As the seasons change so does our urge to make a difference in our daily lives. Some of us will think about renovating or refurbishing our home, whether it’s a complete top to tail project or some simple down to earth ideas.
Changing the layout, décor or furniture is great for adding a new character or dimension to our home, and it does not need to cost the earth.
Here are some tips to help you on your way to a new feel to your home.
Planning in Stages – Building or Renovating?
The costs of building or renovating vary dramatically, so it is important to reach a consensus on what you are trying to achieve in the end, versus the budget you have set aside for your changes.
To keep costs lower we suggest planning in stages. Firstly decide which room you wish to begin with, and then create a list of priorities for the other rooms to follow, i.e. bedroom, bathroom, lounge and kitchen etc.
Think of the things you wish to change. Write them down clearly, along with colour ideas, sketches and any of your other own wishes or desires.
Look for ideas and inspiration from magazines or DIY stores where you can visualise your ideas in a real-life situation. This way you can get a real feel for the overall ideas you have written down. You may also discover other ideas throughout the planning phase that will bring about your final decision. Home improvements stores allow you to buy what you would like at a much lower cost than from your local builder.
DIY or Contractor?
You may wish to do some of the work yourself… there are certain things that should be completed by a professional due to state or local building regulations. It is important to check out if there is anything in your plan that needs a qualified electrician or plumber etc. Also, for larger projects, if there’s anything in your list that requires planning permission.
Remember the more you can manage yourself, the lower the overall cost will be. This will certainly bring a lot of self-satisfaction, even if it involves getting your hands dirty.
Things like painting, or tiling can be fun and interesting to do on a free day. If you have a family, your personal touches and handy work can become quite a work of art, to talk about for years to come!
New or Recycled/Refurbished?
Today we have become such a disposable society, and many interior designers and home makers are turning to recycled or refurbished equipment or furnishings, and incorporating them in into their designs.
In some cases, you may have furniture that no longer suits your home. You can simply sell this on the internet, to help contribute to your overall budget.
You may also wish to consider buying used furniture of fixtures that you can redo yourself.
There are many bargains online these days, which can be great additions or project items to add into your home.
There are many advantages to this; you can find something you really like at a reduced cost, or you can re-use what is already in your home and recover it with a new fabric found online, for example.
Creative thinking can always be converted into recycling or reusing what is already in our home. This also helps the planet become a cleaner place to live. Win-win situation for you and your home!
