Planning to renovate your home? Before embarking on the journey, make sure you have all your ducks in a row by asking yourself the following questions to ensure a smoother renovation process and results that are more likely to meet your vision.
- Which room or rooms do I want to renovate and how will they be used?
Identifying whether you’re renovating only one room or the entire home is important as it will affect the overall look of your home. For example, if you only renovate your open kitchen, will the adjoining dining or living spaces feel dated after a few months of living in it? Knowing how many areas you’re renovating will help to determine your budget as well as any other design elements that may be needed in the room to achieve your desired look. - How much can I realistically afford to spend?
Having a well-planned budget is one of the keys to a successful renovation. Along the way, we know it might get tempting to buy more items than you should in order to make your home feel “better”, but you should pay strict attention to your budget and not let the project get out of hand by overspending. If you need a better overview of the costs your renovation works can chalk up, then talk to a friend who went through a similar renovation project to yours, and do as much cost comparison as you can do. - What interior design style do I like?
There is no right or wrong answer here, as it all depends on personal preferences. Whether you want to go raw and industrial with exposed design elements, eclectic with loud and bold prints and colours, or minimalist with clean lines, ask yourself which interior style you want so that you can plan how the rooms will look and flow accordingly. - Do I need any specialty or custom design elements?
Let’s say for example, you are going to convert a pre-existing room into a walk-in closet, and you have an extensive collection of shoes and clothes, it is probably important to you that there is adequate storage options for each and every item you have. Or if you’re an avid collector with lots of ornaments and baubles you want to put on display, you might want to have a customised glass display cabinet put in the living room. No matter what the case, you should make sure that these requirements get addressed in the planning stage as it can be difficult and expensive to reconfigure and add storage solutions after a project has been completed. - Do I know what type of finishes and materials I want?
After deciding on your interior design style, the next step is to narrow down the type of materials and finishes you want to be present in your home. Do you prefer tile or hardwood on the floors? Do you want fully closed or see-through doors for your cabinets? Will you opt for paint or wallpaper on the walls? Is it necessary to have a marble countertop or will engineered quartz work? These are just a few examples of decisions you will have to make throughout the project, and knowing what selections you prefer will help to make the project better streamlined. - Do I want to work with a designer or handle the renovation works on my own?
Although it was a default in the past where homeowners will immediately go to the help of an interior designer for their home renovation, homeowners of the current era have been starting to take on the big task of overseeing the entire process themselves. But whether you’ve decided to go down the DIY route or to get a little help from a designer, at the end of the day, it’s important that you ensure the companies you engage are accredited by CaseTrust-RCMA so that you can have peace of mind guaranteed. - Do I need a permit for the renovation works?
Once you’ve narrowed down the extent of renovation works you want to implement in your home, it’s then important to check before you start hacking, demolishing or adding anything in your home. Whether you have a BTO or a resale flat, you have to secure prior approval from HDB before commencing work. Even if it’s just a small adjustment, like repositioning the entrance to your bedroom or your bathroom, a submission of approval is also needed. - Am I ready for the renovation process?
It’s inevitable that home renovation projects almost always involve challenges and hiccups through the process. And while these can get frustrating, it’s important that you know how to keep your emotions in check as being upset is not going to get the job done. In the same breath, it’s also important to set aside a contingency fund to combat any unforeseen conditions like delays or material changes that may arise during the renovation.
Feature image credit: FSI
