Which is a very fair question to ask here in the first place. But just think about it for just a second, there’s a very specific kind of optimism that hits after watching a few renovation videos online. These people, who look like you and me, made something pretty in their home. Why can’t you, right? Besides, isn’t DIY the way to go? They transformed a kitchen totally in 45 seconds, and a bathroom went from scary to spa-like with three cute clips. That’s usually how it goes, and the average person tends to think they can have a totally transformed space by next week, too.
And sure, the inspiration is fun, because it makes the dream feel possible. But, with all of that said here, real houses don’t renovate like social media. But you hopefully knew that. Besides, real houses have, well, things that make renovations actually become fairly challenging. So, you absolutely shouldn’t get attached here to any sort of ideas. You shouldn’t fall in love with dreams, and instead, there are things to ask first.
Disclosure: Contributed post.
Does the Idea Actually Work with the House?
Okay, first question, does it physically make sense in the space? Some ideas look amazing online because the room is twice the size, the ceilings are higher, and the lighting is basically professional studio quality. In a real house, the layout can fight back, like really fight back here. And that’s where measuring matters.
It’s the small things, like keep in mind here that door swings, clearance around islands, where the fridge opens, and how far a bathroom vanity can actually extend without making the room feel cramped.
Is this a DIY Project or a Professional Project?
Some projects are totally reasonable to DIY. This is especially true for cosmetic updates not involving safety or structure. It’s fine to paint the walls. Also, it’s fine to add wallpaper. It’s fine to add pediments to the wall, and add peel-and-stick backsplash to the kitchen; these things are so minor, it’s encouraged to DIY.
But other projects can look simple online and be complicated in real life, such as tile showers (never ever DIY this, please), big plumbing changes, electrical work, roofing, or anything that needs permits and inspections.
But if you want anything big and outlandish, it can’t be stressed enough here that you’re much better off going to home remodelers, real professionals. You can save a lot of time, money, and regret by doing this.
Will this Add Value, or Just Add Personal Preference?
Well, not every renovation needs to be about resale, obviously.
People should enjoy their homes. Besides, if you know you’re going to be living here years on end, why would you even care about the next people who buy the house? If it’s a forever home, then you only need to think of your forever home, not the future homebuyer.
But it’s still smart to ask how potentail buyers will perceive the change if you decide to sell the home later. Some upgrades have broad appeal, like functional kitchens, bathrooms with a good layout, and good outdoor living space (be it a deck, patio, pavilion, etc.). Some upgrades are more personal, like very specific layouts or ultra-trendy finishes that might date quickly.
Featured photo source: Pexels
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