Giving your home a makeover can be a big task and will require a lot of planning. Most people will want to fast-forward to the work so that they can see their dream renovation happen right before their eyes. But planning efficiently is enjoyable too and will save you a lot of headaches down the line. So before you bust out the hammers and paint canisters, first get a pen, paper, and a calculator. Here are some things you’ll need to consider when planning your home makeover.
Plot who will do the work
As satisfying as it can be to take on redecorations and renovations by yourself, know that there are only certain things that you may be qualified to do. If your plans are simple things like a repaint or a rearrangement of furniture pieces, by all means, roll up your sleeves and get to work. But if they involve bigger, more complicated tasks, know when it’s time to step aside and let a professional do the work.
Here’s a rundown of the things you will need professional intervention for:
- Structural changes. If you’re planning on doing any renovations that involve altering the structure of your home, you’ll need the help of a contractor and professional building team. Bigger jobs such as rebuilds and expansions that involve breaking down walls should be done by professionals. Remember that walls support weight — whether it’s a ceiling or another level above, so removing them comes with certain repercussions for the construction of your home’s foundation.
- Electrical work. If the work you’re planning on doing involves electrical changes or is going to disturb any electrical wires in your home, it’s too big a task for you to undertake alone.
- Plumbing work. If the renovation you have in mind will make changes to your home’s plumbing system, call in a professional.
- Gas-related work. Even if it’s just moving your gas tank from one room to another, have a professional do it. Disconnecting your gas tank, moving it, then reconnecting it may seem simple enough to do on your own, but the risks of getting it wrong are harmful and potentially dangerous for you and your household.
- Concrete work. Concrete is a heavy-duty material that should be handled by trained hands. There may be concrete jobs that seem simple to you, but getting them wrong would cause you much more hassle.
How big will the makeover be?
As exciting as redecorating or renovating can be, it can sometimes be a long and tedious process that will test the patience of you and your household. If the process will be a long one and take up much of your home’s space, try breaking up the job into chunks so as not to cause too big a disturbance for your household. Some jobs might be so big that you’ll need to live somewhere else for a time. If that will be the case for you, don’t forget to plan a budget for it too.
Plan the look with AR
This is arguably the most enjoyable part of the process: planning the new look. And you’re not limited to decor magazines and Pinterest boards anymore. Thanks to advancements in technology, you can now have a much clearer and more personalized glimpse of your desired final product.
DecorMatters is an app you can get for free on iOS. It uses augmented reality (AR) to let you visualize your home post-redecoration. Take a picture of the room, and the app will let you add furniture and decor pieces. Even better, the pieces you can add are real ones that you can purchase from popular stores such as IKEA, Target, Crate & Barrel, and more.
TapPainter is another free iOS app that allows you to do the same process for repainting your walls. Take pictures of your room, and the app will let you paint the walls a different color, offering you a wide selection of paint swatches.
Plan a budget and timeline
The last thing you want is for any project to cost you more time and more money than needed. If you hire a contractor, you’ll be able to set a realistic budget and timeline with them. They will help you plan expenses and advise you on how much time the project will take.
Planning a home makeover takes time and effort. But proper planning could potentially save you from extra costs and headaches. Make sure to go through this list the next you plan to redecorate or renovate your home.
