Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating

When you get bored with the way your living room looks, taking a sledgehammer and demolishing everything can be tempting. In reality, however, the renovation involves much more care, time, and a set budget before starting the whole process.

Renovating your home should create a space that will represent you and increase your value when reselling your property, so don't overlook some important aspects before giving up a wall or changing its color.

Even if you have decided to leave everything in the hands of a team of experts, you have to take responsibility for certain decisions during the renovation - a process that can set you difficult to fix later. Browse the gallery and find out the most common renovation mistakes (but also how to avoid them)!

Do not order enough ceramic tiles or parquet

Expect a few surprises before exposing the pipe system or wall structure: they are an inevitable part of the renovation. But get ready for these unforeseen situations and order 20% more ceramic tiles, parquet, or the chosen material for finishing the floor.

These can be easily damaged during installation and no one can guarantee that you will find an exact match if you need to order more. In addition, most specialty stores allow you to return unopened boxes, but it is always wise to have some spare materials in case the floor or tile is damaged over time.

Paint the walls before choosing the furniture

Put the roller down! Choosing the color of the walls before the furniture and decorations are one of the most common renovation mistakes. Why? It is much more difficult to find pieces of furniture that suit both your tastes and the color of the walls than the other way around.

Although it may seem counterintuitive and you think that wall paint is the most important step before renovating, you are about to make a mistake. First choose the important pieces of furniture (bookcase, coffee table, rug, or hat), only then the color you will use for the walls.

Also, don't be afraid to bring samples of textile or wood to the paint shop before deciding on the color palette.

Forget the basement drainage system

Don't think that you can save money just because you can't see it, such as the installation system or the plaster! To make sure the mold never bothers you, invest in quality waterproofing in the bathroom, and don't forget to drain your basement if you have one.

For example, if you decide to install a washing machine in the basement and you ever have a hose problem, you run the risk of flooding the entire house without the floor drain system, which redirects water to the main pipe system.

You will need a professional plumber for this, as improper installation can drain dirty water or detergent to the kitchen or bathroom faucet.

You do not pay enough attention to the lighting system

Light can completely change the ambiance of a room: for better or worse, it just depends on how you renovate. The room you are renovating should have as much natural light as possible, so do not block the windows using unnecessary curtains or accessories.

Even a cloudy day provides enough natural light, which you can maximize by using mirrors strategically placed above the source. The outcome? The whole room will look more spacious and brighter.

You don't consider your style

Most of the time, people see the process of renovating their home as a "renovation" of their personality, but most of the time this is not the case.

Don't plan your future kitchen for a more tidy version or change your habits, but adapt the new design to your current needs! Do you need a lot of space for cooking or do you use the kitchen as a place to socialize?

Do you need a large kitchen counter or does the space allow you to install a kitchen island? Before choosing a kitchen with a specific design, think about the appliances you are going to add and the location of the sockets, and also your style!

Do not order enough ceramic tiles or parquet

Expect a few surprises before exposing the pipe system or wall structure: they are an inevitable part of the renovation. But get ready for these unforeseen situations and order 20% more ceramic tiles, parquet, or the chosen material for finishing the floor.

These can be easily damaged during installation and no one can guarantee that you will find an exact match if you need to order more.