Trends come and go, that makes interior design an ever evolving field. Which means that renovations are inevitable!
We are all encouraged to pursue owning our own home but what is left unsaid, is the need to maintain that home.
If you just built or bought a home, at some point or another you will have to renovate.
Some people dread this! It seems like a headache but I believe it's how you approach it.
Look at it this way, you are taking care of something, that has been taking care of you. When the house gets old and a little run down, it’s in need of some love and attention.
When you approach a reno, here are some things you need to know.
6 WAYS TO MASTER YOUR RENOVATION!
# 1) THINK LONG TERM
When you are renovating, you are making something better, you are making it new again and giving it new life. This is done with new finishes, new paint and in some cases, new design. When you make those changes, the goal is to make them last as long as possible. In other words, you want the reno to look contemporary and new, for years to come.
There are certain finishes and designs that are timeless and classic as opposed to trendy and temporary. No matter the time period, they will always look great! Remember those popular pink and blue bathroom tiles from the seventies and eighties? like the ones to your left. They were once gorgeous and modern but now they show you exactly how old the house is. This can be tricky but some trends, simply do not last.
Click here for more info on how to achieve a timeless look.
6 WAYS TO MASTER YOUR RENOVATION!
# 2) SET A BUDGET!
If you are looking to renovate, please have a budget that you would like to work with. This guides the entire process. You should have an idea of what needs to be done and how much money you would like to spend.
You will need to pay for the labour for all of the work ( unless you are skilled in these areas) and you will have to look for the cost of the finishes, the tiles, the countertops etc.
6 WAYS TO MASTER YOUR RENOVATION!
# 3) EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
When you are budgeting for your reno, always include a little bit for the unexpected. You never know what to expect with an older house. Sometimes, they are no surprises, other times, they are quite a few unexpected obstacles that pop up. It could be termites, electrical issues, just about anything, so don’t let it catch you off guard.
6 WAYS TO MASTER YOUR RENOVATION!
# 4) BIT BY BIT
As I mentioned earlier, renos are inevitable but there is a very common practice that I have noticed. People usually wait for a very long time before they renovate and by the time they are ready to do it, almost the entire house needs to be renovated. This is costly and will leave you feeling swamped.
The best approach is bit by bit. You need to prioritise and figure out what is crucial and needs to be done right away and what can wait a little longer. Do it room by room, step by step, this is why maintenance is so important.
6 WAYS TO MASTER YOUR RENOVATION!
# 5) MAINTENANCE IS KEY
Having a house is like having a child. It is a long term investment, so if you think that because the house is spanking new and freshly built, that you won’t have to spend any more money on it for a loooong time, think again! This is one asset that will be with you for life.
It will constantly require maintenance. The advantages to maintenance is you spend a little to prevent spending a lot!
You need to be on top of it, survey your home, see what needs to be done. In most cases a problem once began as something tiny and fixable but because of neglect, turned into a very large, expensive problem.
6 WAYS TO MASTER YOUR RENOVATION!
# 6) BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS STILL REIGN
If you are wondering where to begin and what rooms are more important, the truth is that bathrooms and kitchens are still reigning and here is why. These two rooms add the most value to any home.
These rooms require countertops, tiles, showers, tubs, cabinetry, you name it. This is where the money is spent and if it is spent well, it shows! Natural stone finishes alone add a ton of value because they tend to be expensive but don’t require much maintenance and they last for many years.
So if you are wondering where to start, go for where you will get the most value. These two rooms take the cake!
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Until next time!