Is it time for a home revamp? Perhaps it’s all about out with the old and in with the new. Making over a home can be an exciting process but nonetheless a stressful endeavour that requires an awful lot of organization! Wondering where to begin? Check out these top tips for when it comes to redecorating and reinventing your home.
First things first: a to-do list
Gets serious with admin duties and set aside a good amount of time to craft a to-do list. Speak to family members to get ideas and cover every space in the house. Think about each area and the specific jobs that need carrying out. Don’t fret over costs just yet, simply use this activity as a way to gather ideas quickly. Be sure to dedicate some time to this crucial first step for less stress and hassle further down the line.
Budget planning and cost cutting
Without a doubt, one of the most daunting prospects of a big makeover job is the financial implications. With a budget to stick to, it’s important to work out the costs to expect for each aspect of making over a home. From paints and wallpapers, new flooring and furniture can rack up costs. When working with a set amount of funds, it’s always a great idea to sit down and make a clear plan as to where this money can be allocated. For example, the cost of replacing flooring is likely to take up a large portion, while less can be assigned to refurnishing with a bit of wise shopping involving seeking out bargain pieces, pre-owned items, and upcycling already owned items.
Professional help, is it required?
Can’t DIY some of the elements of the home makeover in mind? No sweat. There is a wide range of professionals out there that can help. From decorators to a removals team, the whole ordeal can end up getting quite expensive. To cut costs, consider a local handyman who can help with a wide range of tasks such as moving furniture, painting, putting together furniture and much more. They’re great for help whether it’s needed indoors or outdoors and can assist with tasks both big and small. Usually charging an hourly rate, it’s easy to plan how much of the makeover funds will need to be allocated to this type of professional help.
Buying new furniture items
Though it’s completely tempting to go all out and replace every piece of furniture, this may not be entirely necessary. Furniture pieces can be easily reinvented with a lick of fresh paint, some TLC and rejigging. Think about the areas that matter most. Perhaps the kitchen counters have seen better days? Polish them up. Clean, paint and try adding new features such as handles to create an illusion of replacement cupboards.
That coffee table in the lounge that is no longer ‘fashionable,’ think of upcycling. Add a mosaic top for a quirky new look or, sand down and wash with a white lick of paint for a shabby-chic look. The opportunities to reignite a piece of furniture’s character are endless. With a little bit of creative thinking, there are plenty of ways in which existing furniture pieces in the home can be utilised and even improved!
Think about timings and ordering of tasks
As a general rule of thumb, the big tasks come first. These could include flooring replacements, painting and wallpapering, plumbing and bringing in new sanitary fixtures as well as the construction of furniture pieces. A great way to minimise stress is to put a clear structure in place when it comes to the order of tasks. Get the big jobs done as early as possible, using the help of professionals if needed and prepare in advance with all the equipment needed to not introduce the flow of work. Once the major tasks have been dealt with, the enjoyable part comes next. Make things as easy as possible by getting the most difficult elements out of the way first.
Don’t give up on your vision
Always remember that no matter the hurdles that are encountered during any home makeover process, the rewards are long-lasting and worth it. With a ‘new’ home, new beginnings can happen. There’s no better time to be house-proud.
There are lots of professionals that can help with tasks of all variations to make the makeover of dreams a reality. Don’t forget to follow the steps above where possible to get as organized as possible and minimise stress.