6 Tips for Designing Your Remodel

When it’s time to remodel, it’s easy to come up with grand ideas. But before you get to the drawing board, here are six tips to help you come up with the best version of your perfect home.  

1. Think About the Future

A lot of homeowners who buy a home to fix it up for themselves get caught up in the latest trends and coolest designs. However, sometimes those amazing ideas don’t work out so well down the road with  growing families. If your family changes, is your space flexible enough to adapt? If you have small kids now, they may want a bigger room when they get older.

2. Islands aren’t always paradise

An island in a kitchen can be a huge space upgrade. However, if your kitchen is too small for an island, don’t push it. Instead, consider built-in shelves or built-in seating to add storage without compromising space.

3. Make your home a smart home? OR Create a smart home

Smart technology for the home has been on the radar for a few years now. If you’re considering a smart home, make your plans during the planning phase; implementing smart technology after you’ve remodeled will be more costly. However, as with any technology, smart technology also comes with quick obsoletion. Today’s voice activated light dimmers might seem like they’ll be around forever, but the technology can change in a few years.

4. Blend the old with the new:

Like I’ve said before, remodeling is like plastic surgery; when one thing is upgraded, you might end up wanting to do more. When you’re designing your remodel, you should think about other projects that would accommodate your current ideas and anticipate how to make a remodel as complete to your needs as possible.  For example, remodeling your kitchen is going to inspire you to remodel adjacent rooms to create a good flow.

5. Don’t Overbuild

Ever heard of the term McMansion? It was a trend that took America by storm in the early 2000’s. They tend to be an amalgam of architectural styles and questionable design choices that are just too big for a lot. Cities have cracked down on these monstrosities because they take up an entire lot. Go with an architectural style and size that fits the neighborhood, as well as your aesthetic and your needs.

6. Being TOO on trend:

A hot trend isn’t always a great (or functional) trend — and sometimes old trends need to come back. I prefer to stay away from trends altogether. Don’t do something for the sake of it being trendy, do it because it aligns with your lifestyle and how you live.

For more remodel tips, read here! or read my book, Remodel Success: Home Remodeling Done Right, On Time, and On Budget.