Home Renovation Ideas – Determining the Scope of Your Project
It’s easy to be tempted by new home renovation ideas that you discover in magazines, videos, online image galleries or TV shows. If you have one or more rooms in your home that you no longer like, however, it doesn’t mean that you need to undertake a full-blown renovation project. Before you do anything, take the time to analyze the areas in your home that you’d like to re-do to determine what really needs to be done.
Start Conservatively
What exactly do you like and don’t like about the area you want to remodel? If you like the furnishings and decor but find the atmosphere dull and drab, perhaps all that’s needed is applying a brighter color of paint on the walls, painting or re-staining the furniture, or changing your window treatments. Rearrangement of the furniture can open up the space. If the room feels cluttered, add wall storage units or closet organizers to free up tabletops and floor space.
If you feel the area needs more than these simple changes, determine what’s needed to make the space more livable and what meets and doesn’t meet your family’s lifestyle and needs and create a checklist. Write down what you want to retain and what features you want to add. Check out photo galleries online or get inspiration from friends’ or neighbors’ homes. Prioritize the items to ensure you will get what you need, even if you can’t get everything you want due to budgetary constraints.
Kitchen
The most remodeled room in today’s homes is the kitchen. Fortunately, this type of project will give you the best return on the dollar. You’ll need to give thought to your appliances, lighting, cabinets, flooring, sink, backsplash and countertops. If you want to modernize your appliances, this is great time to install energy-efficient models. Be prepared to spend thousands if the cabinets and flooring will be replaced. If your cabinets are satisfactory but just need sprucing up, you can re-stain or paint them and replace the hardware. For an affordable DIY flooring project, laminate flooring resembles wood but is easy to clean and stain resistant.
Another consideration is your kitchen layout. You may want to enlarge the space if more than one person prepares food at mealtimes. This may require rearranging the layout, bumping out an area or knocking out a wall. Consult a qualified kitchen designer who can help you assess your space and create a new layout with the features you need.
Bathroom
Bathroom renovation can be as simple as applying new paint, wallpaper or tile, bathtub re-glazing and updating vanity cabinet hardware, or it can involve shower addition or enlargement, bathtub replacement and addition of amenities such as heated floors or fireplaces. Installing double sinks and vanities is a popular project that enhances convenience for family members. Most bathroom remodeling projects require the services of a professional plumber and carpenter.
Other Home Renovation Ideas
– A fireplace provides a warm, cozy look to any home and is a popular addition to a family room. Fireplaces can be electric, gas or wood burning and come in different styles.
– If a room is just too small, you can take out a wall or bump out an area on an exterior wall. You may want to combine two bedrooms into a larger room by removing a wall or add or enlarge closet space.
– If you have a basement, consider finishing it into a home office or playroom.
– Create an outdoor living area by adding a porch or deck.
Finalize Your Project Checklist
Once you’ve given careful consideration of your home renovation ideas and decided on the scope of your project, make a list of all the materials you will need. This will arm you with the information you need to get an estimate for your home renovation project and determine if it is feasible structurally and budget-wise.
