If you’re one of the 17% of Australians that isn’t happy with their home, you likely have been considering getting home renovations done. However, with so many considerations, this is much easier said than done. After all, where would you even start?

Today, we’re going to help you answer this question and figure out where to begin researching for your home renovations. When you consider the ways that you can maximize the existing space of your home and create new areas to make it feel like your own personal oasis, you’re sure to be much happier. Additionally, home renovation can add value to your property if you do it correctly.

Read on for some expert tips and advice on how to make the house that you live in into a home that’s perfect for you!

Do Your Research

The first step towards performing effective home renovations is to look into the various things that others have done in the past. You also will want to gather as much information as possible about homes like yours and the renovations that look best in similar spaces to what you have. Read on to learn some of the ways that you can research the best remodeling ideas so that you can decide what’s best for you!

Consider What Will Add Value to Your Home

Did you know that certain renovations can add tens of thousands of dollars worth of property value to your Port Stephens, Nelson Bay, Newcastle or Central Coast New South Wales home?

Well, it’s the truth!

Some of the home updates that are a fast and sure way to increase your property value are:

• Appealing landscaping (which allows people to get an impressive impression of your home simply after walking by)
• Kitchen and bathroom renovations
• Adding a porch, deck, or other outdoor living space
• Replacing your siding
• Adding a built-in fireplace to your home

While you likely want to add value to your home during renovations, this isn’t necessarily something that you need to get caught up in unless you plan on selling soon. Still, it’s something to consider if you want a modern living space that’s sure to keep you comfortable!

Think About Your Existing Space

Every home is different. What works for someone with a large open-floor home isn’t going to work for someone with a small and well-divided one. Because of this, you need to consider what sort of space you have and look online for tips from people that have similar spaces to you.

Unless you want to knock down your entire home and rebuild it from scratch, there are limitations that you need to work within. However, there are some things that you can consider if you want to make the most of your existing space.

First, remember that you’re free to remove walls and divisions between rooms. Not only will this make you feel like your home is larger, but it can also give you additional room to install shelving units, furniture, and in-room fixtures like islands. Eliminating divisions between rooms also can let more natural light into your home so that you can get the health benefits of sunlight.

You also can move furniture around within the rooms of your home. It’s incredibly easy to drag a couch from one side of the room to the other. However, professionals can also help you to remove sinks or cabinets that are installed into your walls and replace them in another part of the room. The possibilities are limitless!

Look at Images Online

A part of researching what’s right for your existing space is looking at images of homes similar to yours online.

Go to Pinterest and look up pictures with homes that have the same floor plans as yours does. While you can’t always tell what size a house is from images of it, you can usually get a feel for which image’s renovations will work in the space that you have. Pinterest is a great resource because you can pin things to your board and go back to look at them later!

Plan Your Renovations

Once you’ve done a little research, you can begin to plan your renovations. Many steps of this can be done on your own, but it’s best to work with a professional when deciding what exactly needs to happen. Read on to learn how you can begin planning renovations that work well for you!

Home Add-Ons and Extensions

If you’re going to add extensions onto your home in New South Wales, consider where they’re going to go. You can add both interior extensions such as a living room or a second bedroom, but you also can add to the exterior of your home. In fact, adding a patio or a deck is a great way to increase both your property value and your personal satisfaction with your home!

When you figure out what sort of space you want to add, ask an expert whether or not this is realistic. Someone who works professionally as a home designer will have insight into practical concerns that you may not yet have considered. They can also tell you how much the add-on would cost so that you have a clearer picture of whether or not it fits into your budget.

Decide Which Rooms Need the Most Work

You can also talk with the expert that you bring in about which rooms in your house need the most work.

You may not like the way that your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom look. However, if your budget only allows for one of these rooms to be renovated, you’re going to need to make a decision with the help of a professional.

You will want to consider a few factors when making this choice. First, are all of your rooms functioning at maximum capacity? If the bathroom plumbing is leaky or the foundation of your bathtub is cracking and ready to leak, then that’s the room you need to be renovated. No other considerations need to be taken into account in this case.

However, this is an unusual scenario. Unless disaster is imminent, think about how long has it been since you renovated each of these rooms? If you fixed your bathroom up 5 years ago but haven’t touched your kitchen or bedroom in over a decade, you should focus on the kitchen and bedroom unless there’s something seriously wrong with your bathroom.

Finally, consider what will add value to your home. When it’s between a well-working kitchen and bedroom, you’ll probably want to go with the bathroom simply because it will boost your property value more.

Switch Up Your Home Fixtures

In addition to changing the position of your lamps, chairs, and tables, you’re likely going to want to move fixtures in your home. Home fixtures are basically built-in furniture that’s a part of the structural foundation of your house. This includes things like kitchen islands and counter-tops and cabinets that are built into walls and floors.

While these are rooted in place, they can be moved. Talk to the professional designer who comes to look at the space that you have to work with. Chances are, structural features can be knocked down and rebuilt in other areas without harming the integrity of your building.

Choose Design and Decor

Let’s skip forward a little while. Professional designers have completed the add-ons and renovations necessary to your chosen spaces.

What comes next?

There are many creative home renovations that you’ll want to look into. Because you want your space to be as comfortable as possible for you as an individual, you’ll want to decorate it in a way that you like. Whether that’s mid-century modern, antique, or contemporary decor, there are a lot of styles that you can choose from. The renovations expert that’s helped you up until this point can give you some insight as to what each of these styles will look like in your home.

It’s crucial that you use colours that make your space have the vibe that you want to give off. Using colour psychology is a great way to make sure that the colours used in your decor affect your mood in appropriate ways.

In your bedroom, for example, you likely want to use a lot of blue. This is because it’s a calming and relaxing colour. However, since yellow is energizing and active, it’s the perfect hue to paint exercise rooms or home offices.

While each area of your home stands alone, it’s important that you also work to give your home a complete and cohesive feel. Make sure that each room is drawn together by a common thread. A pattern, a style, a colour… anything works!

Get Started on Home Renovation

There are a multitude of aspects to a comprehensive and well-thought-through home renovation. However, as long as you know what you want, get expert help in design and implementation, and choose your decor wisely, the process is sure to go smoothly.

Now that you know the most important things to do during your next home renovation, it’s time to get started. Contact our expert designers to discuss ways that you can turn your dream home vision into a reality. Our New South Wales professionals have over 30 years of experience with helping homeowners like you ensure that your house is the perfect place to live, so we’re always ready to hear from you!