The question is: I want to renovate my house. But where do I start?
In this guide i will show you how to renovate your house by yourself, with this 9 steps guide (even if you’ve never done it before).
It’s not a case that most of the time, we tend to begin a project, without having previously drawn up a specific plan, failing from the beginning, and losing time and money only.
So if you’re looking to make the right home renovation with a detailed process, you will love this guide:
1 # FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
1. What is the first thing to do when renovating a house?
Make a list about everything that comes to your mind:
Newspapers, magazines and decoration books are an excellent starting point to get a lot of ideas.
Cut off pages from those newspapers and magazines.
Save all the images that can inspire you the most from internet.
Collect any photos and postcards you can find at home.
You can also think about some viewed film, art exhibitions, some trips you have made and people you met with different cultures, etc
They are all excellent resources to have, in order to start already with a lot of material.
You don’t have to think too much about it, for now it’s important only to keep what may have really excited you.
Take your time and then let’s move on step number 2.
2. Take all the material and save it on a file:
Regardless of how you want to organize all the things you’ve found, you can use a binder or save it in an online file.
3. Take what occurs more frequently:
For example, you may have found material with a greater prevalence of flowers, many golden elements, images in which the green color predominates, etc …).
5. Ask yourself:
Do I really love this?
Do I really have to keep it?
These questions are very important, even if are simple, but they will help you to understand what you need to keep or remove
In this way you avoid to have too much material that can be overwhelming.
2 # Find your style
Then collect everything you have found and try to give names to every object.
For example, you can see the following image:
Don’t worry if it seems to be difficult to find a unique and specific style.
Generally there is always a mix of styles.
For example a touch of bohemian withs a hint of classic.
Or a classic and neutral style, but with a hint of bohemian.
It may seem like a waste of time, but choosing style really helps you to focus and filter everything that does not suit your person.
It will help you answer a simple question:
Is it really me?
In case of you don’t have any idea from where to start with, I recently wrote a quiz to how to find out your unique style.
3 # What should you remodel first?
1. Think about your life style:
Whether you live in a small house, or in an apartment, how would you like to see every decoration appearing on your walls?
Being honest with yourself, is essential if you want to create great results, so that you will have no problems about decorating your home.
Practical needs, not just your style aspirations, should guide your plans.
For example, you could dream about a formal living room, where you can have a lot of parties.
But what if you don’t really feel comfortable?
You’re not going to be happy and this would mean that you furnished a house that doesn’t fit what you really like.
2. Try to see what it's not working:
Look for a different strategy that you can implement.
For example:
Do you never listen to music because the speakers are in the wrong room?
Do you feel affected about a small table when you invite some guests?
Facing these kind of things helps you to create a room that only benefits you.
4 # Think about all the things to create at home
1. Make a photo of everything:
(yes you got it :D, you have to make a photo of everything!)
Make a photo of everything in your home (rugs, furniture, lamps) and put all the collected images on a table.
When you see each object individually, then you better understand if your style agrees too.
Photos also make it easier to imagine new patterns, because you can “move” objects from one room to another.
2. Sort everything into four groups:
1.The photos of everything you want to keep;
2.The photos of everything you want to change or modify (to be painted, to be coated, etc.);
3. The photos of the possible things you don’t need anymore that can be useful to someone you know;
4.The photos of what you can sell online, containing the superfluous or unnecessary.
3. Have a look of every object and ask yourself:
Do I love this?
Do I need this?
Does it fit with what I’m trying to create?
Is it my style?
A radical choice requires ruthlessness!
It is totally useless to keep objects that you haven’t used for years because you don’t like them, you certainly won’t start loving them tomorrow.
So better forget it.
4. Measure everything you intend to keep:
You need to make an exact estimation about what works or not, so that it will be easier when you have to plan you house.
5 # Evaluate spaces
1. Decide what to highlight and what to hide in the room:
For example, you could highlight the fireplace surround, while you would definitely want to hide radiators.
2. Imagine how the room might look like when you enter:
For example:
To do it:
- Use tools that can simplify your work such as: tape measure, graph paper, pencils;
- Create a full-scale furniture with the cardboard;
- Use some online programs (very useful if you want to exactly define the floor plan)
Remember that whatever method you’re going to use may prove to be rough, so it’s possible that a two-dimensional furniture looks smaller than it appears on three dimensions.
In case of it could be a complicated step, you can always rely on a professional.
6 # How much does it cost to completely remodel a home?
For example:
Set an amount from where you know you won’t have to go any further.
This a basic step; it is necessary to establish the budget from where to start.
Create a “shopping list” and divide it into two columns:
In the first one, mark the budget that you would like to use for the purchase of that object.
In the second column, instead, mark the actual price of the object that you have seen and would like to buy.
Use this list to track what you should spend, compared to what you would actually spend, so you can have everything in control.
7 # Research a lot!
Once that you have an idea of what you’re looking for, find out what’s in your price range.
Visit stores, check out design blogs and post questions on their forums, speak with friends that can recommend you some stores to visit, and research a lot of magazines.
Start collecting paint and fabric samples, catalog clippings, prints of items online, in a file or in a box.
For example:
8 # Create a design scheme
This is the transition step between planning and “getting into action”, in which we restrict all the options we found and see how everything looks together.
The difficulty part here is to make in the same time some decisions, and practical considerations.
Think about making a puzzle and you’ll see that it appears much more easier and creative.
1. Reinforce all the information you've collected:
Combine the floor plan, with the list of things you need, the pieces that you are keeping or changing, the images of your favorite objects, fabrics, paints and the size of your budget.
(A limitation could be, for example, that a carpet is only available in certain colors).
2. See what matches with all the collected material:
For example:
9 # Make a decoration program
Write a list by points of everything that needs to be done:
For example:
- Order sofa (model, color, etc …)
- Order fabric for the pillows (model, color, etc …)
- Buy paint (color, quantity, etc …)
- Send this chair to the decorator.
When you divide a project into several phases, it becomes easier, instead of having an oppressive, longer and more complex work to do.
In this way you will be able to complete it quickly.
Conclusions
The most difficult part is about the organization of the material need.
In this article we have seen what are the 9 essential steps to how to renovating a house by yourself, and immediately put into action, even with no experience.
We have answered the question: I want to renovate my house. But where do I start?
Sometimes choosing the right elements to decorate our spaces and eliminate what is not really important, make us working with our unconscious mind, and with the most sensitive part of ourselves…
Don’t be afraid to show your emotions to others.
Just think about what you love the most and what makes you happy.
Remember that at the end of this long work, you can always entrust your project to professionals (interior designers or decorators) who will study and evaluate your needs and desires, helping you to create the perfect house.
Now I’d like to know what you think.
Do you already have ideas to put into practice even with little money?
Have you already created something unique?