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I am currently in the midst of renovating my home, I’m fortunate enough to have got a new build so most of the work has been done for me – and I’m only left to sort out the flooring, putting curtains up, putting up shelving, styling it with furniture and all that jazz! I know this isn’t the case for most people when starting a renovation project, but in the future I do hope to design my own kitchen and bathroom too. I thought that I would share a few tips on some of the things I’ve come across since moving in and some of the issues that I’ve had to tackle in the hope that it will help out someone else. Most of them are things I never even thought about before moving in and getting stuck in with it all!
Making Sure The House Is Insulated Properly
One of the most important aspects of renovating a house is sorting out the insulation first and foremost, before you think about anything else. I recently learned this after my dad completely redid the roof on my parents home. He had to really insulate the loft as it had been done so poorly that it was letting all of the heat escape as well as causing damp and mould up there. Not having a house properly insulated can end up costing you a fortune in heating bills, not to mention mould is so unhealthy to live with and can make you ill. Windows and doors can make this a massive issue too, especially if the glass is thin and of poor quality. In my new house, we have big patio doors and with it being a new build, I don’t have to worry about them being bad quality or replacing them but this can be a massive problem with some older homes. Tuffx Glass are bespoke glassmakers in the UK and are completely reliable as they provided the glass for The Shard which says it all! They also provide glass for smaller projects so if you’re adding glass doors to your home then they’re definitely a trustworthy company to look into using. Sometimes it’s less about the insulation too, and more about giving your home a new look. Who doesn’t love gorgeous big patio doors that let in loads of light?! I love mine so much.
Sorting Out The Walls & Floors
As I mentioned above, I’m having to sort all my flooring out myself, but we waited until at least one room was done before we could move in. In an ideal world, I would have waited until it was all finished before moving in, as we’ve had to fill the two rooms upstairs that don’t yet have flooring with furniture and cardboard boxes which isn’t ideal. We were previously living with my parents crammed into one bedroom so it was a must that we moved into this house ASAP, but if that hadn’t been the case and we had the means to do it, I would have waited until it was all finished. I’m also not needing to do any painting with the house already being completely white, but I would definitely have got this done before moving in too as nobody wants to be surrounded by paint fumes and having to put sheets down everywhere! It’s so much easier to just have an empty shell for these kinds of things and then get moved in after, or if you already live there, emptying the room and leaving it as an empty shell. Obviously this isn’t do-able for everyone, but it’s something to think about if you’re able to.
Using Pinterest To Create Mood Boards
I have found it so helpful saving bits and bobs on Pinterest over these last few weeks, it can be a vital part of the design process as you want to choose your flooring and fittings and fixtures based on the kind of style of room you’re going for. I needed a good idea of what kind of living room vibe I wanted before choosing my laminate flooring as there’s so many different styles and colours to choose from! It can be quite overwhelming and flooring isn’t exactly a small job, you want to make sure you get it right the first time as it’s bound to stay there for a good few years. I also picked other things like my curtain poles and curtains based on the colours that I was going for in my lounge, you don’t want to be just going with any old thing and then hating how it all looks. My lounge isn’t yet finished but it’s really come together with me using mood boards to decide on the right pieces to get it looking all homely. I also made a note of pieces of furniture I already owned and had those in mind when figuring it all out too. It can make the design process so much easier so I really recommend creating some of those boards!
Don’t Forget To Budget
I had no idea how much little changes would all add up to when I started my reno project. It all adds up and you end up needing things you never even thought about, so try and have a budget in mind before taking on a project and make sure you write a list of every little thing you’ll need to buy, down to the last detail. I wish that I had done that before starting and I’ll definitely be making a note to do it when taking on future projects.
Getting A Professional In For The Crucial Bits
It’s really important to get the professionals in when you’re working with things such as the boiler, or gas and electrics. If you have something big and electrical based in mind, you can always find a company who will make you feel at ease from start to finish such as SOS Electricals. It will help you feel much more at ease, knowing that everything is completely safe and secure – as well as looking the best it can be! You can also get your furniture professionally designed from companies such as instrument furniture if you’re looking for something really specific and special.
