Top renovating tips for your home
By Melbourne Property Stylists|August 12, 2016
The global financial problems over the past few years have caused changes in consumer behaviour, with people finding it more difficult to sell their homes and live within their means, and first time buyers finding it a struggle to get onto the property ladder.
With all of this in mind, it is no wonder that there has been an increase in the number of people who have decided to make the most of the home they have, and undertake a home renovation project. Not only will renovating provide you with the home of your dreams at a price you can afford, but it will also add value to your property if and when the time comes for you to sell it.
Get back to the basics
Paring everything down to the bone and stripping back any previous owner’s décor will really allow you to put a stamp on the property. Start by reviewing the flooring, pulling back old carpeting, or sanding down and re-staining or waxing floorboards to give an instant lift to the home. Then take it room by room, stripping back old wallpaper and paints until you start to reveal the character of the property. This will give you a blank canvas upon which to begin your design process, and also allow you to spot any potential problems hidden under years of old paint and paper.
Banish the bathroom blues
If you have inherited an old and tired bathroom suite, then now is the time to think about giving your bathroom a complete makeover. You can decide whether to go for a brand new suite with bath and shower combined, or, for a more decadent feel, how about a free standing bath for the ultimate relaxing soak? Depending on your family needs, you may decide to change it to a wet room or even put in a rainforest shower, which is becoming increasingly popular. Take the opportunity to add proper ventilation, new tiles, spotlights and matching accessories for a glamorous and modern bathroom that you can enjoy for years to come.
Convert the cellar or basement
You will need to check planning regulations, but if you have a large, unused space running below the length of your house, then why not convert it into an area that you can use? Find out whether there is any structural work needed, along with waterproofing requirements, but you could end up with an extra family room, a guest bedroom or teenage den, a wine cellar or a utility space – the possibilities are endless.
Extend the kitchen
If you are cooking and working in the smallest room in the house, consider extending the kitchen area, either by building on or knocking through into another room. Open plan kitchen and dining areas with skylights or glass roofs bring light and space into what is the heart of the home. Bring the outside in with full, room length folding doors leading out onto decking for alfresco dining. Coordinate new kitchen fittings and colours with the dining area and outdoor living space for a designer look that will be the envy of friends and neighbours.
Make the most of unused space
Small areas underneath the stairs can be turned into mini workstations or home offices. Invest in custom made bespoke furniture to make the most of awkward corners and unused space around the home, which will also hide away a lot of the clutter.
Renovating is not for the fainthearted, but if done well, the efforts will be worth it. Remember to take time to properly plan your renovation, particularly when it comes to checking planning and building regulations, and keep the image of the final effect in mind, especially when you are living in the middle of what seems like a building site!
With all of this in mind, it is no wonder that there has been an increase in the number of people who have decided to make the most of the home they have, and undertake a home renovation project. Not only will renovating provide you with the home of your dreams at a price you can afford, but it will also add value to your property if and when the time comes for you to sell it.
Get back to the basics
Paring everything down to the bone and stripping back any previous owner’s décor will really allow you to put a stamp on the property. Start by reviewing the flooring, pulling back old carpeting, or sanding down and re-staining or waxing floorboards to give an instant lift to the home. Then take it room by room, stripping back old wallpaper and paints until you start to reveal the character of the property. This will give you a blank canvas upon which to begin your design process, and also allow you to spot any potential problems hidden under years of old paint and paper.
Banish the bathroom blues
If you have inherited an old and tired bathroom suite, then now is the time to think about giving your bathroom a complete makeover. You can decide whether to go for a brand new suite with bath and shower combined, or, for a more decadent feel, how about a free standing bath for the ultimate relaxing soak? Depending on your family needs, you may decide to change it to a wet room or even put in a rainforest shower, which is becoming increasingly popular. Take the opportunity to add proper ventilation, new tiles, spotlights and matching accessories for a glamorous and modern bathroom that you can enjoy for years to come.
Convert the cellar or basement
You will need to check planning regulations, but if you have a large, unused space running below the length of your house, then why not convert it into an area that you can use? Find out whether there is any structural work needed, along with waterproofing requirements, but you could end up with an extra family room, a guest bedroom or teenage den, a wine cellar or a utility space – the possibilities are endless.
Extend the kitchen
If you are cooking and working in the smallest room in the house, consider extending the kitchen area, either by building on or knocking through into another room. Open plan kitchen and dining areas with skylights or glass roofs bring light and space into what is the heart of the home. Bring the outside in with full, room length folding doors leading out onto decking for alfresco dining. Coordinate new kitchen fittings and colours with the dining area and outdoor living space for a designer look that will be the envy of friends and neighbours.
Make the most of unused space
Small areas underneath the stairs can be turned into mini workstations or home offices. Invest in custom made bespoke furniture to make the most of awkward corners and unused space around the home, which will also hide away a lot of the clutter.
Renovating is not for the fainthearted, but if done well, the efforts will be worth it. Remember to take time to properly plan your renovation, particularly when it comes to checking planning and building regulations, and keep the image of the final effect in mind, especially when you are living in the middle of what seems like a building site!
