forget to look up. Changing the look of your ceiling can deliver an entirely different vibe in the room. If you have an ordinary ceiling design and have the budget for a renovation, try making your ceiling as the focal point of a space. But if you have a working ceiling tray installed above you, it may be best to repaint it. These types of ceiling are costly, time-consuming, and hard to remove.
Don’t neglect your cabinets
Kitchen cabinets can increase your home’s market value. Hence, avoid having predictable and dull cabinets if you have plans to sell your home in the future. Most home buyers are impressed with stunning cabinetry. A cabinetry work is expensive but it shows more return.
Employ unique ideas, styles, and design features which add personality to your millworks. You have a wide range of choices from wood to laminate surfaces. Avoid construction and material costs by keeping the body of the cabinets and refacing the doors and drawers.
Don’t underestimate the power of a wallpaper
Whether you choose a subtle or bold design, wallpapers create a style statement that’s greater than paint. This is a unique design solution that can be dramatic or surprising when done properly. As our designers have said before, wallpaper can do so much, you can’t underestimate it.
Don’t just focus on the bigger rooms
If you’re not planning the design of your foyer, walkway, or stairwell, you are committing the most underrated renovation mistake of all. Give transition spaces the same attention you will give to destination spaces. It doesn’t need much but that doesn’t mean it should be boring. The design must be enough to entertain the people passing through and make sure that your design doesn’t block their way.
Never hesitate to ask for help
As mentioned earlier, your home renovation is an investment. If you’re facing a serious renovation, hire an architect or a designer. Having an architect and designer helps streamline and ensure the outcome the project. DIY is great but it can be a little stressful for someone with no building experience.
Take time to do your research or ask your peers for referrals. Get a quote from three or four professionals and compare their prices and portfolios. Through this, you’ll be able to survive your home renovation, without committing any design mistake.