You probably have an idea in your head about what your dream home would look like.
You need to create a warm, welcoming space for yourself and your family that allows your personality to shine through. However, sometimes, it’s hard to turn that dream home into a reality. Perhaps you just don’t have the money for renovations, or can’t agree with your partner on the kind of home you want. Over time, the dream might begin to fade. But here’s the secret – it doesn’t have to.
You can easily bring your dream home to life, you just need to be ready and willing to put the hard work in.
Here’s how you can get started.
Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash
Mood Board
When you are renovating your home, you must have a clear vision in mind. This can easily be achieved by planning ahead. Use websites such as Pinterest, or cut out sections from home decor magazines and put together a mood board. This is a great way to see all of your ideas in one place and can help you know what furniture, paints and wallpapers you want to be on the lookout for.
If you want your home to look as though it stepped right out of an interior design catalog, you need to decide on a theme or an aesthetic For example, you might want to design a home that is sleek and modern, with cool tones throughout. Alternatively, you may dream of a house that looks like the inside of a log cabin.
If you are living with others, you can compare moldboards and find a common ground. For example, you may allow them to make decisions on the kitchen if you can design the bathroom. Once you know what you want, you’re ready to go.
Set A Budget
The next step in the process is deciding upon a budget. This will obviously vary depending on the number of renovations you intend to do, how much you need to buy and your own income. You should also factor in the costs of hiring any builders or decorators – though this can be lessened if you’re planning on doing some DIY.
It can be hard to keep track of how much you are spending off the top of your head, so be sure to keep a record of your money, so you know exactly how much money you have left in the budget. Thankfully, numerous mobile apps can do this for you. They even provide you with an alert when you get close to hitting your budgets.
One way in which you can make budgeting easier is by breaking the budget down into separate, smaller budgets. For example, you can plan to spend X amount of money on the living room, and X on the bedroom. This can make keeping on top of money much easier.
Don’t set the budget unnecessarily high, as this is a recipe for disaster. Alternatively, you shouldn’t set a budget that is unrealistically low, as you’ll only regret it when you begin to overspend. Whenever possible, avoid taking out loans or borrowing money, as this will only bring unnecessary stress and pressure if you are unable to make repayments. Instead, take your time with renovations. It is not a race to completion.
Buy The Supplies
When you have a clear idea of exactly how you want your home to look, and how much you are allowing yourself to spend, it’s time to actually buy the things you need. There are plenty of guides online that can help make this process easy, guiding you towards smart purchases that match your needs.
For example, if a log cabin aesthetic is your dream, there are plenty of ways you can use wood to compliment your home. For example, you can set up reclaimed shelving in your lounge or bedroom. This is a great way to include natural wood in your room, and special care is taken to ensure none of the timber’s natural markings are removed, meaning each piece is truly unique.
No matter your vision, you’ll likely need the following supplies when undergoing a home renovation:
- A range of paintbrushes (different sizes)
- A paint roller
- Dust Sheets (to protect furniture, floors and carpeting from paint stains)
- Tape
- Scissors
- Paint/Wallpaper
- Steamer/Stripper (To remove old wallpaper from the wall)
- Sandpaper
- Ladders
- Tape measure
Photo by Christian Kaindl on Unsplash
Out With The Old
Some items of furniture may no longer fit your vision for your home. Perhaps you’ve had them a few years, and they are no longer looking their best, or you simply don’t use them any longer. If you keep them, they will only add to the clutter as opposed to being useful – so it is time to let go.
Anything that is broken or damaged beyond repair should be thrown away. If possible, see if the items can be safely recycled as opposed to being sent to a landfill site. If a piece of furniture – say a chair – is still in good condition, you may be able to sell it for some extra cash. Any money that you earn can be reinvested into your home, or put towards a replacement piece of furniture. Alternatively, you could donate it to a local charity or shelter who are always on the lookout for donations. This could make a real difference in somebody’s life – even though you may not see the item as being very valuable at all.
Shop Smartly
In order to stay under your budget, you might have to reign in your purse strings a little. This means you probably won’t be able to buy every piece of furniture you lay eyes on – no matter how much you may want too or how tempting the item itself is. You need to ensure you make smart decisions. Ideally, you should give yourself the option to splurge on one item per room – be that a fancy chandelier or comfortable chair. Then, try to find cheaper alternatives for the rest of the furniture.
This can include:
- Purchasing items second hand from a local charity shop or thrift store
- Purchasing pre-loved items from online groups, such as FacebookMarketplace or Gumtree
- Searching for ‘dupes’ of designer items online, so that you achieve the same look for a fraction of the price.
- Typing keywords into the search engine, such as ‘white marble dresser’, and looking through the options that appear until you find the best deal. Be sure to check out the reviews before purchasing.
- Asking friends or family if they or anyone they know is moving and getting rid of furniture.
- DIY-ing some furniture of your own, such as desks, tables and chairs.
Get Prepared
Once you have completed the above steps, you are ready to get started with your renovations, and you are one step closer towards your dream home. You should put in place a clear plan that takes you from start to finish – this will also allow you to figure out exactly how much time you are going to spend decorating.
You’ll likely have to begin by clearing out your current possessions and deep cleaning your home. This will give you a ‘clean canvas’ to work with, and means you won’t damage any of your furniture in the process. Deep cleaning may sound bothersome, but it is definitely worth it. In fact, you’ll be surprised how different your home looks after the cleaning alone – it will be almost like new. Then, it’s time to grab your brushes and start painting or decorating.
If you are going to be staying in your home during the process, you might want to start small in the rooms that are used less frequently. Try not to do several rooms at once, as you might leave yourself without access to utilities.
Photo by Roselyn Tirado on Unsplash
Stay Calm
Decorating is stressful. It can make you feel unsettled in your home, and it is frustrating when things go wrong. As the process is also time-consuming, it can be hard to remain positive. However, you have to remain calm throughout. Arguments will not make the process any quicker. If a mistake is made, figure out how to resolve the issue and move on. Maintaining a cool head will make the process easier for everyone involved.
On difficult days, grab your mood board and remind yourself that it will all be worth it in the end.
Ask For Help
Asking for help can be difficult, especially if you wanted to do the entire renovations yourself. However, there is no shame in asking for a helping hand now and then. Whether that means somebody comes to help you peel off old wallpaper, or you ask a family member for help with budgeting – there are always people around you who are ready and willing to help.
Additionally, you should always ask for professional help whenever you are dealing with something potentially dangerous – such as plumbing and electricity. Though hiring a professional will incur an extra cost, it is worth it to ensure the work is done safely and nobody comes to any harm.
