Useful Tips That Will Make Renovating Your House Easier
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: December 5, 2021
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Home renovations can be wonderful experiences where you put your vibe and love into your home and enjoy the results for years to come. They can also be stressful periods of your life filled with headaches if youâre not careful. The following will explore several tips that can help you manage home renovations. The goal is to keep the process running smoothly and comfortably for everyone.
Understand Itâs Going To Take Longer
No matter what home repair or renovation project youâre working on, you can and should expect the task to take longer than you think it is. When youâre tearing up floors, you might find asbestos underneath and have to halt work to do an intense clean (with a mask on). When taking down a wall, you might discover a pipe where it shouldnât be or, even worse, encounter lead pipes that require replacement. If you comprehend that the project will take longer than expected, youâre likely to be less disappointed when the schedule deviates slightly. Expecting the project to exceed the initial estimate by 30% is a good idea. For example, if it should take three days, plan for it to take four.
Learn About Colour Psychology
It turns out that colors have a strong impact on the human mind. Before confirming a paint choice your curtain selection, or any other decision that involves a large space being one color, take a moment to research the effect this color has on mood. Some colors leave people feeling refreshed and cheerful, whereas others (especially that hyper-trendy grey) can leave people feeling depleted and apathetic.
Understand Itâs Going To Cost More Than You Expect
Just like those surprises can slow down the project, they can also make projects cost more. Sometimes you discover something that needs to be addressed before you can move on and finish what you were initially meant to complete. Perhaps youâre thinking of revamping the shed but find an endangered species of bird living in there and now need to wait for a member of the organization to come and confirm its identity and pay to have it moved somewhere safe before you can legally continue work.
You want to account for these surprise expenses when budgeting because otherwise, you might find the process of renovating causing financial stress later down the road. Account for things being 30% more expensive than you initially expected.
Plan For Quiet Time
Renovations can extend beyond the expected timeframe and encounter hiccups. One of the best things you can do to ensure that the renovation period doesnât drive everyone in your household crazy is to plan. If kids require a quiet environment for homework or adults are working from home, you may need to schedule a visit to the grandparents or a friendâs house for an hour or two each day, providing those who need it with quiet time to complete their work.
Youâre also going to want to plan alone time for everyone. Typically home renovations mean certain rooms are off-limits, and this means everyone is crammed into smaller spaces than theyâre used to. If you donât plan for excursions and alone time for everyone, relations might get strenuous. If romantic relationships exist within the home, also plan for the occasional date night.
Embrace Your Homeâs Character
All houses have their oddities; this is part of their charm. Donât stress too much over the quirks of your home, rather use them as focal points and make use of their uniqueness. This means you might want to seek out custom-made picture frames for that space above the stairs or an unusually-sized sofa for that alcove. Work with what makes your home special instead of against it.
Think About Your Pets
If you have pets, they might need more care during this time as animal hearing tends to be stronger than human hearing which means the sounds of construction might be magnified for them. Plan for lots of walks and perhaps even ask a trusted friend to watch them for a few days, especially if theyâre puppies in the chewing stage, as renovations typically involve scattering items across the floor. You also need to keep safety in mind as things like nails or power tools might draw your petâs attention.
If Kitchen Renovations Are Underway
If part of your renovations involves tackling the kitchen, be sure to plan your meals. You might not be able to cook (or you might be able to cook but will be surrounded by dust and other elements that make cooking stressful). Budget for meals out and think of how you can prep meals and snacks ahead of time to make the kitchen renovation less interruptive of your meal schedule.
Protect Everyoneâs Lungs
Home renovations can produce lovely results, but the chances of you and members of your household encountering toxic substances skyrocket during the process. Varnishes, glues, finishes, paints, and other toxins will be floating around in the air, which means you need to do your due diligence to protect everyone. Keep your home well-ventilated, consider purchasing an air filter if itâs too cold to keep windows open, or the project will be ongoing for a while, and wear protective masks if needed.
If you notice anyone getting sniffles or a cough, this is a sign that the air isnât clean yet. If people cannot breathe through their noses, this means that their body is sensing the toxins in the air and swelling the nasal passage closed to protect them. Listen to these bodily cues.
Make Renovating Your House Easier
The above tips should help you keep your renovations from taking over your life and driving you insane. When well organized and prepared for, renovations can be blissful periods where you and your household can watch your home come together and reflect your energy and feelings about life. A big component of enjoying the process involves being prepared for itâunderstanding that delays happen expenses pop up, and the kids are going to need some time away from each other.
Thank you for reading!
