Steps to renovate a house on a low budget

There may come a time where you will want to take the steps to renovate a house on a low budget, whether you are occupying a big house or a tiny flat. This may mean making huge structural changes or simply changing the colour of the walls.

Wherever and however you want to start, and however you want your dream home to look, planning a renovation step by step may be the difference between adding a chunk of value to your property and digging deep into your pockets to fix mistakes. Whatever your reason for renovating, below are some ideas on how to renovate a house on a low budget.

Renovating a house step by step – where to begin

So what are the first steps to renovating a house? And what is the order of remodelling a room?

When thinking about where to start a home renovation, whether it’s the whole home or just a room, no two projects will be the same. So, a house’s renovation process steps will be different depending on the home reno you opt for. Here is a non-exhaustive list of what to consider when renovating a house:

1. Work out what your renovation project is, i.e. are you going for a complete home renovation or are you considering just an interior renovation and leaving the exterior alone?
2. Once you work out your remodelling project, what is the potential to gain here with your home remodel? What’s your overall outcome? More value in the house? More longevity as a family home?
3. Make a budget plan and carry out surveys. How long will it take? What are the renovation costs? What’s the damage and how’s the house looking plumbing-wise? Is there any dampness which should be your first fix?
4. Have you found the right people to do the right jobs, i.e. central heating, roofing etc?
5. Do you need renovation insurance and a warranty? Are you eligible for any grants?
6. Do you need an architect to help you realise your goals in the remodelling process?
7. Do you require planning permission to get started? Some remodelling projects might need planning permission, so make sure you have everything in place before you start.
8. Do you need a builder or another tradesperson to complete the renovation work like waste removal, plumbing, electrics and plastering?
9. Do you need to make any internal structural changes during your house renovation? When installing new fixtures, have you checked measurements and compatibility?
10. Does anything need to be fixed?
11. Do you have a decoration, theme and snagging list? I.e. do you want period features or a modernised house?

How to renovate a house while living in it

It’s difficult to live in the same house while you’re renovating, especially when you’re making big changes. However, it can help you save money and you’ll be nearby to answer any queries from external parties helping you renovate. But be prepared for broken sleep, dust getting everywhere and noise! It may be best to have a backup plan in place if you can afford it.

Below are some more tips on how to tackle the remodelling process and interior renovation.

What should you do first when remodelling a house – Check if dampness is affecting your home

In your home renovation schedule, include looking at the dampness in the house. Most damp can be dealt with relatively easily if it’s caught early enough, so don’t hesitate when you notice your walls becoming discoloured. How your damp is treated will depend on the type of damp it is – and it must be at the top of your list of renovation steps.

While it can be tempting to treat your wall with mould remover, you might not be tackling the problem. Finding a damp proofer nearby can make addressing the problem much quicker, but in the meantime, it’s possible to do some legwork on your own. Below are different types of dampness that could affect your home’s renovation:

Rising damp

Usually present in older homes, rising dampness occurs when groundwater levels increase. When the levels penetrate your home’s walls and floors, you’ll notice dampness. To solve this issue, you’ll probably need a damp proofer to assess your home and carry out some work. It’s one of the hardest types of damps to solve, but you can improve your situation by increasing ventilation in your home.

You may have rising dampness if you’re noticing wetness and discolouration on your walls near your skirting boards moving upwards. As soon as you suspect this might be an issue, you need to get in touch with a professional, as rising dampness might affect the structural integrity of your home. Acting fast is the best way to avoid long-term issues.

Penetrating damp

While it might sound scary, penetrating damp is much easier to fix than rising dampness. It can occur anywhere in your home and is caused by water coming into your home from outside. Typically, homes that have old or poorly maintained gutters are at risk of penetrating damp, but water can also enter through holes or cracks in your roof. Check wall cavities, insulation and window frames for gaps and repair them as needed. You’ll probably be able to find the offending area by simply investigating the area where the damp is coming through.

Condensation

The easiest type of dampness to fix, condensation, is usually caused by your habits inside your home. Condensation forms when moisture in the air settles on cold surfaces, which is why it’s so important to keep your home warm in the winter and avoid excessive amounts of steam by opening windows. Condensation is common in kitchens and bathrooms, so think about installing extractor fans to help with the issue. You may also want to think about switching off dehumidifiers if you have any in the rooms that are affected.

Condensation may also form if air can’t circulate properly behind furniture, so leave some gaps between cupboards and the wall. Don’t forget to pay attention to any leaks as well. It doesn’t matter if you’re collecting water in a bucket, leaks cause excessive amounts of moisture that can cause dampness and condensation.

