The Do’s and Don’ts Of Renovating Your Home
Life does not give us many opportunities to design your own home. It is exciting to think of renovating our house, but when the time comes, we often feel stressed and get anxious. The main reason behind taking on a renovation project is to create a space that resonates with our personality and provides a comfortable environment to fulfill our life goals. So, we must enjoy the process of creating this house as much as we want to enjoy living in it.
To do so, you must start with a solid plan keeping in mind your budget. It is essential to match your expectations with reality and come to a balanced plan that has the maximum chances of being executed smoothly. It is always better to ensure that you do it right the first time. Building your home is not something you can do over if you are not happy with the end result.
We highly recommend hiring an architect and an Interior Designer for renovating your home, but we also understand that for many of you out there, it is a cherished dream to remodel your house on your own. For all those adventurous souls, this article is for you.
Let us start by discussing a few things that should be sorted before you begin any kind of work. These are the basic requirements for any big or small project.
The Essentials of Starting an Interior Project
Do Your Homework
Research is the key. The more you know about things related to designing and execution, the more it will help you during the project. Find out everything from the building laws in your city to the latest home appliances available in the market. Know as much as you can about home renovation before you embark on the journey.
Having a strategy in place
Know what you want and be very clear about what you don’t want. Have a straightforward plan for the work you want to get done with the end result written out. You cannot start working on the interiors of a house without knowing what exactly you want the place to be once you are done.
Getting professional help where required
There are things that you can do, and there are some tasks which you cannot manage on your own. Be wise enough to know the difference between the two, and get professional help when required.
Vague Budget
No home was ever built within budget. That is just how things work when taking up a comprehensive project of renovating a house you have to accept that there will be surprises along the way. Unexpected expenses will crop up, and there will be unavoidable delays in the work. All of this will lead to an increase in your budget. So, before you set out to build a dream home for yourself, be aware of how much you want to spend and what is the maximum you can stretch yourself.
Getting necessary building permits
Before starting the project, check with your local municipal building department regarding the kind of permits you will need at different stages of renovation or construction to avoid any issues in future.
Checking feasibility
Check if the house you are planning to build has a functional scope, or is it just a trendy home without resale value. Having a broader perspective is crucial sometimes. Be clear about what your long-term plans are for the house before you start putting in your money.
These are a few things that you should do before you take on the task of doing the interior designing of our house. But no matter how prepared you are, there are bound to be a few hiccups once the actual work starts.
20 common mistakes to avoid while renovating your home space:
Let us discuss a few things that you should avoid doing to save yourself from heartburn.
1. Having an inflexible budget.
Not keeping provision for unforeseen costs in the budget while doing your home interiors is one of one the most significant mistake people do. Always keep around 20% extra over your budget. Plan the financials before you make any other plans. From the beginning to the end, keep a calculator handy. Always calculate the total cost on any item before you place an order.
2. Not respecting the original architectural style of your home.
You don’t need to design exactly in the style that your house was built in, but it also doesn’t make any sense to renovate it in a style that does not complement the original structure. Strike a balance and go with interiors that do not clash with the architecture of the house.
3. Choosing form over function
No one knows the importance of form in an interior design better than us. And yet we would still advise to not sacrifice the functionality of the house for the sake of form. Consider door, window, and outlet placement, as well as traffic patterns throughout the home.
4. Be smart about being trendy
Fresh, updated looks are great, but newer ones always replace them. Trends are short-lived, while good design lasts forever. Also remember that someday you may want to sell this house, and what’s in style at present will look dated ten years down the line and affect the resale value of the home.
5. Don’t leave appliance selection to the last
Appliances are expensive and incredibly vital for modern-day living. So, take your time and choose your devices first to help make sure the overall design accommodates the items you really want. Take the exact dimension of the selected appliances to help with the rest of the design. Buy them only once the rest of the work in the house is done, and you are ready to install them as soon as they are delivered.
6. Avoid buying furniture and home décor too early
All furniture and home décor items should not be purchased till necessary interior work like flooring, closets and other vital furniture are taken care of. Once each area starts taking shape, you will have a better idea of what will go where.
