Renovating your home can be one of the most fulfilling and laborious tasks that you will encounter. There are several ways that you can renovate your home. If you don't mind getting a little dirty and letting your creative juices flow then you will most likely enjoy some DIY work. DIY work is Do It Yourself work. You can gather inspirational ideas from magazines, professionals at home improvement stores, home improvement websites and crafty sites such as Pinterest. You may want to hire a professional if you are not so enthusiastic about DIY. Many professionals will meet with you and provide free work quotes. If you have basic ideas of how you would like your renovation to precede your contractor will most likely draw up plans and design around your expectations.
Let’s assume for a minute that you enjoy DIY work. You will want to consider which rooms you would like to renovate first. It is smart to get a binder where you can store your notes, pictures, web browser printouts and colour samples that you may have acquired from magazines or home improvement stores. Also, keep some paper in your binder that is strictly for jotting down ideas as inspiration hits. Make a list that states the order of importance for room renovations. Work off your list and stick to your list. If you take on too many projects at once you may start to feel disorganized from multiple rooms being under renovation at one time.
Renovate your Garage
If you feel the urge to renovate your garage, there are lots of easy and inexpensive ways to give it a facelift. You can either hire a professional or tackle these projects at once. When you decide to renovate your garage you will want to start with a blank slate. If you have a storage shed, you may want to move as many objects from your garage to your storage shed as possible. You'll want to park outside while you are renovating your garage as well. Sweep out and clean your garage. This holds true for any room in your home that you renovate. It is always best to start with a cleaned out blank slate to prevent confusion or accidental damage to any personal belongings.
When renovating your garage you will want to consider the root cause of the renovation. Is your garage boring and dingy? Do you want to create an additional space to hang out in? Will you be storing items other than your car in your garage? A new trend that people are embracing is the total garage re-vamps. Many people are truly considering their garage as an extension of their home and embracing the square footage by turning this space into a new hang out location.
If you are renovating your garage to create an extra space to gather with friends and family, then you most likely want to consider hiring a professional. You will need to have electrical updated as well as ventilation. Epoxy floors are great in garages that are being used as a secondary gathering space as well as garages that are being used for their originally intended purposes. Epoxy can be designed however you would like with design patterns, anti-slip texture or high gloss finish. Epoxy is easy to maintain and cost-effective. If you are parking your car in your garage the epoxy floor is less prone to damage than traditional concrete floors.
Cars often carry in rainwater, snow and mud. Epoxy floors can be mopped clean and are pleasing to the eyes. Another way to finish a garage for its basic intended car storage use is to create a shelving system that will store sports and yard goods. If you have enough wall space, you can do a large shelving structure that will keep outdoor supplies tidy. If you are a techy geek, then you can use latest technologies in the garage to create a smart parking garage. If your concern is less space, then parking is getting easier and smarter with active park assist which comes with some of the latest models.
Renovate your Home Office
Many homeowners are also creating a multi-functional work from home space. Telecommuting is gaining popularity and many individuals are working their 9-5 job from the comfort of their own home. A home office can be stylish and functional while doubling as a living space. To create a home office that can double as a guest room you will once again want to turn to magazines and Pinterest for inspiration. The type of home office you can create depends upon the amount of square footage you have to utilize. If you want an office that truly feels like an office and not a bedroom you may want to consider a murphy bed for the time guests to stay over. Murphy beds fold into a structure on the wall and create an out of sight out of mind feel in a room.
When you decide to renovate and turn a spare bedroom into a home office you will want to consider every aspect of the room. Do you prefer carpet or a hard surface for the flooring? Will you need a large desk or will a smaller desk be adequate? Does your office require a separate phone line or can you conduct most of your telecommuting from your work provided cell phone?
A home office is an expense that can be accounted for when you file your yearly taxes. Be sure to keep tabs on the amount of square footage, the time that you are using electric and all other utilities you utilize during your work hours. If you are planning to have an exercise ball instead of chair, then it might not be a good option. If your home office is doubling as a guest room, you may want to consider a warm colour on the walls that won't leave guests feeling as though they are spending the night in a corporate office. Be sure to customize your space with some fun lighting fixtures and artwork that create inspiration.
Conclusion
Renovating your spare room into an office and your garage into a more welcoming space can be done on all budgets. Organization and inspiration, as well as hard work and determination, will be the driving factors for your renovation project. Have fun documenting your renovation and one day you will be able to give design advice to family and friends.
