Home Renovation Tips

After six months of dust, hard work and countless decisions, we completed our beautiful home renovation in December 2023. Along the way, we picked up invaluable lessons, learned from our mistakes, and discovered some game-changing home renovation tips. Whether you are doing the work yourself or getting the professionals in, if you are about to dive into your own renovation project, here are the things we wish we had known—and key takeaways to help you survive (and even thrive) through your own.

The Backstory

In late 2022, after 16 years in our new build home, the shower in our family bathroom began to leak. It transpired that the whole shower needed to be replaced so we decided to take the opportunity to change things up with a new bathroom. We were so happy with the results, it made us think about the rest of the house, parts of which were looking a little bit dated.

After lots of discussions, research, and many hours spent perusing Pinterest, we had a strong vision of what we wanted. However, having spent many weekends painting and decorating in years gone by, we really wanted to get some professional help, so we hired designer Holly Scott of Holly Scott Interior Design to help us bring our ideas to life. As well working on our home design, Holly helped us find contractors and source materials, furniture and lighting.

The plan included completely renovating the kitchen and redecorating the dining room, living room, entryway, upstairs hallway, our main bedroom and ensuite bathroom. Early one morning in June 2023, the contractors arrived and our renovation journey began.

Home Renovation Tips – Things We Learned

Your renovation is likely to expand beyond the original scope

Things may go wrong meaning you have to undertake projects you might not have considered or you may start to see the results of the renovation and think of more things you would like to do.

In our case, once we saw things start to come together downstairs, we decided to replace our dated white stairway with something more modern before the hallway was re-decorated. A shiny brochure distracted us from our frugal plan to replace the wardrobe doors in our bedroom and led to us having all new built-in wardrobes there, as well as installing new wardrobes in the bedroom that serves as my office. And finally, seeing how beautiful the new brass radiators we installed downstairs looked, we decided to replace as many of the upstairs radiators as was practical too. Which leads me to the next of my home renovation tips.

Build a buffer into your budget

When we thought about budget, we made sure to build in a buffer zone, and I am so glad we did. It not only allowed us to expand the project as I mentioned above, but it helped us cover for things that went wrong and a few “interesting” discoveries during the construction and redecoration. These discoveries included a live wire left behind a cabinet by the original builders seventeen years ago – a huge fire risk I am very grateful never ignited – and having to redo the electrics in the house because our extra appliances required more capacity. We also had to replace an expensive light fitting that was fully installed before we realised it was broken – which meant that while the supplier offered us a discount on a replacement, they refused to replace it outright, arguing that it might have been damaged during installation.

In the end, even with our buffer, we went over budget. It was a considered decision and we had the cash to cover it, so we have no regrets. However, it is well worth taking the time to really investigate your choices, and also have options at several price points before making a decision. Bear in mind that there will be many times you may be tempted to splurge on something that outside the original scope, so really consider if it is worth it before you part with your cash.

Home Renovation Tips – The Practicalities

It may be a good idea to move out

We stayed in the house during the work – with a bit of travel sprinkled in – but in retrospect, I do not recommend it. The mess and disruption really take its toll on your mental health and can also cause tension between the people living in the house. My husband and I have been together for over thirty-five years and are devoted to one another but we both got so stressed during the renovations that we found ourselves bickering like children. We have never experienced anything like it before or since (thank goodness!). It would have been much easier to have just moved out.

That said, try to be onsite as much as possible

Notwithstanding my point above, it is important to be on-site as much as possible. Those tiny decisions – like where to place the tap or how to adjust the lighting – might seem small, but they can make a huge difference. There were a few key decisions taken when we were in different time zones and could not be part of the discussion. One of them – the placement of two taps and sinks – irritates me on a daily basis. The distance between the taps and the sinks means the water to splashes out on to the counter top no matter how careful we are. Fixing it would mean replacing an entire vanity unit so it is out of the question. I just wish we had been there to weigh in as it is something I definitely would have noticed and mentioned.

You might need a storage unit

If you are taking on a major renovation as we did, you will need a lot of storage. Shop around to find the best deal, and consider hiring a van to take everything to the unit in one go, almost as if you were moving.

Keep your timeline flexible

The builder originally said the kitchen itself would take six weeks, but various project and supply chain issues arose that meant it took almost ten weeks before they could begin to move on to the other rooms. At that stage, we still had some of the old flooring in the kitchen but we were able to use the appliances and start to put things back in the upper cupboards. We were laying Amtico flooring through much of the ground floor, so the hallway and dining room had to be completed before we could finish the kitchen.

