Your home’s supposed to be a sanctuary where you can relax and rest up before going out into the world. But if you haven’t renovated it in a while, it can feel like you’re living in constant stress because of your surroundings.
Home improvement projects are super important for every homeowner out there. Read on to learn how you can do them the right way.
1. How Much It’ll Cost
The average homeowner will spend about $7560 every year on improvements and renovations. Of course, this cost can change based on tons of different factors, so you’ll need to look at cost guides for different home improvement projects for a more accurate estimate. You’ll also need to be prepared to shell out more cash if you haven’t upgraded your house in a long time.
Do online research and see how much money people paid for renovations like yours. Talk to them on forums. This’ll give you a clearer and more realistic picture of how much you’re going to need to spend.
2. How to Work on a Budget
Your budget’s going to be based on what people tend to spend on home improvement projects. You’ll need to consider different factors like the size of your home, whether you’re doing mostly interior vs exterior renovations, and what professional companies you’re choosing to work with.
To get the most out of your money, you could:
- Create a full-on plan for what you want to fix
- Look for coupons and promo codes on the websites of the professionals you’re hiring
- See if you can find deals from third-party sources
- Scour social media for companies that offer promos to new users
- Hire people who do great work at a low price
This isn’t just important so you can save your hard-earned cash. It’s also great because you can renovate more parts of your home if you save money. You’ll have more to allocate to other parts of the project.
3. What You Want Improved
Deciding what you want to fix up can be hard. You’ll need to walk around the house and make notes of things you want changed.
Write anything you don’t like down in a notebook or a smartphone notes app. You’ll get a full list of things you want to alter in one place.
Make sure that you don’t neglect either interior or exterior needs. You’ll need to focus on both if you want to get the most out of your home improvements.
4. What Your Priorities Are
Once you decide on everything you want done (both fundamental and aesthetic), you’ll want to make an ordered list of your priorities. Keep it easy to read but comprehensive.
Fundamental basics are obviously the top priority. If you have a leaking roof but want new carpeting, you’ll need to prioritize your roof. Other basic maintenance needs include plumbing and electricity, which it’s unsafe to tinker with on your own.
When it comes to home improvement projects, electricity is a crucial factor to consider. Any changes or upgrades to a home’s electrical system should only be performed by a licensed and qualified electrician, consulting with a Sydney professional electrician is highly recommended to ensure a safe and effective outcome.
Aesthetic changes like new flooring, wall potraits are secondary but equally important when it comes to home improvement. Updating flooring, such as replacing old carpets with hardwood or vinyl, can add a modern and fresh touch to a room. Wall art, such as decorative pop art portraits, can provide a unique and personalized touch to a living space, adding color and texture. Additionally, repainting walls can dramatically change the look and feel of a room, creating a cohesive and harmonious atmosphere. These improvements not only add aesthetic appeal to a home but can also increase its value.
5. DIY vs Professional Needs
Lots of home improvement tasks are DIY friendly. Painting, flooring installation, moving appliances around, putting up new accents, and changing furniture are some examples.
Others require expert help to be safe and get done right. Some examples are:
- Roof examination and repair by roofing companies in Cincinnati
- Changing siding and shingles
- Redoing plumbing
- Replacing electrical anything, like panels and components
- Cleaning out mold from crawl spaces and basements
- HVAC repairs and maintenance
Even things that you do decide to DIY have limits. After all, you don’t want your project to flop and make your house look worse. Make sure that you use the right safety gear, get all the tools you’ll need, and prep your space the right way.
DIY can save you money on some simple stuff like flooring installation and painting your walls. But you’ll need to do it the right way so you don’t spend even more on costly repairs later.
6. Colors and Aesthetics
Once you get all the basics done, it’s time to focus on making your house look awesome. You want it to be a place where you can get some R&R, after all, and you’re not going to do that in a cluttered place that’s falling apart.
Studies show that our surroundings have a huge impact on mental health, so it’s important to keep your home’s interior looking great!
Pick colors that you like for the walls and the floors. You can do this by using color psychology, which basically means considering the science of how colors impact mood. Blue’s good for calming bedrooms, while yellow and orange can be invigorating for exercise and workspaces.
You’ll also want to look for furniture that matches your new design. Make sure it’s comfy, but also make sure that it’s aesthetically pleasing.
It should also go with any art you love. Spice up your home with paintings, sketches, and more. This will really make it your own.
7. How to Be Unique
You want your space to be unique so that it feels wholly yours. This means getting expressive and trying new, creative things during the home improvement process. Some awesome ideas include:
- Painting a ceiling mural
- Creating secret rooms under stairs or behind bookshelves
- Natural stone countertops and wood shelves
- Open shelving that shows off your knickknacks
- Spiral staircases
- Suspended/lofted beds by skylights
- A bed that folds into the wall
- Sunken couches/living rooms
These are just a few cool options. You might want to consider at least one for your home.
If not, that’s okay. There are a lot of unique ways that you can add some personal flair to your house, so look at online home improvement blogs and sites like Pinterest for top-notch ideas.
Get Cracking With Your Home Improvement Project
Now that you know how to start your home improvement project the right way, it’s time to learn more about making your house into a haven. This means doing some research about decor trends so you can keep the place modern, updated, and appealing. Check out the ‘interior design’ section of our websites for more tips and ideas.