Your house’s plumbing is probably something you don’t think about daily. You may take for granted the hot water and waste removal that plumbing provides to your home. But, regular plumbing maintenance is essential, especially if a problem arises like a blocked toilet, leaking pipe and/or clogged drain.

Proper care from your local plumbing services (for example, if you live in Atlanta, you would call in your local Atlanta plumbers), can save you from these costly problems arising and cut the cost of your water bill too.

Leak repair can save over 3,000 gallons of water a year, and fixing a leaking toilet can save you up to 200 gallons a day. Regular general plumbing maintenance will ensure these problems are easily avoided with simple steps that should be done daily, weekly, and yearly.

Where to start when remodelling your house – plumbing maintenance

The next stage in your steps for renovating a house is checking the plumbing properly. The most common everyday problems associated with plumbing maintenance are clogged drains and where there is a drainage problem in the house. Clogs wear out your pipes and place unnecessary strain on your plumbing system. Taking regular preventive measures for the whole house can save you from these nuisances and more significant problems in the future like a burst pipe.

Daily maintenance

For daily maintenance, your local plumbers will conduct a plumbing inspection and operate drain cleaning services if needed, taking special care with the bathroom (to review a clogged toilet drain or a clogged sewer for example) and kitchen as these rooms post the most significant risk in the house.

Kitchen drains often clog due to what you put down the sink when cleaning your dishes or cooking food. Remember to never put grease or oil down the sink as they can congeal and clog the pipes.

If you use a garbage disposal, ensure you are using it properly and run cold water through it for at least 15 seconds after ensuring the waste is properly flushed down. Remembering these simple things can prevent those pesky clogs from damaging your plumbing and requiring expensive plumbing work further down the line.

Preventing bathroom clogs is essential in daily plumbing maintenance. Installing screens over the drains can catch hair and other debris from your pipes. Avoid using chemical products to remove clogs, as they can corrode your pipes and cause more problems in the long run. Another staple in caring for your bathroom plumbing is to not flush anything improper down the toilet.

Weekly plumbing maintenance

One of the steps in remodeling a house is to take the time to look over your plumbing once a week, so you can catch problems early and prevent significant expensive repairs. Check under your sinks for leaks or moisture, test for slow drainage and clogs, and make sure there’s no water coming from your sink’s handles or valves.

Small leaks can waste hundreds to thousands of gallons a year, and you can detect these leaks yourself by checking your pipe valves, faucets, and showerheads weekly. Requesting a plumbing engineer to replace these leaky fixtures may cost a bit, but they will save you money on your water bill to make up for it.

Yearly plumbing maintenance

Even if you have a reasonably new or fancy plumbing system in your home, it’s a good idea for your plumber to visit your house every year. Plumbers will not only check for minor problems in your pipes, but they will ensure that everything is ageing well and working to the best of its ability.

Catching problems with your water or sewer line early and operating regular sewer cleaning can save you from a disaster. These regular professional checks will save you a lot of money in the long run. A licensed plumber will ensure all pipes will be checked, as well as appliances in your house, to recheck everything from your weekly checks. A plumber can give you advice on how to maintain your specific plumbing equipment and systems.

Regular plumbing maintenance is a must, and if you come across a problem, don’t leave it until the last minute. If you need a plumber, then contact your plumber now for any plumbing questions and queries you may have to prevent a much bigger problem from arising in the future.

Steps for remodelling a house – What’s the centre of your home?

Knowing how the family room will look at the end of your home renovation should be early in the renovation process when you are considering a theme and aim of the property. Are you planning to live in the house after complete home renovation or will you be looking to sell it?

Which room of the house is the first room you take your guests into when they enter your home? For most families, it’s the living room that rivals the kitchen and bedroom as the room you spend the most time in, making it the family room.

With comfort, style and functionality, your living room is probably the most important of all the places in the house. So how do you create the perfect living room for your home? Overall, the living space should be warm and inviting, but it also should reflect your style. Above all, your living room should serve the purpose of living in for long periods.

Here are some key tips for creating a perfectly styled living room, as part of your steps for remodelling a house.

Simplify the room

As much as your living room should reflect your personality, a place that is too cluttered with gadgets and items of no relevance will look disorganised. When home remodelling strip back on the accessories, as you want the room to appear as large, open plan and luxe as possible. If you fill the room with clutter, it becomes too much ‘mess’ to the eye, making the room look visually smaller.

If you have a small lounge/living room area, you’re better off adding just one or two large pieces of furniture in the room, i.e. the TV/TV stand/supporting shelves, a nice statement coffee table* and a couch.

