If you’ve lived in the same house for a while and are looking for a change, or you just purchased a home and are wanting to upgrade its look, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to tackle first. There are so many options and places to start, you need to have your wits about you, so you don’t get lost in a renovation hole. By thinking ahead and planning appropriately, you will save yourself a lot of time and money in the process.
Lists are Your Friend
Walk your home and make a list of everything you want to do. It can be anything, from small little improvements to grandiose ideas. Just get it all down on paper. Think of this first list as your ultimate wish list. Once you have all your ideas down, break them into rooms, and levels of difficulty to accomplish. Some things will be easy and relatively inexpensive – a fresh coat of paint or a pop of color, while others might require seeking outside professional help. Get your ducks in a row first.
Think of High Traffic, Bang for Your Buck
What rooms do you use the most and what rooms do people see the most? Put your energy and money into those areas of the house. Areas like the kitchen, living room, entry way, those are areas that get a lot of action and it’s where your guests usually spend their time. If you are looking to go through a lot of renovation, put your efforts there first, and then get to the master bathroom or guest rooms later.
Think in Terms of Difficulty
If you are moving into a new home and are making design decisions, use the same priorities as discussed before, but now add the idea of how difficult it would be to make an improvement or change down the line. If you know you really want a certain flooring in the main room of the house, or your eyes on kitchen countertops, think about how challenging and messy it would be to change them down the line. You want to get all the dirty, extensive work out of the way before you find yourself living in a construction zone for weeks. Put your money towards those improvements now, and then later you can focus on changing mirrors or faucets.
Placeholders and Room to Grow
Unless you are swimming in money, sometimes sacrifices and adjustments must be made. When you look over your list of improvements, think about what could be done cheaper, DIY, or be an okay placeholder for the time being. Maybe you aren’t spending the money on your dream curtains right now, but you found an idea that would work until you are ready to take on a bigger project financially. Decorating can be a journey and it should be to keep your space fresh and updated.
Home renovations can be expensive and get out of hand quickly if you aren’t taking the time and effort to think everything all the way through. Commit to your ideas and make them happen, smartly!
