4 questions to ask your-self Before renovating your home
ONE. How do you want your home to make you feel? It’s not just about how you think you want your home to look but how you want to feel when you are spending time in your home. We spend many hundreds of hours a year at home, so that’s why we shouldn’t underestimate the effect of the right home environment and what it can do for you. Think of 3 words that describe the way you want to feel inside your home. Here’s a few to get you started…Relaxed, energised, calm, happy, alive, cosy, inspired, nostalgic.
TWO. How do you want to use the space? We all live in our own unique way, we have our own routines that we follow each day. You will use certain areas of your home more than others may do or for very different reasons. Think about the area or spaces you are renovating and how you use or want to use them on a daily basis. Then think about why the space is or isn’t working for you. Is it just worn out? Or does it just not function the way you would like?
THREE. Who will be using the space? The answer to this question will have bearing on layout options, finish selections and furniture choices mostly. Are you a family with young children and pets? Or have your children flown the nest and only come home for a home cooked meal once a week? Families will be looking for hard wearing surfaces and forgiving upholstery, finishes that go some way to hiding sticky finger prints and muddy paws. Empty nesters may not be so worried about wear and tear instead wanting to invest in quality items that will be timeless.
FOUR. What is your total project investment? Yes that’s just a fancy way of saying how much do you have to spend? But the word “investment” is a great one. Renovating or restyling your home is very much an investment one which if done right will pay dividends to the way you feel and how much enjoyment you get from being in your home. There is very little point starting the renovation process without a maximum spend you can comfortably afford. Once you have set your investment value, you or your designer can work backwards from there on allocating what amounts should get spent where.
By taking the time at the beginning of your project to answer these questions, you will begin to develop the building blocks needed for a successful home renovation or restyle project. I wish you all the best in the planing and execution of your next home renovation project.