Depending on the width and length of the property, a small coffee table could work too. Keep the room bright and airy and make clever use of large spaces, as seen in the image below from www.housebeautiful.com of a lounge using the space around the window rather intelligently. Homify is a great website for inspiration and can provide out-of-the-box ideas on how to structure your family room (and other rooms in your home).

Add colourful blankets that have multi-uses, like the Camouflage Secret Pillow from Secret Projects, which is ethically sourced and doubles up as a blanket for the colder months. What’s more, each maker receives 500 rupees for stitching each Secret Pillow, free training and a 2,000 rupee Empowerment Fund, so buying these pillows saves lives!

There’s nothing wrong with a couple of photo frames that share personal memories, and ornaments which have sentimental value. But try to keep mantle pieces, window ledges, console tables and coffee tables spacious and styled, otherwise, these will become dumping grounds for shrapnel around the house.

Instead of over-accessorising with decorative items, simplify by keeping only things that you truly love or use regularly. This allows any key accent pieces to stand out and become statement pieces, as there isn’t anything else competing.

Open the space

A living room that flows into another room without walls instantly looks more spacious and does wonders for home improvement. And you can open up space by installing sliding barn door hardware, which opens up from side to side rather than open and closed. Barn doors also take up minimal space, which is great when you’re trying to open up the room.

If your living room sits in front of the dining room, look at removing the wall and having the two rooms flow into each other. This instantly opens up the potential for ample, airy space.

If your living room is towards the back of the house and has a conservatory or garden behind it, look at investing in external bi-folding doors to add the illusion of light and open space. If you remove a wall and replace it with ceiling-to-floor folding doors, which open into the garden or conservatory, you create this instant source of interior light with a free-flowing open space.

For an additional touch, you might even want to consider updating your conservatory roof. If you would like to learn more about some of the different ways to upgrade your conservatory roof, you can find some helpful resources on the Projects 4 roofing website.

If you don’t have the time or budget to remove any walls or change up any doorways, look at painting all the rooms in the living room with a bright white, fresh cream or soft beige. Keep the furniture all in one colour, and you will again give the illusion of a brighter space.

Make the most of wall space

There are some items which will always sit rather bulky in your living room, as well as taking up precious floor space. This is where mounting pieces to the walls can help.

The key culprits include televisions, bookcases and floor lamps, which can take up valuable amounts of space. Why not look at mounting your TV on the wall? Instead of a mirror above your fireplace, your TV can sit above it just perfectly (this only works if your sofas are in the right spot, and your cables work in this position too).

Although the TV won’t entirely disappear, the frame of it will blend in effortlessly with the other artwork and distract the eye. For any bookcases or shelving units, look to place several shelves onto a feature wall, which you can use to display books, photos and any decorative items.

As for floor lamps, look at the different stylish wall lights now available. From chic lamp heads which point downwards, to glass enclosures which point the light upwards, you can add floor space by investing in a couple of wall lights dotted around the room.

Use mirrors and simple artwork

A streamlined, scandi-style living room tends to be the most attractive interior trend, in which living rooms are clean, classic, and fuss-free. One of the best ways to ensure your lounge area reflects this is to not go too overboard with wall decoration. Too many mixtures of frames, prints, and colours can risk looking tacky, so consider your wall fixtures carefully.

A handy tip is to utilise a large wall mirror facing your window, which will bounce natural light around the room and give the illusion of extra space. The artwork you put on the walls will look more effective if it is all themed and in keeping with the rest of the decor. For example, large wall prints from the same design collection.

Above all, remember every item visible in your living room, from the coffee table to the couch, should flow in harmony with each other and be pleasing to the eye. When this happens, your guests are treated to a visually stunning room, which looks spacious, welcoming, and well-looked after.

Create themed bedrooms to suit the personality of the home

Your bedroom should be a room of calm and serenity, so enhancing the mood and ambience with great decor and lighting is key. Whether you are kitting out the master bedroom or your child’s bedroom, it’s important to think about the personality of the inhabitant. Are you bright and wild or placid and neutral?

Again, start with your focus point, i.e. the bed, and set the theme with the colour and style of the bedding. You can find some great luxury bedding from Peacock Alley, which will help you then pick out the desk, lighting and cupboard. 

Try not to overcrowd your bedroom with too many pieces of furniture. Instead, include a simple bed, desk and cupboard-style room to make a room pop if you stick to a theme. You can brighten up your windows too, by adding window stickers like these Moon and Sun Centrepiece window stickers below from Purlfrost, for a stained glass effect.

Add some pictured frames* from frames.co.uk to brighten up the walls and, better still, use posters/paintings that encourage positivity and motivation like these lovely posters below from Edu Prints Plus.

If you live in rented accommodation or you don’t want to mess up the walls, you can use mount strips from vikings.co.uk which are easy to affix and remove, causing no damage to the walls.

