It may seem like an odd phenomenon, but the market for renovation worthy houses are getting a lot of attention at the moment as more and more people look to put their own stamp on a place. It is part of what makes a house a home. Knocking down walls to create that open planned space you’ve always dreamed of. Creating a bathroom to unwind in at the end of a busy week. Adding a nursery and playroom for those kids you are trying for. The wonderful benefits are innumerable. Unfortunately, so are the challenges.
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Renovation is a big project, and most people who set out on this path fall into the trap of making some pretty big mistakes. These include everything from not putting the time in at the front end to using a space unwisely. It is well advised to use a West Hartford CT Interior Designer to help you through this process and avoid costly mistakes. They can help you avoid making these, “why did I do that?” decisions. If you are not from the Connecticut area, we have come up with a list renovation mistakes you should avoid making.
Good luck!
Mistake #1: Buying Cheap As Chips Materials
When it comes to buying a fixer-upper, one of the things that make you sweat more than a July marathon is the amount of money flooding out of your bank account. There was the deposit, the mortgage payments and then the cost of renovation. It all heaps the pressure on and you start to shop around for the cheapest materials money can buy. Try not to do this. Seriously. It is one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to renovating. The thing you need to remember is, you will always get what you pay for. This can lead to some pretty expensive issues further down the line.
That is why we give everyone renovating a space the same two-pennies worth: if you have to do it now, then do it properly otherwise you should wait. You’ll thank us in the long run. First and foremost, hire an expert in the field of renovations to help prevent huge costly mistakes. It is so worth every penny you pay them! Trust me, in the long run, you’ll save money. Enough said!
Mistake #2: Ignoring The Importance of Prep
Please, always make sure you are putting the work in at the front end because, in the renovation game, preparation is everything. It makes things run more smoothly later on and will reduce the chances of any issues cropping up; issues that could add time, effort and money onto your problem. So make sure everything is planned, and by everything we mean everything. This means getting the measurements, knowing what you want to do with what room and how you are going to do it, the layouts, the rules and regulations and the practicalities of everything. Yes, this is going to be a boring, tedious and monotonous process that no one is going to enjoy, but it is going to be your best friend and, from now until you are finished, you will be thanking yourselves for putting the time in at the beginning.
Mistake #3: Ripping Everything Out
Running into this without a plan in place or an idea set in stone is a surefire way to become lost yourself in an abyss that is hard to climb out of. You thought Pinterest was bad for swallowing you up, gutting your home is on an entirely different level . It starts with you just peeling off a bit of wallpaper in the hallroom and it ends with you pulling out light fixtures and smashing cabinets off the wall. That is why it is so important you assess exactly what you are going to get rid of and why before you set out and do. There may just be some areas you can work with, some things you quite like, areas that will save you money and things you can live with until you have the resource to change. That is the key. Don’t force yourself to make any changes you can’t afford to at this moment in time.
Mistake #4: Getting The Kitchen And Bathroom Wrong
Everyone knows how important it is to get these two rooms right because, well, you only really get one shot at it. That’s why you may find it so hard to believe that so many people get this wrong. They rush into things and don’t figure out the space they have to play with before committing to things. If you are located in Virginia area, the best way around this is to use someone like Fairfax kitchen and bath services.
Of course if you’re located here in New England, All About Interiors in Connecticut is your best choice. These experts will be able to talk you through certain ideas, functions, and trends. If you want to have a kitchen-diner planning how you can make that as space efficient and functionally effective as possible. The same goes for your bathroom. If you have a small space to work with, you need to choose fixtures that are going to maximize the space you have. Low-profile toilets, trough sinks, three-quarter bath or just a shower. It is also about making the right décor choices. Bringing your space to life in the way you always imagined. Plan this and then find a way to make it work.
Mistake #5: Forgetting All About Lighting
Nothing can change the ambiance of a home quite as much as lighting. You need to carefully consider your options on this front. The right lighting can change colors, highlight features, alter the feeling and improve the ambiance of a home. All of which are super-crucial. The four major areas of lighting that you should consider are general lighting, task lighting, highlighting and natural lighting. These can be added in the form of windows or Velux additions. Get these right and you can transform your space. Just remember to think outside the box where you can. If you have a bathroom that is a little dark then try making the wall out of obscured glass blocks. This will allow natural light to flood in.
Mistake #6: Championing All The Latest Trends
We get it, we really do. You are doing up a home, which means you want to make it as up to date as possible with the latest trends. That is surely the most obvious way to make your home more hip, cool and trendy, right? Wrong. By picking the latest trends you are actually condemning your home to short-sightedness because trends don’t last. They are fads that come and go like the tides of an ocean. What you really want to make are design and décor choices that will stand the test of time. You want something that is going to look as great now as it will in ten years time. Going with the design choices you love making them pop with bits and pieces that celebrate current trends. It’s and pieces that can be swapped out without too much cost.
Renovation can be really difficult, but if you are thinking about selling your home, it really is worth it. Electronics are here therefore, adding something like a media room can really transform the look of your whole house. But every great media room is soundproof, af-acoustics.com can do this for you by putting special material between the walls.
Mistake #7: Ignoring The Importance Of Going Green
We live in a day and age where our carbon footprint is having a huge impact on the world. Accessibility to a much more sustainable way of life, there is no excuse for not going greener. Especially when it comes to your home. Most people who are renovating their home, they don’t go green either. Mostly because they don’t know how to or they think it is going to add more zeros onto the costs. This is a mistake. Why? Because going green is one of the best investments you can make. It going to make your home cheaper to run and more attractive to potential buyers. To avoid falling into this trap, we recommend you do your research. See what green options are available to you; whether it is with solar panels on the roof or whatever.
Mistake #8: It’s All A Bit Narrow
This is something that gets overlooked way too often. In an attempt to maximize the space in the rooms, people reduce the width of doorways, hallways, and stairs. Don’t do this. Bigger is always better when it comes to all three of these things. You want to be able to comfortably walk around your house side-by-side, not in single file. This will allow people to cross in doorways, on the stairs and walk down the hall without having to wait for the person coming the other way. It is part of what makes a home comfortable to live in and not a frustration you wish you had thought about earlier, as you consider phoning the builders again. Urgh, that would be the worst.
Mistake #9: Electrics Need Updating
When it comes to upgrading your electrics, you are probably just thinking about where you want to add certain outlets to improve the layout of your home as much as possible. But before you get to that stage, we recommend you take a little wander around your house with the electrician and size up your current electrical system. All of it. Why? Because it may well need updating, which is something no one wants to hear. Yeah, it can cost a chunk, but it is well worth ensuring your electrics are up to the industry standards. You don’t want to find out that your house will short circuit when the stove and television are on simultaneously.
This post is a collaborative effort and may contain relevant and relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes.