Home renovations are exciting. You visualize, you plan, and you let the work take place. But the whole isn’t always lovely, in fact, it can be a trying experience for you and your family.
If you’re just trying to redecorate or you want to make your home look entirely different from what you’ve lived with for years, it’s always good to keep a list of what you need to do to make the experience more stress-free and your home a bit more liveable.
1. Have a Clear & Realistic Vision
Effective planning is key for a successful renovation, that’s why it is important to have a clear vision if you want to change things around your house.
Having a design in mind is good, but make a visual representation, a sketch, to make the job easier for you and the people whom you will work with.
A unique project is sure to wow your future guests, but make sure that what you want to do is achievable.
Fact: Most people can’t read blueprints. Instead of eyeballing it, lay out a room or building or garden for real. “Painters tape can be a girl’s best friend,” says Jocelyn Chiappone, interior designer and owner-principal of Digs Design Company in Newport, Rhode Island. Taping out a space works better than any sketch or design app for understanding how things will fit.
2. Stick With your Budget and Adjust only When Needed
After finalizing your goals and your design, decide on a budget. Home renovation costs aren’t really a problem, especially for wealthy families, but it’s always a good idea to know when to stop when it comes to your finances.
Most jobs will cost more and take longer than what you expect, so make sure that you have allotted a few hundred or thousand bucks for that.
It’s also a great practice to avoid last-minute changes. These may require a lot of work and extra costs. Some minor changes and slight adjustments could cost you a thousand dollars. That’s why good planning at the beginning of the project is always going to pay off.
3. Set up a Timeline
Setting up a timeline is crucial because it allows a better workflow throughout the renovation. Set up dates on when to purchase materials and deadlines for smaller projects.
Set your daily goals on your timeline to keep track of what’s finished and what to expect on the coming days.
4. Hire a Professional
It’s always best to consult professionals for help. If you want to hire a designer, find a good one and ask to see his of her past projects. A good general contractor is also a big help, especially with accountability.
It will cost more money but professional help is worth it. Before and during construction, ask lots of questions to make sure both parties are in agreement on what’s going to happen in the next few days or few weeks. During and after construction, a dumpster rental – Hart Waste Removal – will take care of trash removal. Such a great help for big-scale renovations.
5. Know When to Skimp and When to Splurge
When it comes to choosing materials and interior decorations, make a list of what you want to invest in. Some bigger items cost more, like pieces of furniture. Splurging on quality pieces is a good idea because bigger items take more space and they’re more noticeable when you enter a room.
One thing you may also consider is splurging on ‘accent pieces’. It can be an ottoman, a statement light fixture, a gigantic wall painting, or nice throw pillows.
Some economical items also look chic, so when you go shopping, find substitutes that are cheaper but still look great.
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