20 Ideas For Renovating Your House
Introduction
Every now and again we get the urge to freshen up our homes. We may love how they look, but we just need something new, a bit of spice added to our lives, and new scenery.
Renovating your home can be really exciting. Our homes are representations of us, who we are, the things we love, and what makes us feel safe, cozy, and like we really belong. Renovation gives us a chance to reinvent this part of ourselves.
It also gives us a chance to express ourselves, try new fashion trends, and open up the rooms of our homes in different ways.
So, let’s get started.
Before You Renovate
Before you get renovating, you should consider a few things though. It might seem all exciting and perfect, but renovating your home is no easy feat when you consider the other aspects of life that you need to really do this.
It is no walk in the park, so let’s tick a few boxes first.
Budget
First, you need to think with your financial cap on. Renovation costs money, if you want to go all out, and renovate the whole home, you are going to need a hefty chunk of cash aside for this, and it is going to cut a hole in your bank account.
Sure, it may be worth it, but will you be able to financially recover from this?
Set out a plan, look over your finances, and assess what you can afford, then set a budget with which you will renovate.
If it comes to it, you can renovate room after room one at a time, as you save to do so. But do not put yourself out of pocket, or in a financially risky position for something that doesn’t NEED to be done.
Practicality
Before you get renovating, you should consider a few things though. It might seem all exciting and perfect, but renovating your home is no easy feat when you consider the other aspects of life that you need to really do this.
It is no walk in the park, so let’s tick a few boxes first.
Budget
First, you need to think with your financial cap on. Renovation costs money, if you want to go all out, and renovate the whole home, you are going to need a hefty chunk of cash aside for this, and it is going to cut a hole in your bank account.
Sure, it may be worth it, but will you be able to financially recover from this?
Set out a plan, look over your finances, and assess what you can afford, then set a budget with which you will renovate.
If it comes to it, you can renovate room after room one at a time, as you save to do so. But do not put yourself out of pocket, or in a financially risky position for something that doesn’t NEED to be done.
Practicality
Before you go jumping head first into renovation, be sure to plan things out. If you want to do a whole home renovation, consider tackling things one room at a time, which room needs it most.
Consider what your budget allows for and what NEEDS doing. Put a plan together, get some quotes, prices, and ideas and then start going deeper.
It is also important to know what you want out of this renovation. There is no need to go into a renovation just for the sake of it. Consider how you want your home to look and feel, what you want to gain from this.
Why not put together a binder full of your plans for this renovation, so that when you get started, you have everything from your budget to your end goal.
Consult Ideas
You should always have an idea of what you want your home to look like once the renovations are done. Consult your ideas. You know that binder? Get some images in there, some reference material.
Go down to the local DIY store, pick up some samples, and know what you want.
Even better, talk to a contractor, put together some ideas, talk to them about what you want, see what a professional suggests.
Asking a professional is always a good idea, you get a better idea of what will work, how it will work, and you may also get a quote too, so you will know if what you want is in your budget.
Top 20 Ideas For Renovating Your House
So, you want to renovate your house? Awesome. Well, we have put together 20 top ideas for you to work from. Get that binder out and note down the ideas we have for you that you like.
With these ideas you can have a big budget or a small budget. There is something for everyone. You do not have to be swimming in cash to renovate at least a little. Renovation can be small, but even the smallest thing can make a massive difference.
Kitchen Remodeling
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house without a doubt. You do not even need to go all out with this one, but you certainly can if you want to.
Remodeling your kitchen could be something as simple as adding some new flooring, installing a backsplash, getting a new cooker, perhaps a refrigerator, or perhaps investing in a breakfast nook.
You can use your imagination. Perhaps install some new lighting fixtures or add a splash of paint.
Great colors for your kitchen are bright and cool colors. Kitchens are hot rooms by nature, so adding some cool colors will stop the kitchen being so hot. So, even if you are fully remodeling the kitchen, be sure to choose cool or neutral colors to keep it cool.
Redefine Your Color Scheme
Speaking of colors, redefining your color scheme is always a good way to go. We often keep the same colors for years, but adding a splash of new color can really change the whole mood and look of a room.
Here are a few things to remember…
Blues, Whites, and Greens are cool colors, they help to cool down hot rooms. Whites, Beige, Gray, and Yellows are more neutral. Reds, Oranges, and Browns are warm colors heating up cool rooms.
