Interior Design
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Interior Design
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5 Tips for How to Survive a Renovation

Ready, steady, go! Getting through a renovation can be incredibly stressful, so here are some tips on how to survive and come out the other side, still sane and happy!

  1. Prepare your house:

There will be dust, dust and more dust.

Seal off, wrap up, move all furniture out

Just accept the fact that whatever you do, no matter how well you’ve sealed things up, the dust will get in – there’s nothing worse than trying to clean the dust off the lego pieces 6 months later – it never comes off!

  1. Plan it all beforehand

The best thing you can do is to be extremely organized and plan ahead.

Have your plans finalized and signed off that you know exactly what you are going to be doing

Choose all your fittings, fixtures ahead of time

If you are working with a designer, they should have created some or all of the following for you:

  • A layout plan including floor plan and furniture
  • A mood board with furniture suggestions
  • A décor board with finishes and fabric suggestions
  • 2D drawings
  • 3D software renders on a programme like Sketchpro

It also really helps to have created a  Sample Box with physical samples of wall floor, fabrics and joinery. This will help you visualize how its all going to work together

  1. Items Ordered or Delivered

Ensure all the items are either on order and you know their lead times, or already stored in your garage. Builders are renowned for telling you they don’t need anything the first week and then first day they ask “where’s the basin?”

  1. Set your budget and manage it

Always put a 10-20% contingency in as things are always unforeseen but don’t get carried away with spending too much on fixtures – manage it.

You want to enjoy your transformation, not feel traumatized by how much money you’ve spent. 

  1. Move Out

Move out if at all possible - Depends on how long, but if for longer than a few weeks, If at all possible move out. It’s extremely hard to live through a reno – I’ve done it quite a few times and its very stressful. If you have to stay in the house then find a place that is away from the mess where you can have some privacy and dust free