You simply clean the area where you will add the mount strips, separate the two pieces and press them together until they click. Remove the one-liner and press it onto the frame. Repeat with the other strips and press the frame onto the wall firmly for around 30 seconds.

To remove, grab the bottom corners and peel the frame up and away from the wall. Don’t pull straight off. Never pull the strips towards you or peel them from the wall. Always pull straight down and as slow as you can.

Kitchens don’t have to be just about food preparation and cooking

Nowadays, families enjoy socialising in the kitchen alongside dining, so it’s important to choose a layout that suits your family’s lifestyle. How many people are there in your family? Do you have babies or teenagers? Is your home more of a hustle and bustle, in and out of the kitchen, or does everyone prefer to relax and eat together? Organise and refresh your kitchen by checking out the tips below:

Maximise space

Maximising space, even in a small kitchen, is quite doable – make the most of your walls for storage or invest in built-in cupboards with pull-out cabinetry. A small round table like the Element No 1 Table from Magisso would be perfect in the corner of a bright room. A couple of potted herbs will also transform a small kitchen and make it look cosy.

If you have an open-plan kitchen/diner, breaking up the room with a kitchen island not only provides you with extra space for storage and food preparation, but it also creates an illusion of two rooms, making the whole space feel larger and more spacious.

Just remember that when you have an open-plan kitchen, think about the different ‘zones’ which would have different jobs, i.e. the cooking zone, the dining zone and the relaxation zone. A central island is also a great way to prep your food and socialise at the same time. Plus, it’s a great space saver because most kitchen islands come with storage space.

Use kitchen appliances too to enhance the theme of the kitchen, like the below Cutting Board from Magisso, which is a lovely extra large wooden chopping board that can rest on the side of the counter and brighten up a lived-in kitchen.

Revamp your kitchen surfaces using stick-on faux granite countertops and peel-and-stick backsplash tiles in a fresh new style. Not only does this offer you a chance to have a fun DIY day with the family (or your favourite podcast/show), it also completely changes the look of your kitchen (without changing your bank account balance too much).

Adding a tablecloth to the kitchen table also enhances the kitchen’s decor. If you have kids, then you can buy a DIY tablecloth from coolgift.com, which allows the kids to doodle to their heart’s content and then you can throw the tablecloth in the washing machine when you’re done! Funky tools like a Cereals Dispenser from Coolgift.com can also make a kitchen look really cool!

Refresh your utensils

When changing up your kitchen, bigger isn’t always better. Making the space more beautiful comes down to the details. With your culinary workshop, the details are in the utensils you use.

If you have a small kitchen, then ask yourself, what are some essential small kitchen appliances that I will always use?

Buy your cooking utensils from the same brand in matching or coordinated colours to give your kitchen a major facelift (all in the details, people!). You’ll also want to fill your drawers with new silverware—try sleek, simple utensils to fit your modern aesthetic, or go for more ornate pieces to match your traditional home design.

Stocking up on fancy glassware and dish sets can also enhance a kitchen. These lovely Pino Pint Glasses and Pine Wine Glasses from Magisso can dress up the main dining table beautifully when guests come over.

Switch up your shelving

Like cakes, dresses, and early 2000’s tank-tops, the more layers, the better. The same goes for home renovations – and your kitchen storage.

Instead of spending an arm and a leg on brand-new kitchen cabinets, simply buy a free-standing ladder shelf to put next to your furniture (or a mini one for your countertop). The added height means you get more storage without losing valuable countertop space, and the tiered design gives your kitchen a chic new vibe.

For a more boho take on shelving, install an adorable macrame fruit hanger below your cabinet for storage that’s as cute as it is functional.

Dress up the windows too with decorative stickers like these leaves window stickers or butterfly window stickers from Purlfrost

Completely out of space? Pantry fully occupied? Is the kitchen island overbooked? We get it. Sometimes, the storage you have just isn’t enough.

Lucky for you, you can give your kitchen a rustic refresh that’s totally on-trend, all while winning way more storage in the meantime. Wireframe or wooden buffet carts are super cute and extremely useful, not to mention portable. They are available in a ton of styles, colours, and sizes, giving you free rein to revamp your kitchen aesthetic as you see fit.

Add some plants

Nothing makes the air feel lighter or the kitchen look better than some lovely (and tasty) greenery. Hang gorgeous, streaming Pothos plants from your cabinet tops, display quaint herbs on your windowsill, and don’t forget to keep a fresh pot of flowers on your kitchen island at all times.

As a delicious bonus, your sweet little herb garden will certainly come in handy the next time you cook up your mama’s classic spaghetti Bolognese.