Consider re-doing your carpeting or flooring in November or December. Many home improvement chains offer attractive sales before the holidays, and contractors tend to be more willing to negotiate during their slow time of the year
7. Not ordering extra flooring
Order enough material to complete the job, plus 20% to account for installation wastage and defects. There are bound to be some mistakes while doing the work. Also, some damage may occur during the transportation of the material. Keep these factors in mind and call for a little more quantity than required.
8. Ignoring the essentials
Before you start any work, make sure that the house is structurally stable and safety compliant. Things such as updating the electrical system or ensuring foundations and subflooring are sound, should be taken care of in the very beginning. Doing so will help avoid damaging your new, beautiful finishes to fix potential problems later.
9. Not spending on building materials
Expensive materials are priced high because they are of higher quality and more durable. Skimping on building materials is a rookie mistake you should avoid making. In this case, buy the best within your budget. Materials that are a little higher in cost will give you more value for money in the long run.
10. Sensible spending
If you have a limited amount of money to spend, always choose something that will be useful to you rather than something that is just there for the aesthetic purpose, for example, installing an expensive wall treatment but skimping on the flooring may not be the best option.
11. Getting dazzled by choices
There will be a new appliance, décor item or furniture piece every day. You simply cannot buy everything. There will be many things that will appeal to your fancy but weigh their value in your home before you give in to temptation
12. Hiring in a hurry
Contractors come in all shapes and sizes. The trick is to find someone suitable to your needs. Don’t let price alone be the deciding factor while hiring contractors. Meet with a few of them, review their work experience and make an informed decision. You will have to work closely with them for months, so hire someone you feel comfortable with.
13. Measuring incorrectly
It is vital for DIY home renovations to have correct measurements. The adage “measure twice but cut once” can save countless delays and money. Being off even a fraction of an inch can have significant repercussions, causing poor fits and reordered materials.
14. Not consulting professionals
Many design firms now also have only consultation services. You can approach them with your plans and get valuable advice from them. Even if you are capable of pulling off the project on your own, it doesn’t hurt to get a professional opinion.
15. Not taking lighting seriously
Most people feel they will just install a few light fixtures around the ceiling and be done with it. But the lighting of any property requires careful planning. It is ideal to hire a lighting consultant, but if that is not possible, do take advice from your contractor and do some research to get the best possible lighting for your home.
16. Impulse buying
The fantastic red chair. The funky showpiece. The over the top chandelier. Individually all these things are beautiful. But will they work together to form a cohesive look? You may find a lot of nice things in your quest to find interior home products, but every nice thing cannot belong to your home. Buy only what goes with the style of your home.
17. Small doorways and halls
Hallways and doors are not just for us to pass through. More often than not, a lot of appliances and furniture also will need to pass through these very doors. Ensure that they are high and wide enough to accommodate any items in the future.
18. Not spending on quality windows
Windows serve an essential purpose in the house. They just don’t add aesthetic value but are also highly useful. Soundproof windows will keep all the unwanted noise out, while thermal protected windows will help in regulating the temperature of the house. For comfort as well as smaller utility bills, spend a little more and get better windows.
19. Going wrong with colors
Most people only concentrate on color while choosing paints. But the texture and finish of the paint also play a vital role. Understand the difference between matte and satin finishes. Explore how different textures can be used. Don’t leave these decisions on the contractor.
20. Not understanding the pace
Interior work happens at its own pace. There is a method to all the mayhem, and it has always been like this. Understand this pace and make peace with it. You will only end up getting frustrated if you expect things to happen at the speed you are used to. You will have accepted that things are going to move at the pace comfortable to the workers.
So, don’t plan your finish date just yet. Let the work get over before you plan a grand housewarming party.
We have tried to cover all the do’s and don’ts of starting an Interior Project. These are mistakes we have seen people make and wanted to prepare a do and don’t list to help you out. The more prepared and aware you are, the less likely are chances of you having regrets.
Things will definitely be easier for you if you avail of services of a professional designer. But just in case you decide to handle the renovation on your own, we hope that these guidelines will help you along the way.
We provide consultation services at J. West and you can connect with us for various types of consultations at any stage of your project.
Building your dream home should not give you unnecessary stress. It should, in fact, be the journey of self-discovery for you and your family, with everyone having a wonderful experience on the journey and looking forward to the end result.