No matter how calm you are as a person, renovations are bound to get anyone flustered. You may be covered in dust right at this very moment, scratching your head, wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into. Don’t worry, we are here to help.
We all know the basic renovation tips such as planning ahead, making sure everyone’s on the same page, and sticking to your budget. In this blog we go through a few practical hacks and clever tricks you might not have heard before.
Let’s go through actionable steps you can actually take to stay calm and comfortable during the chaos that renovation usually brings with itself. We also have a bonus tip waiting for you right at the end which will help make even the most overwhelming renovation tasks easy.
Have a Set Decision Day Each Week
Have you ever tried to visit the grocery store without a set shopping list and found yourself getting more and more lost and frustrated as you walk through the aisles? Well, diving right into renovation is a lot like that. You have no pre-determined list of what you need and you might end up making decisions you regret later.
Instead of planning as you go along, try to set one specific day in the week where you make all your renovation decisions for the days ahead. Consider a huge kitchen renovation project that is supposed to extend into several weeks. Suppose you have to tackle cabinets this week.
We start off by setting a day for the planning, maybe the Sunday before the week actually starts. You could dedicate certain days to specific tasks such as ordering cabinet hardware on a Monday, picking up paint/finish on a Tuesday, taking the cabinets apart on a Wednesday and so on. This ensures you are following a set list throughout the week and helps you avoid stress.
Invent Positive Moments
Everyone gets tired of the renovation process once in a while. No one likes the constant dust, the noise, and stress that comes with it. While you are getting your house renovated (or doing it yourself), plan small, happy moments that take you away from the action once in a while.
This could be a small outing every week or simply lighting up a scented candle and meditating in the quiet moments. It gives you something you can look forward to and allows you to come back to the renovation process refreshed.
If you want to go a step further, consider a vacation. For example, if you want to get your house repainted, you can look for reliable, expert Gaithersburg house painters who can get the job done while you’re away and at peace!
Even brief pauses can give you a lot of mental clarity. As you remove yourself from the constant chaos you are also able to view your home in a new light when you are finally back.
Take Baby Steps
Renovation projects often tend to feel overly stressful because you are focusing on the entire picture. If you zoom in for a moment you will be able to see that there are so many tiny parts that will eventually lead to the end product.
Consider the huge task of renovating your roof. It might seem so complicated at first. You have to arrange accommodation, move out, choose the materials, figure out a budget, and look for a roofing company. However, if you break that process down into small baby steps you’ll be able to tackle it without feeling overwhelmed.
It’s also a great idea to lean on expert roofing contractors who can lay out the entire plan for you as well as suggest materials for your specific location and home. This is true for any renovation project. It is important to find experts who you can rely upon so you know you can look forward to a job well done!
Clean Everything Up
It’s nearly impossible to think straight when everything is cluttered up. Have you ever tried solving a puzzle when all the pieces are just laying there, scattered, looking up at you? It’s mind-boggling and so overwhelming that you don’t even want to get started.
However, if you start organizing them into small sections and figuring out where each piece may fit, it starts to get easier. The same rule applies to your home.
The more scattered your items are the harder it will be for you to create a mental picture of what your renovation is supposed to look like. You might find it hard to get started, and even more difficult to provide accurate directions to the renovation experts. In fact, even when they are done, it may feel like nothing fits.
We suggest renting out a temporary storage space and cleaning up your home, shifting out everything that is in the way. This doesn’t just give you a clearer picture of the renovation process but also allows the experts to get the job done with the least hurdles.
Bonus Tip: Try Virtual Reality
We live in the 21st century and there’s no reason you shouldn’t take full advantage of that. There are many different apps that can allow you to create a renovated model of a certain part of your home and experience it virtually to see if it works.
If you are too stressed about whether something is going to work out in your home, try creating a virtual model of your home and experiencing the renovation in virtual reality. It’s bound to help you make a solid decision!
Final Thoughts
Home renovations shouldn’t be a painful process. Instead, they should be something you really enjoy. Renovations almost always come from the heart. They are a conscious effort to upgrade your living space, and should be a happy experience.
With just a few simple steps you can make the renovation a lot easier on yourself. Remember that hiring experts and vetting them beforehand is key to a successful renovation. The more reliable your renovation experts, the less stress you’ll have to deal with in the long run.