So, if your kitchen is too hot, perhaps redefine with some white paint. If your bedroom is blue , and it’s cold, perhaps a neutral color will work better.
A new style recently is gray, in fact, grayscale colors in homes have become more popular over recent years. Blacks and whites have also made their way into many kitchen styles.
See what is in fashion lately and give it a try.
Setting Up A Home Office
If you do not have one, why not set up a home office. You do not need to have a fancy job, or work from home. A home office can simply be a space in which you can deal with taxes, bills, and such.
If you have kids, this can be a good space for them to do homework when you are not using it, as it will be distraction free. You do not even need to have a separate room for this. A quiet area like a space available under the stairs works great!
Get some shelving units, a desk, some drawers, a good ergonomic chair and even a small laptop will work great!
Build A Swing bed
If you want something a little more unique that will wow your guests, why not go for a swing bed?
Okay, this is a little out there but stay with us. A swing bed is exactly what it sounds like, but we have swing chairs so why not a swing bed?
A swing bed is suspended from the ceiling and sits at the level of a normal bed, but instead you can see the floor underneath it. This is perfect if you want the room to seem a little bigger than it is.
It is also a great invention that will make people think you are unique and really cool. So, if you are a little out there and are still in touch with your inner-child, a swing bed could be a great shout for you!
Just remember to be safety conscious with these!
Indoor Dog House For Your Dog
Why does Fido need to sleep outside? If you have a space in your home that is not particularly used, such as under the stairs, or perhaps an old cupboard, why not turn it into an indoor doggie house? All you need is some imagination?
It can keep your dog from barking in the night when they have to sleep outside, and it will give you a chance to use your inner inventor.
You could go a bit crazy and make a full on mini house for your dog, or just give them a cool lounging space where they feel safe. Like their own bedroom!
It is a great way to utilize some unused space in your home, and make your pet even happier.
You could do this for any pets too. If you have cats, why not a cat house?
Making A Breakfast Bar
If you usually sit at the dinner table for breakfast, why not make use of some extra space? Most people do not sit at dinner tables very often any more anyway. Breakfast bars can be cozy and inviting.
They feel less formal and more relaxed, so if you find your kids don’t typically want to eat breakfast at the table, install a breakfast bar, and you’ll be eating meals together more regularly. It is so hard to resist the style and comfort these can bring.
What is even better is that you can make these unique, and there are so many styles. You could go for a modern look, an old-fashioned style, perhaps something a bit rustic or with a specific theme. Go wild!
Re-Organizing Your Pictures & Shelving
You would be so surprised at what a difference moving things around can do. Your current layout might be great, but if you move some things around you could end up with more space than you realized!
Sometimes we put things in a space because they are there, but they actually make a space look smaller. Move some pictures and shelving units around, and you might end up having more space than you thought you did!
If you are feeling a bit more curious, you could buy some new shelving units, in a different shape and expand your aesthetic even more. You can get shelves in all sorts of shapes and sizes now.
Have a play around and see what you can do with your wall space. It can open up the room a whole lot more!
Looking For Opportunities For Storage
Our homes are riddled with opportunities for storage space, but unless you have a creative and inventive mind, you might miss them.
That area under the stairs… What if you filled it with drawers, or turned it into a cupboard? What could you fit in there!
That space under your bed, what if you filled that with drawers? You could convert your bed and the surrounding area, so it is not only a bed but is full of storage compartments, you can store books, ornaments, and more.
There are so many areas in our homes we can get inventive with if we look for the opportunity. We just need to think a little more creatively and then anything could be a storage space.
If you have thick walls, you have even more opportunity.
Experiment With Open Shelving
Open shelving isn’t for everyone, but if you have a lot of cupboards and drawers, things can start to look a bit clunky. Open shelving gives you the opportunity to show off your organization skills.
In bathrooms, you can show off your clean white towels, toiletries and such in a way that looks stylish.
You can show off ornaments or items you have collected over the years. Instead of having photos taking up walls, why not have them on open shelves surrounded by ornaments that highlight them?
You can get really inventive with open shelves. Of course, they are not for everyone, and some things are not made for open shelving units, but it gives you an opportunity to individualize your home, and tell your story.
Home renovation is about expression, and open shelving units can be really expressive.
Modernize Bathroom Space