But what if I want a brand-new kitchen?

When renovating a home consider a new kitchen design that works with your lifestyle, but also with your budget. How much can you afford to spend and how many people will use the kitchen every day? What are the family kitchen hours and what will provide you with the least amount of stress when cooking?

Choosing the right kitchen design can add some real value to your property, so it makes sense to go for quality over quantity.

Affordability

Kitchens can be as cheap or as expensive as you want them to be. If you’re overhauling the entire kitchen area, then it’s probably going to be dearer than you think. You would have to factor in the cost of gutting, purchasing and installing a new kitchen, which can all add up. According to Houzz UK, 9% of homeowners spent more than £75,000 on their kitchen renovation. As such, when something goes wrong you should immediately be seeing if you can fix it. For example, where can you get the parts you need to fix your dishwasher? Or your fridge? Do you know where to look, or are you going to need to call in the professionals to sort this for you? Either way, as long as this gets sorted, that’s the main thing, right?

It may be cheaper to buy an entire kitchen with all the pieces built in, rather than buying all the equipment for your kitchen, in which case, you could consider buying a used kitchen, where you can purchase a fully working kitchen suite for a fraction of the cost. You’re not skimping on quality because these kitchens were once brand new, and it can be very satisfying to know that you got a quality kitchen for such a cheap price. Make sure you do your research and find a reputable company with lots of reviews and recommendations.

“The kitchen industry is growing at 4% per year and 80% of new kitchens in the UK are replacements… it’s funny because people would happily buy a used car but haven’t even considered a used kitchen… Property developers and landlords have always bought second hand or ex-display kitchens – they are savvy buyers… and… more people are becoming aware that this is a good way to buy a kitchen that fits into your budget.”

Helen Lord, founder of Used Kitchen Exchange

Steps when renovating a house – Creating the ideal family bathroom

Creating the ideal family bathroom can be a real challenge as you’re looking to get it right for the whole family to enjoy. A family bathroom needs to be robust too because it will get plenty of use over its lifetime.

As well as being functional and hard-wearing, a family bathroom needs to be stylish as well. There are lots of things to consider when thinking about your bathroom, so below are some family bathroom ideas which you can implement in your own home.

Think about what you want in your bathroom

How big or small is your bathroom? The size of your bathroom depends on what you can work with. Look at narrow bathroom ideas or long bathroom ideas, for example, to gain some inspiration. Pinterest is a great place to look for ideas. Think about your theme – would you like to recreate a home spa, or do you just need the bathroom to fulfil daily functions and that’s it? Have an idea in mind before you start buying.

Bathroom suites

The easiest way to set yourself on the path to a great family bathroom design is to choose a bathroom suite instead of buying your bathroom fixtures separately. A bathroom suite can be more cost-effective too so you will hopefully save money if you’re working to a tight budget.

Bathroom suites have all the main elements of a bathroom included and what’s great is that all the parts that match up to the suite will look co-ordinated when fitted into your new room.

A popular bathroom suite with families is a suite that includes a combination bath and shower. A bath shower is convenient for families as it gives you the option of having either a bath or a shower – and it is a great space saver too. If you’re looking for something fancier, but your bathroom is small check out walk-in shower ideas for small bathrooms or shower bathroom suites, which compromise on space.

Bathroom colour

White, grey or any neutral colour is best for a family toilet and bathroom. These stylish bathroom colours have proven to be the most popular.

Another reason for choosing a neutral colour for your bathroom is that these colours tend to age well so you are effectively future-proofing your bathroom against trend changes. Neutral colours are also best if you decide to sell or rent your property in the future because future tenants will appreciate the neutral canvas to put their stamp on things and create an accent bathroom to their taste.

Space-saving ideas

Most family homes can be a little tight on space and that is also true of the available space in the bathroom. The trick here is to use clever space-saving ideas that are both stylish and practical. Like the bath shower idea mentioned above, another neat solution is to include a combination sink and toilet unit in your family bathroom. The compact units include a toilet, sink and storage cabinet all in one stylish piece of furniture.

Another idea to think about is a mirrored cabinet. These tried and tested bathroom fixtures allow you a little extra storage space while also giving you a great place to get yourself ready at the start of the day.

Soft closed bathroom seat

If you’re not too fond of hearing the bathroom seat slam shut 2 or 3 (million) times each evening, then why not go for a soft-close toilet seat in your family bathroom? These slow-closing toilet seats are only a little more expensive than a standard seat. Trust us, your eardrums will thank you!

Handle-less bathroom furniture

Here is a family bathroom idea you might not have been expecting: handleless bathroom furniture. This style of furniture has the handle integrated into the furniture itself rather than protruding from the unit.

