I can’t believe it has already been a year since we moved into our new home! We did a ton of remodeling and it doesn’t even look like the same place anymore. It’s crazy how just painting a room can change the entire vibe. Remodeling an entire house or even one room is HARD, especially if you are doing it yourself like we did. I always thought it would be so much fun, which it is, but HGTV makes it look like a dream… trust me everything isn’t as flawless as it seems. Fortunately, I have a few tips that will help you keep your sanity.
Plan Ahead- I am the master of planning, sometimes it gets excessive, to be honest. I created a book with all of our inspo, ideas, links to contractors and products all by category. You don’t need to be this OCD when it comes to planning your remodel but you do need to know what you want. I lived on Pinterest and created boards for almost every room to make sure the flow of the house was cohesive. Also, make sure the style of your remodel is going to go with your furniture unless you plan on purchasing everything from scratch.
Do Your Research – Use every single asset you have to research, make sure you are talking to your realtor, asking friends, talk to the old guy at the hardware store, look on Yelp, Google Reviews, Angie’s List… take whatever you can get your hands on to make the best decisions you can. This takes A LOT of time but this is a house you are going to spend a lot of time in, you want to make sure you are finding the best option for you and your family. This research will save you money and make sure your projects are done correctly.
Be Realistic – This goes into every aspect of remodeling, be realistic with your budget, timeline, and how much you can actually DIY. If you push a timeline too hard you will find your self disappointed and frustrated. Also be honest with yourself…. Can you really tile your entire bathroom? If yes, you are talented. We tried to retile our bathroom, thinking how hard could this really be… the result was a week of hard labor, no progress on the bathroom, and a ruined box of tile. In this situation it was best to just hire someone, who got it done in a day and a half. With that being said, make sure you are upfront with your contractor, if you use one, about your expectations and budget.
Compromise – If you are doing the remodel with your significant other prepare for disagreements. Most of these disagreements are fueled by frustration and exhaustion. Know that you will most likely have to compromise on several things, keep an open mind and work together. I struggle with this when I have a vision, it so easy to have the “my way” mindset, but at the end of the day this will be a home that you both have to love living in. At the end of the day, choose your battles, pick a few things you “have to have” but be willing to comprise on other aspects, this will leave you both with things you love.
Take A Break – Especially if you are doing the construction, demo, and rebuilding yourself, take time for you! Thankfully, I got to leave the house everyday for work and was able to escape the craziness of the remodel. Joel wasn’t so lucky. Since he works from home, he was in the construction zone 24/7. Something that would have helped our sanity, would have been to have a date night or take a break and meet up with friends. It’s not the end of the world if the project is pushed back a day or even two so that you can take care of yourself. We just wanted it over with so we pushed through. Looking back, I reminisce on how fun it was to remodel, but in reality it was a struggle so take a little time out for you.
I hope these tips help you navigate your remodel. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me on the “Contact” portion of my site or Dm me on Instagram. Good luck on your next remodel!
