Top 4 Home Renovation Tips

Key takeaways:

• Home renovation is as popular as ever, and there are numerous tools available to help homeowners tackle their first project.
  Budgeting time and money ahead of the project’s start date is the most critical aspect of making home improvements.
  Each room of your house requires a specific approach, and most likely, you’ll need to round up experts to help with larger projects. 

Home Renovation Tips 

Your house is the hub of your life. It’s where you host loved ones, start and end your day, and where you feel safe and at peace—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a little improvement here and there.

Whether that’s updating appliances or adding a colorful backsplash to your bathroom sink, renovation projects for your house can make your home feel like new. According to a summer 2020 MarketWatch report, home improvement and renovation projects’ popularity has soared in the last year. 

Luckily, improving and investing in your residence can be a simple—and even enjoyable—process. Whether you’re looking to sell your home or want to press the refresh button on your dated abode, there’s a doable home renovation project for you to start tackling today. 

Below, you’ll find four home renovation tips to make your dream home a reality.

#1 Figure Out Your Project Goal and Budget

Before heading to the hardware store or enlisting a contractor, make a list of your financial and lifestyle priorities by considering these foundational questions:

• Consider your finances. How much money are you willing to spend? Will this project ultimately result in a higher return on investment? Do you have enough funds to cover this project upfront, or will you need to take out a loan?
  Take stock of your lifestyle. How much time are you willing to devote to this project? How will this project affect your lifestyle and the living situation of those in the house? How will this project benefit you (and your family) in the long run? 

#2 Start Small

It may be tempting to grab the sledgehammer or drill and start recreating your favorite HGTV show. But smaller changes might be the smarter (and more impactful) way to go. Little updates have minimal costs but can have a big effect on your home—plus, minimal risk for irreversible damage should your project go awry. 

A few small but impactful project ideas may include:

• Repainting your walls
• Adding crown molding
• Installing an inexpensive stair-runner
• Renewing old flooring with floor paint
• Repainting kitchen cabinets
• Adding backsplash to your kitchen sink areas

Once you’ve allotted yourself a time-and-money budget—and OK-ed the idea with everyone under the roof—you can begin to flesh out the details of your renovation. 

#3 Choose a Room

When you’ve decided you’re ready and willing to take on a renovation project, keep repeating tip #2 to yourself: start small. It’s easy to get lost in the adrenaline of home improvement, but this doesn’t mean you should attempt to tackle the entire house at once. Choose a room as your starting point. To decide which lucky room gets a reboot, make a list of priorities by asking yourself a few questions like:

• Which room gets the most use and needs the most love?
• Which space can you sacrifice, realistically, while the project is underway?
• Which room is the smartest investment? 

According to popular real estate site Trulia, the kitchen and master bath are the two rooms that “really sell” homes. So whether you’re looking to put your house on the market soon or need a solid starting point for your upcoming reno project, here’s how to spruce up these two rooms. 

The Kitchen 

The kitchen is the heart of your home—it’s where your family gravitates toward first thing in the morning and where you and your friends cluster for long chats. A few tweaks to your kitchen can add a much-needed lift to the epicenter of your home life. 

• Keep it simple; keep it clean. The spectrum of kitchen renovation trends is broad, varied, and often polarizing. Focus on neutral paint colors, easy-to-clean countertops, and ample storage that can help conceal clutter.
  Invest in the good stuff. Continuously fixing or maintaining cheap appliances may cost you more in the long run. Choosing to invest in quality appliances could save you time and money while adding a new level of polish to your kitchen.
  Lay it out. Before you start installing that subway tile backsplash you fell in love with at the tile store, be sure you’ve selected your paint and appliance colors. You don’t want to find out too late that your gorgeous tile actually clashes with your countertops. Be sure to lay out all your materials together to ensure you have a cohesive layout.  

The Bathroom

A day doesn’t go by without a few trips to the bathroom, so why not spruce up this essential part of your home? A few updates can transform your bathroom into a place of relaxation and privacy in your home.

• Focus on fixtures. A new showerhead, sink faucet, toilet paper holder, or even towel rack can do wonders in your day-to-day life.
  When in doubt, go blue. The go-to bathroom paint color is making a comeback. Classic blue is the 2020 Pantone color of the year. Blue walls or blue accents (think floor tiles or even the ceiling) will help you create a serene oasis.
  Light it up. There is a lot of light to consider in your master bath. From flattering LED mirror lights to an overhead fixture’s size to smart nightlights, be sure to include a lighting budget for this room. 

#4 Find the Experts

Unless you’re a carpenter, plumber, and general contractor all tied up in one, you’re probably going to need to hire someone (or several someones) to assist you with your reno. 

Here are some experts you may want to consider contacting:

• General contractor. Look into hiring a general contractor if your reno will cost a few thousand dollars and if you will need to enlist several subcontractors. The general contractor will serve as the director of your project and help keep you sane throughout the process. They also typically have established relationships with your local plumbers, electricians, artisans, etc.
• Specialty tradespeople. If you’re tackling any room where water and wires both exist (i.e., kitchens and master bath), you may want to hire both a plumber and an electrician. There are also tile professionals, cabinet pros, and carpenters who can all be significant assets during minor and major renovations.
• Interior Designer. Your dream home vision may be difficult to explain to your renovation team. A professional interior designer can act as your translator throughout the renovation. These experts have an eye for style and can steer you in the right direction with just a few keywords from you.

Stick to the Plan

Once you’ve made a list of priorities, chosen a room to start renovating and solicited professional help in your area, you’ll be well on your way to executing a successful home renovation. If possible, capture photos throughout the process. Taking “before,” “after,” and “during” pictures will help you envision the final product and will serve as a great reference tool for future home renovations.