The reason this style of furniture is becoming so popular with families is that children are less likely to catch themselves or bump into protruding handles. This is especially useful if space is a little tight too.

Small bathrooms can also look smart and elegant

Unfortunately, British homes. even some of the larger-sized properties are equipped with smaller-than-average bathrooms. But, this doesn’t mean that you can’t make your family bathroom your own. Clever storage is a must to maximise space in a small bathroom, so you can store bathroom products and children’s toys out of sight. Getting the design just right means that you will be able to enjoy a nice relaxing bath in your own haven after a busy day, as well as create a space that the kids can enjoy.

If there is no more room left for windows on the walls, try a roof window that can bring you light from above and that much-needed breath of fresh air, Solstro stocks a wide range of roof windows that suit your project’s needs at the prices your pocket can pay.

A splash of colour or, perhaps, some decorative wall art that the whole family will love will complete the look and bring in lots of fun, as well as relaxation to another focal room in the family home. In the image below, taken from www.housetohome.co.uk, the bold splash of red paint makes the whole bathroom pop instantly.

Add window stickers to your shower windows like these Goldfish Printed Window Film stickers below and to brighten up the toilet area you can use these Football Stamps Window Film below from Purlfrost.

Keep your bathroom clean with designated bath cleaners, like the multi-surface bathroom cleaner and Glass Complete Care Kit from bathroomspareparts.co.uk to keep the bathroom looking brand spanking clean. Keep them in a storage cupboard to hide them out of sight.

Showcase your memories in film around your home

If you are fond of capturing memories of your children and the places you’ve been with them, one of the best ways to show off these lovely memories is by showcasing them around your home. In fact, pictures are great to use as décor, especially if done in a chic way. There are plenty of great options online that can not only print out the pictures but design them with frames and more. CanvasPeople’s personalized canvases are one option for decorating your living room or bedroom.

I have a step-by-step guide on how I upcycled a broken clock into a photo frame.

Nita from Mummy Wishes

I made this wall hanging using a piece of driftwood I found on a beach and string! It’s really easy to make by tightly tying the string around a branch or driftwood, leaving some string hanging and plaiting others. Very easy to make in different sizes or colours to suit a room’s decor. 

Victoria from www.lyliarose.com

Remember your travels

If you’ve gone on trips with your family, consider chic pieces from your travels as great home decor. You can hang an interactive map and after every trip, mark with either post notes that remind you of the experience or simply use pins to mark the spot. Or, save souvenirs from far away places and hang them in a special area as added décor. A moon lamp or night light from the countries you’ve visited are features which make for cool accessories for a bedroom.

There’s something about trips with your family that are somehow unforgettable, even when they’re full of mishaps. You’re bound to have a story to tell, whether through photographs or pieces you’ve collected from these trips, so showcase these stories as cool decor for your family home.

I am the hugest fan of fairy lights and the atmosphere they bring to certain rooms. I use glass jars, jugs and glass and fill them with tiny warm white lights, it creates the most beautiful effect. Also, another simple one, which only works in certain decorative styles is to use old attractive wine bottles as candle holders… an amazing look in the right style of the dining room. 

Vikki from www.bestlodgeswithhottubs.co.uk

Show your collection

Whether you collect woodwork from every trip you take, acquire Starbucks mugs, and wine glasses from all your favourite wineries, or have an impressive Star Wars collection, show off your treasured pieces in a trendy way. If you’re lacking in décor ideas, collections can make for cool gadgets for your room, so put your hobby to use while always remembering the things you love about these places. Maybe you collect postcards on every trip? Consider hanging them in frames on a wall in your foyer.

Printable Wall Art is a really affordable way to decorate your house. I create typography printable posters and sell them really reasonably on Etsy. You can print A4 size printable wall art at home, frame, hang and enjoy!

Raimonda from https://www.Cosmomum.co.uk

Showcase family member’s art pieces

Have a budding artist in your family? Put their work on display. While pieces of paper with paint splattered on them from your preschooler’s kindergarten are certainly masterpieces in their own right, consider adding a beautiful frame to your child’s artwork. This allows you to smile when you look at your little artist’s work while also serving as a unique piece of décor. When done right, it can actually accent any room you choose to put it in. Maybe you have a loved one who knits or paints pottery. Whatever the case, consider saving these special gifts to use as décor.

Include a chalkboard in your home’s décor.

Let said budding artist’s creativity shine, but on the one wall where you can easily wipe it off. From to-do lists to reminders for the kids before school, there are so many uses for a chalkboard wall from Pottery Barn. Consider placing one in the kitchen as it’s a great spot for everyone to come together and easily see any notes you want to leave each other. A chalkboard wall can also make for cool bedroom accessories too and allows family members to express themselves but in a contained way.

