A pergola can provide additional space for gathering or planting in your home.
The holidays may be over, but the season of change has just begun.
Along with New Year resolutions, redecorating the home is actually quite popular in January. With many of us putting away Christmas decorations this time of the year, an opportunity to revamp our home arises. Coupled with end-of-season sales and an assortment of home items received over the holidays, you have enough ammunition to propel your home’s status at the start of the year.
But where do you begin? If you’re a homemaker who’s lost on design trends and renovation solutions, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some ways you can make January a makeover time for your home.
Skip core trends
Let’s begin by stating what to avoid: extremely specific trends. Cute design themes such as the moody martini aesthetics and Barbie-pink interiors may seem all the rage on TikTok in 2023, but who knows if they’ll last?
Strictly sticking to a specific theme may help you declutter your home, but it also doesn’t leave any room for nostalgic items that don’t follow the decor. You might end up regretting your design choices later on, so it’s best to stick to timeless design styles rather than hyped themes when redecorating your home.
Know your limits
This may not be the fun part, but it’s certainly quite important. Many homeowners avoid stating their limits to contractors and designers for fear of ridicule or judgement, but it’s necessary to avoid overspending. Even if you’ve decided to go the DIY route, it’s important to determine first how much you can afford to spend on your home.
Consider adding an island counter in your kitchen for more counter space.
Whether you have P500,000 or P5,000 in mind, there’s always something you can do to fit your budget and style. For example, the bigger amount will allow you to retile and refinish your bathroom, while the smaller amount can buy you sticky backsplash tiles for an instant bathroom makeover.
Besides the budget, it’s also wise to determine building and apartment rules in case you live in a shared housing setup. This applies if you’re renting your home or live in a condominium. Homeowners associations may dictate specific window treatments or renovation guidelines, for example, and it’s best to stick to these to avoid headaches down the road.
Consider needs over looks
Are you fawning over glossy floor tiles that look perfect for your kitchen? Think again.
If you’ve got an active child or a delicate senior citizen in the house, it’s best not to add something that might endanger them in times of spills. Consider getting safer alternatives such as anti-slip s-urfaces, or better yet, redecorate your home around your specific needs.
For example, you may opt to fit your bathroom with vintage-looking support bars in the shower area, or refinish the whole room in limewash paint with sealant. You can still personalize your look with the variety of choices available on the market, but don’t make your family suffer in the name of Instagrammable spaces.
Focus on the kitchen
If you’ve got enough room for a decent renovation, consider putting focus on the kitchen. Any home cook will tell you that they can always use more storage in their kitchen, whether it’s to make more room for pans or ingredients.
Any home can benefit from additional storage space and cabinets.
Consider building a butler’s pantry which often serves as a transition space between the kitchen and the dining room. You can use this tiny area for food preparation or storage especially when hosting guests at home. If you’ve got more space, however, go all out with a new island counter. You can incorporate more seating or preparation space with an island, providing your family a new space to bond over meal times or baking sessions.
Build more storage
Beyond the kitchen, any room in the house can surely benefit from additional cabinets. Buy or build a full-length wardrobe cabinet, or if you’ve got little room, build overhead cabinets instead.
Underbed storage is also a smart space-saving solution. If you’re just looking to tidy up your existing storage, consider purchasing clothes sorter boxes or hanging bag storage organizers. Consider corners, overhead spaces and other under-utilized spaces for storage solutions. Trust us, you can never have too much storage space in a busy home.
Expand outdoors
If your home is as packed as one would expect in any typical Filipino household, consider expanding outdoors. With a spacious backyard or even a small garden nook, you can simply add a table set to create a new place for conversations.
Start off any redecorating or renovation project with determining your budget and constraints.
If you have more wiggle room in your budget, consider installing a new deck or building a pergola for backyard barbecues and climbing plants. You can also turn the space over your garage into a guest house or a verandah to cater to parties and visitors. There are numerous ways you can upgrade your home, and you don’t have to be limited by your walls.
Consult with a professional
Lastly, when in doubt, consult with the experts. Contrary to popular belief, partnering with an architect, interior designer or a professional contractor will save you money in the long run.
While you may have to pay professional fees, you end up saving money and time by avoiding mistakes that amateur builders often make. This is especially true if you’re planning to do some plumbing and electrical works. Save yourself from the stress and get some professional help if your renovation works involve major changes.
Overall, January is the best time to start making the change you’ve been wanting at home. Start planning, saving and building now to make the rest of the year a most comfortable time for you and your family.
Sources:
www.houzz.com; www.thespruce.com; Pixabay, Renan Lima, Max Rahubovskiy via Pexels.com