How to Tackle a Whole-Home Makeover (Without the Chaos)
Thinking about giving your entire home a refresh? It’s exciting to imagine new paint colours on the walls, fresh carpets and flooring, as well as updated furniture (but also a little stressful, right?) A whole-home makeover sounds great in theory, but there is actually a lot of work involved (especially if you DIY a lot of it yourself). To avoid overwhelm, take time to do a little planning and map out some smart steps for a home reset without the chaos.
Start by Clearing the Space, Room by Room
One of the biggest mistakes people make when refreshing their home is skipping the preparation work. If you start painting without priming or rearrange furniture with loads of things in the way, this will only make your makeover harder.
Start by removing as much as possible from the space that you are working on. Go through drawers, cabinets and surface areas and set aside anything you think you no longer need or want. Do one room at a time and work your way through. For the items you want to keep but won’t use during the refresh, pack them up safely and label each box clearly.
If you’re tight on space or want to keep furniture and boxes out of the way, a local moving and storage service can come in handy. They’ll keep your items safe while giving you more room to work, protecting valuables from dust, paint splatters and possible damage. Once the makeover is done, they can move your items back in if you desire.
Set Realistic Goals for Each Area
It’s tempting to want to change everything all at once, but doing too much too fast usually leads to burnout. Instead, break your home down room by room. Make a short list of what you want to change in each; some areas may need a full renovation, while others might only need a fresh coat of paint. Prioritising the process will make it feel more manageable and will help you stay motivated.
Create a Budget That Covers Everything (Even the Unexpected)
A basic home makeover doesn’t have to be overly expensive if you are just refreshing the walls with new paint, but it’s easy for small costs to add up. Write down what you plan to spend on each room and include the costs for getting the job done: paintbrushes, roller sleeves, wall filler, painter’s tape and dustsheets all add up.
Always set aside a little extra in your budget for unexpected things. A wall repair might turn out to be a bigger job than expected once wallpaper is removed, or a light fixture needs to be secured into a beam and ends up costing more. A basic spreadsheet or budgeting app can help you keep track as you go.
Work in Stages to Avoid Overwhelm
Focus on one project or room at a time. Work in phases and set small deadlines to keep the momentum going.
Choose Your Materials and Colours Before You Start
Choosing your materials ahead of time keeps you on track and avoids you making last-minute mistakes when you need something in a rush. A moodboard is a great way for you to compare colours, fabrics and swatches and get a feel for how the room will look once complete. You can create physical moodboards with samples or create one digitally using an online tool.
Use a paper paint swatch supplied by paint companies, or paint a tester pot directly on the wall in different areas of the room. Look at them in the morning, afternoon and evening, as the colours will change in each light.
Bring in Help When You Need It
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Some tasks are easier (and safer) with a little professional help. Electrical work or plumbing can be challenging, so work out where you feel confident and where you may need to splurge on a tradesperson. To keep your renovation running smoothly, especially during move-outs or storage transitions, Gentlevan Removals offers reliable and careful moving services that take the stress out of the logistics.
Keep a Daily Checklist to Stay on Track
Big projects feel smaller when you write things down. Every morning, jot down two or three tasks you want to complete that day and keep it simple. Instead of writing ‘Finish the living room’, go with something like ‘Paint one wall’ or ‘Install curtain rods’.
Take Breaks and Celebrate Small Wins
Don’t forget to take breaks. It’s easy to get so caught up in the makeover that you forget to enjoy the process. Take time out when required to step back and admire what you’ve achieved so far!
Sharing our kitchen layout plans for our forthcoming extension…