How to make your house look great on the outside

Houses come in all shapes, sizes and styles, so what’s on the inside should matter more than what’s on the outside (you can’t judge a book by its cover, so you shouldn’t judge a house from its exterior).

But, if you are looking to sell your house or you are just house-proud, there are ways to make sure you have the prettiest property on the road. Here are a few tips on how to make your house look great on the outside:

Steps to follow when renovating a house – How to make your house look great on the outside – Keep your garden neat and tidy

If you have a front garden, it is important to keep it looking tidy to show people you care about your home. Spend about half an hour, once a week trimming up hedges, mowing the lawn or investing in garden paving. Use a courier to acquire materials so you can work on your house.

If you have plants in place, make sure all the weeds are pulled and the flowers are watered. Colour can make the front of a house pop, so flowers are great for this. Or, invest in little antiques to give the front of the house some extra character.

Keep your driveway clean

As with the garden, a clean, weed-free driveway can do wonders for how people see your house (and by extension, you too). A quick power wash regularly stops dirt and muck building up on the drive and a decent spray of weed killer will keep away the weeds that can make a front garden look messy. You don’t have to keep the driveway empty. An ornament can make the front of your house stand out and you can fill it with pretty lights too.

Paint the front of your house

If you want to give your home a fresh new look as cheap as possible, one way this can be done is by giving the front of your house a quick coat of paint. Whether you opt for a complete change of colour, or to refresh what you already have, setting some time aside to paint your house can help to give it a completely distinct feeling.

Finish the painted wall with some garden benches. If you have a large front garden, then a bench can make the place look more inviting, especially if you decorate the area with some potted plants and ornaments. When you’re done, you can even paint the bench to match your outside wall colours.

Keep your windows clean

Keeping your windows clean can help to revamp the look and feel of your home, not just for those looking from the outside, but for you looking out too. If this isn’t a job you want to do yourself, get in touch with your local window cleaner, who will be happy to do the job for you regularly and at reasonable rates.

Wheelie bin storage

People often see plastic wheelie bins as eyesores, so many people opt to have wheelie bin storage at their homes. This is a timber structure where the wheelie bin can be placed inside, which can provide a more natural and appealing look. You can also lock the timber structures, so that your bins cannot blow away and, since only you have access, you don’t have to worry about anyone pinching them either. You can find out more about wheelie bin storage here.

How to clean out your garage to make your home look bigger

Garages are notorious for being a storage dump in most homes. Studies have shown that a quarter of homeowners are too embarrassed to leave their garage doors open for neighbours to see, and many have problems parking in their garage because of the clutter. While garages can serve as an excellent storage space in a home, inefficient use of this storage can make your home’s value go down and seem smaller than it really is. While organising your garage can seem daunting; there are simple solutions on how to clean out your garage to help you maximise space and finally be able to fit your car in your garage.

Clean up

The first step to garage care is garage cleaning! Get rid of all the clutter you don’t need and either sell or give away if they can be reused again. There is probably a lot of stuff in your garage you don’t need, and a lot of things you probably didn’t even know lived in there. Having a good garage clean up will show you everything you actually need to store in your garage and give you an idea of how much storage you need. Throw away all that trash, hold a garage sale for unused items, and donate anything else you don’t need.

Storage solutions

Look around your garage and see if you’re taking advantage of all the storage space. If you have shelves make sure, they’re appropriately organised. If most of your storage is the floor, consider utilising the walls and even the roof of your garage. The most efficient wall storage is a slat wall system. These systems use various hanging accessories to hang things on your wall for secure storage.

Tyres, sports equipment, and tools can be stored on the wall for easy access to the things you use regularly. Another culprit of garage clutter is seasonal items. These probably take up much of your floor space, and you only use them once a year. These are the ideal items to store on your garage ceiling. Overhead storage racks will get everything off the floor and let you use the garage for its intended use, as one of the places to store a car. You would be surprised how much utilising these storage solutions can open up your garage space and make the whole house seem bigger.

Turning a garage into a living space

You can add real value to your home by creating some garage living space. You’re less likely to need planning permission for converting a garage as you’re probably not altering the actual structure of the building and you can create an extra room for the family to enjoy too. Converting a garage to a living space may cost a bit of money upfront, but you could add more value to your home and make the overall look of the house more significant.

If you are a growing family, you can also have the added benefit of staying in your current home, but with additional living space. Remember that if you’re creating an extra bedroom, you may go up on the council tax band, but if you’re simply converting a garage into a living space, like an additional lounge, then your council tax band should remain unaffected. Make sure to get some advice from an architect or an architectural designer before you start as they may come up with some ideas that you hadn’t thought of before.

