Starting out in a new home is always going to be a daunting journey to take. When we settle in one place, we tend to avoid having to upheave our entire lives and move into another. But there are countless circumstances that mean this is still something we often undertake. Perhaps you’ve found a new job that requires a move to shorten your commute. Maybe you have kids and are moving to be in the catchment area of a good school. You might have a growing family and want to upsize. Alternatively, your adult kids may be moving out and you want to downsize to a more easily manageable home. Whatever your reason for moving, it’s highly unlikely that the house you choose will be completely ready and to your tastes as soon as you move in. Most people have to engage in a few home improvement projects to add a touch of their own style and character and to ensure that it’s functional for everyone living in it. Here are some suggestions that will really help you to turn any house into a home.
Start With Renovations
If you’re moving into a house that is going to need some renovation work carried out at some point or another, it’s generally best to get this done and out of the way sooner rather than later. Ideally, it should be carried out before you move in – if you are able to stay in alternative accommodation until the works are complete. Getting renovations done before moving into the space can ensure that all work and mess is complete and cleared up, leaving you a great blank canvas to work with. There are countless renovations that people find appealing. You may want to extend the property, carry out a loft conversion, undertake a basement conversion, knock down walls, add walls or a whole manner of other tasks. Whatever you’re considering, make sure to get planning permission before getting started. This means that you won’t face trouble down the line or have to revert any changes you carry out. Also make sure to use qualified and reliable contractors, such as architects and construction workers, to guarantee a good job.
Use an Interior Designer
If you don’t have much time on your hands – perhaps you have a packed work schedule or a lot of family commitments – or if you simply don’t feel confident in your own abilities when it comes to home design, you can simplify the entire process for yourself by using specialists in high end interior designs. This professional will be able to do what it takes to bring together a final aesthetic that suits you and your individual tastes and preferences. Just make sure you have a budget in mind before getting started. This will give you the opportunity to discuss options and avoid overspending.
Choose a Colour Scheme
See your home as a blank canvas that can be decorated any way you please. Let’s start with the bare basics – the colour of your walls. Painting your walls before moving any of your belongings in is a wise move, as you won’t find yourself accidentally splashing paint on anything that you want to remain paint free. It is also wise to do this before fitting any new flooring, such as carpets or hardwood. This also keeps these surfaces splash free. When painting a wall, you’re going to need to determine the colour scheme of the room. Do you want something neutral like white, mushroom, cream, beige or magnolia? Do you want something cooling like light tones of grey? Do you want something warm, such as a pastel shade? There are endless options out there. Make sure to pick up paint samples of anything that you’re genuinely considering. Sometimes, paint can look different on your walls to how it looks on the tin or in the shop. This is due to different lighting and surface textures. Using paint samples can give you an insight into how you think the final space will actually look and will allow you to make a more informed decision.
Use a Painter Decorator
Once you know what colour scheme you want and you’ve selected some paint, you can get in touch with a professional painter decorator to start transforming your home. Sure, you can paint yourself, but whether this is an appropriate option or not will depend on you and your abilities and available time. Painting neatly is harder than many people assume it will be. Plus, you need a fair amount of tools and materials, such as floor covers, a range of brushes, a range of rollers and more. A professional painter decorator has everything needed to do a good job. They will also be able to tackle harder to reach areas, such as stairwells and high ceilings. Consider whether you just want the walls painted, or whether you want to have the ceilings, doorframes, window frames, skirting boards and other areas painted too. Again, get a quote beforehand. This will help to keep things in budget.
Deep Clean
Are you keeping any elements of the space? Carpets? Flooring? Furnishings? If you are, now is a good opportunity to deep clean. This will make the space feel fresh and new, even if certain elements have had previous owners. There are different ways to go about deep cleaning depending on what you plan to clean. If you’re tackling carpets, for example, you may not want to simply vacuum them, as this only lifts surface dirt. Instead, you may want to hire a professional carpet cleaning machine and buy specialist carpet cleaning detergent to really lift dirt from the pile.
Furnishing
Furniture is what will really add a personal touch to your home. There are countless options out there, so the furniture that people invest in says a lot about what they like. Browse various stores and make sure you know what your spending cap is. Remember, not all furniture necessarily needs to be brand new, straight from the retailer. For a more personalised touch that stands out from others’ furniture, you may want to consider browsing antique stores, second hand furniture stores or sites that specialise in selling vintage wares, such as Etsy. Here you can find all sorts of one off items that you’re unlikely to see anywhere else. Another option is handmade or custom made furniture that is designed and created to order.
Wall Decoration
Wall decoration can also add a further personal touch to a home. What you decide to put on the walls is what you want to see on a day in, day out basis, so can be a good opportunity to display your character. You may want to invest in art. You may want to frame and hang up personal photos of friends, family, pets and places you’ve seen. You may want to add hanging rails for instruments. You may want to add shelves to display personal belongings. Whatever suits you! Just make sure that any fixtures are secure for safety. You can use professionals to do this, or if you have the tools required, there are also plenty of free online tutorials that can help too.
There are countless steps that you can take to really make your house a home. Hopefully, some of the ideas outlined above will serve as inspiration, helping you along the way. Before you know it, you’ll have the home of your dreams on your hands! It just takes dedication and commitment.