1. Create a budget
The first and most important step when it comes to renovating your living room is establishing how much you can afford.
When coming up with a budget you need to consider a lot more than just the exact amount of money that will be needed to complete the project. You’ll still need to eat and pay other bills while the renovation is going on. And keep in mind that almost all renovation projects usually have unforeseen tasks and expenses that drive up the costs. So, to ensure that you are well prepared, it is always wise to plan a little over budget.
Additionally, you need to place a higher priority on infrastructural changes when coming up with a budget. While cosmetic changes will have the biggest impact on the appearance of the structure, infrastructural changes are the most expensive types of modifications. As a side benefit, check out ‘staircase refurbishment cost’ if you’re interested in that type of project.
If you are looking to cut down on the costs of the renovation, you need to plan ahead and look out for big sales on supplies. Preparing months early can make a big difference in terms of the overall cost of the project. It will also help save you a lot of stress.
2. Project duration
While you might expect something like installing a new fireplace to take one or two days (perhaps a weekend away at a nearby hotel), it can take upwards of one week depending on a wide range of factors. These include delays in the delivery of your supplies, the skill and speed of the company, minor mishaps that may delay the project, and the time it takes for certain materials to dry.
Even though a supplier may make bold claims of delivery within three working days, you should always take such promises with a grain of salt. If a supplier is not able to deliver within the quoted time, the time frame of your renovation project will be thrown into chaos.
3. The type of materials you need to use
This is especially important for those who are looking to hire contractors to handle the project instead of doing it themselves.
Even though the contractor will be the one doing the renovation, you need to be actively involved in the planning process. After all, it is your living room.
Perhaps the contractor is suggesting a particular material that doesn’t suit your taste or needs, you need to speak out. For instance, if you know a good place to get foam mattresses for your coach, ask them to use those instead of the ones they are suggesting.
4. The wall in the room
It is important to note that walls serve more purposes than just separating rooms. Some of the walls are built as pillars holding up the roof of the house or to support the weight of the upper floor.
Thus, before tearing down any wall in your living room, it is crucial that you call an engineer or building inspector to inspect it. This can help save you a lot of big problems and costs in the future.
5. DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Perhaps the biggest appeal of DIY living renovation is being able to save on costs. Also, you have full control of the process of recreating and redesigning your living room. However, DIY living room renovation is only ideal if you have the right skills and experience or if you have the full assistance of someone with the expertise to properly handle such a project.
You shouldn’t undertake such a big project if you don’t feel qualified enough as you can run into some big problems and even risk damaging your property.