Having a useable garage space gives you more room for hobbies, sports, and fun. Garages often take up a lot of home space and opening it up can make your home feel more prominent. A well-maintained garage can add a lot to your home’s feel and overall look, so be sure to get the help of a professional like CSS Garage Doors when planning the look and exterior of your garage and take the time this summer to clean up and organize your garage and see the difference it makes in your home.

Is minimalist living out?

It’s tempting to think that stripping away various aesthetic elements of your home is not only fashionable but even, in many practical ways, necessary. However, is minimalism with kids even practical? Evidence shows that the interior design philosophy of minimalist living is out and below are some reasons why you should lessen your adherence to the mantra, “Less is more”.

Minimalism can feel rather like a glossy facade

When poring over images of influencers’ homes on Instagram, you could feel like your interior design habits are out of step with what the “in” crowd advocates. Refinery29 observes how the likes of models, DJs and fashion entrepreneurs show off “Zen, spa-like” bathrooms. Yet this kind of minimalism with a family is impractical and even unnecessary.

“These days, impeccable homes can feel like a facade”.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-biggest-home-trends-of-2017

From minimalist architecture to fancy wallpaper art, real life doesn’t always reflect a magazine cover and parents are fast knowing they don’t necessarily have to live up to these ‘perfect’ interior-bare houses when they can brighten up their home to a fancy living space that suits their family to a T.

Minimalist homes aren’t always practical

When you are regularly running after a child and you’ve misplaced your keys then you may soon understand the benefits of minimalism, as meaningless clutter and even less chance of losing things!

However, the Irish magazine site House and Home share some wise words:

“Life isn’t minimal; it’s busy, it’s unpredictable, it’s chaotic at times”.

Further to the point, the site urges:

“Don’t add to the stress of life, by worrying about that cup you didn’t put in the dishwasher before you left for work.”

So, what’s wrong with an extra console table in the hallway or more white goods to help you with the cleaning, or even more storage to assist the cupboards full of children’s stuff when they help to sort out the endless clutter that makes your house an actual home?

Arguably, minimalism was always just a trend

It could be posited that the minimalist approach was always bound to fade in popularity at some point rather than establish itself as the shape of things to come in the world of interior design. History bears this out. Even around 50 BC, Cleopatra seemingly saw the appeal of personalised interiors, having reportedly had her own pampering room with a marble tub in which to bathe in milk and honey.

Much more recently, visual flourishes such as teak accents, shower-based plants and colour-coordinating medicine bottles have become popular in bathrooms.

With a little clutter, you can tell more of your story

One major drawback of sticking overly close to a minimalist aesthetic is throwing away the opportunity to give your home its own visual individuality. For example, if you are into arts and crafts, the fruits of your labours could serve as enticing decor. Meanwhile, a well-maintained garden can form a backdrop in your home when seen through windows fitted by a firm like Bifold Shop.

Whatever you decide, let creativity take over you and allow your home to be the blank canvas of your inner thoughts and desires. Get the family involved and conjure up a theme that’s chock full of fancy ornaments, decorative furniture and pops of colour. Why live like Kim Kardashian, when you can live like Brooke Shields!

FAQ

Is it smart to renovate your house?

It depends on your situation. If you’re planning to stay in your property for more than five years then it’s definitely worth investing what you can afford to bring up the value of your property. If you plan to sell it, then it’s best to work on maximising your return on investment.

In what order do you renovate a house?

Other questions asked were:

• What is the first thing to do when renovating a house?
• What are the steps of a whole house remodel?
• Where do you start when renovating an old house?
• What are the steps to remodelling a home?
• What is the process for home renovation?
• What are the steps to renovate a house
• What order do you do renovate a house?
• What order should you renovate a house?
• When remodeling a home what should be done first?
• What is the process of renovating a house?
• Do you have a step-by-step home renovation checklist I can follow?

Look at the steps above for an idea of how you should order your house renovation.

How do you renovate a house with no money?

Other questions asked were:

• How can I renovate my house with no money?
• How do you renovate a house with no money?
• How much money you need to renovate a house?

This article has a list of how you can do a house renovation with no money.

How long does it take to renovate a house by yourself?

Other questions asked were:

• How long does remodelling a house take?
• Can you renovate your own house?

This article has some tips on how to renovate a house by yourself.

How fast can you renovate a house?

This article includes timeframes on how long it will take to do a house renovation.

How to renovate old house to new?

Other questions asked were:

• How to go about a house renovation?

This article provides tips on how to renovate an old house to make it as good as new.

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