Adding to the scope of the project obviously impacted and increased our timeline, as did other supply chain issues and a few hiccups that arose during the build. Always allow a buffer in your timeline for delays or in case you suddenly realise there is something else you want or need to include in your project.

Consider hiring an interior designer

If your budget allows, I believe it can be worth the investment to hire an interior designer. Even if you do have very strong ideas about what you want as we did, an interior designer can help you bring your vision to life in a way you might not be able to achieve by yourself. Interior designers often know great contractors, can get discounts on materials and may be able to help with project management and/or styling after the project is finished. The photo above is a mood board for our kitchen, prepared by Holly Scott Interior Design.

Home Renovation Tips – Design

Think about the things you want to keep or incorporate as part of the design

Consider what you love about what your home and what you absolutely want to keep as well as what needs to go. Before you replace furniture, think about whether you might be able to refinish or restore it or whether you really are ready to completely switch it up.

We had bespoke curtains designed for our home a few years ago and did not want to spend money unnecessarily to replace something we really liked. We also wanted to use our art collection as part of the design and incorporate treasured family furniture and antiques.

You or your interior designer can then build the design around your existing pieces, saving money and ensuring you are surrounded by the things you love.

Be practical

Be realistic about your budget. While utilising interest-free credit for certain parts of the project can be a good idea, going into debt is not. We had saved for a long time to ensure we could pay for the majority of our project in cash. We did take out one year interest free credit for the stairs (now fully paid off) and two years interest free credit for the built-in wardrobes (will be paid off at the end of 2025).

Think about how you use the space and how you want it to work for you. Everyone is different and we all have different needs. When Holly suggested an antique mirrored backsplash in the kitchen, I was intrigued. It would have looked beautiful, but then I remembered that mirrors would be a nightmare when it came to photography and content creation. In the end, Holly found a really unique and gorgeous non-reflective tile that we used instead, and we also made sure that as many of the kitchen surfaces as possible are non-reflective.

Trust your instincts

This is one of my most important home renovation tips. There were two kitchen design elements I was not sure about, but I was not confident enough to say anything about them. While I have since found solutions and workarounds, I cannot help wishing I had spoken up at the time. If something does not feel right, do not hesitate to raise it.

I also reluctantly agreed to have a sideboard built by my late father repainted in a metallic colour instead of in a neutral shade similar to the original colour. Although the job was done well, the metallic colour just did not feel right and I knew Dad would have hated it. I felt just sick about what I had allowed to happen.

Thankfully, we were able to have the sideboard repainted in a colour similar to the original, however the additional stripping and repainting means the doors do not close as well as they used to. Every time I open and shut them, I feel sad that I did not have enough confidence in myself to insist on staying with a shade of the original colour. If you feel strongly about something, follow your intuition and insist on what you want.

Conversely, I did insist that a painting that has been in our family for almost a century be hung over our fireplace as it has been in nearly every home it has lived in. Although I agree a mirror would have created more light in the room from a design perspective, I knew that I would be unhappy if the painting was not where I wanted it to be. Every time I walk into the living room, seeing the painting exactly where it belongs makes me happy.

If you love colour, embrace it!

Surrounding yourself with your favourite colours truly adds an extra boost of joy to everyday life. Do not be afraid to go bold – it’s your space, after all. Blue is my favourite colour and you can definitely see that when you come to visit our home. We layered lots of different shades and used mixed metallics to break things up a bit.

Don’t shy away from the unusual

When I decided on four ovens, many thought I was crazy. But as a keen cook, recipe developer and food writer, I use them all regularly – often all at once. Having multiple ovens has been an incredible time-saver and a game-changer for both my work and when we are entertaining.

Our home is bright, colourful, bold and eclectic. This design would not be to everyone’s taste, however it makes my family and I very happy indeed. If you love bold, eclectic or quirky design and it is practical to implement, go for it!

Incorporate your personality and life into the design

Further to what I have written above, one of my top home renovation tips is always going to be to make your home design reflect who you are and the things you love.

Our art collection is really important to us and has always been part of our home design. Holly helped us take this to a new level, repositioning some of our paintings really creatively and making them a focal point in even more of the rooms.

We also kept our treasured family antiques a big part of the design. While some are still in their original locations, Holly also helped us find new places for a few of them which works really well with the design.

A Final Few Home Renovation Tips

Make the things that bring you joy, things that feel like home to you, a part of your home design. A beautiful layout in a design magazine looks great, but it is more important that you get that warm fuzzy feeling when you walk through the door. Life can be challenging, but knowing you can return to a space where you feel nourished and are surrounded by things you love is incredibly restorative. Bear this in mind if you are about to undertake a redecoration or renovation project – and I hope you will be as pleased as we are with the results of your undertakings!