There is something to be said about renovations and the transformational element that it brings to your home. Seeing the old and outdated torn down only to be replaced by the shiny and new becomes almost magical in a sense.
It’s no wonder why there are so many renovation shows on HGTV that are able to capture that exact moment when you compare the before to the after.
That same feeling can be brought to your home by doing a renovation but at the same time you should consider what areas of the home you should focus on. That is why we’re here to help you with that and we’re going to share the 3 main areas where we think you should renovate.
Number One: The Kitchen
The kitchen is the heartbeat, the nucleus, the essence of the home. This is the natural gathering area for your family when you’re preparing a meal. When people come over for a visit, this is the first area of the home they tend to gather.
Since the kitchen is the centre of the home, making sure it’s functional and beautiful makes sense for everyone. Of course, it’s also the easiest to show off. When it comes to renovating your kitchen, I like to help clients think outside the box.
Now you’re thinking, just how far outside the box should I be thinking?
It’s quite possible that you have that perfect layout for your kitchen, and there’s nothing that can be done to change that, but that’s very unlikely.
When it comes to renovating your kitchen, consider how you and your family use the space. Ask yourself a few of the following questions:
- Do we have enough prep space? Do we need more countertop space?
- Would having the sink in the island be beneficial?
- Should we change any of the locations of the appliances?
- Can we make the space more functional for how we use the kitchen?
- Should we remove walls, move doorways, or can we create a pantry?
Answering these questions will help you think outside the box and create the most functional kitchen that suits you and your family.
Number Two: The Bathroom
After the kitchen, bathrooms tend to be the next room to improve in the home. Over the last few decades, home construction has really changed. Gone are the days of home building where simplicity was key. We’ve moved into an era where home building focuses on creating a lifestyle experience. People want their home to be a functional retreat – a built-in oasis.
Bathrooms are no exception, in fact for those looking for a spa-like retreat, they are pivotal in your home improvement planning.
Amazing tile work with high end finishes have almost become a standard for bathrooms. Then of course you have gorgeous 10mm glass doors, showers with body jets and even steam showers, things that you used to only see in spas, are now readily available for the common household.
When it comes to renovating your bathroom, this is something that can be a bit tricky because you’re usually dealing with a smaller space. To do major changes (like changing the location of plumbing), you may encounter some limitations. Then again, designing a bathroom where you’re considering how you and your family use it will be crucial.
Do you have a walk-in closet nearby, or do you walk through the closet to get to the bathroom that we can steal some space from to allow for a bigger bathroom? Proper lighting so the space feels bigger, but also realizing that different lighting changes the way makeup looks when applying is always part of the planning. Choosing your colour scheme and design can also make a space feel bigger. For example, choosing a floating cabinet can make the space feel larger. These are some little things to consider, when you are deciding on how to renovate your bathroom.
Number Three: The Basement
The third space you should consider, if you’re thinking of renovating your home, is an unfinished basement space. Developing your basement is the best bang for your buck. You have a base for your flooring, frost walls for your exterior walls, and a ceiling from your floor joist, there’s only a little left to go when it comes to developing your basement. A little bit of framing, plumbing, electrical and drywall and you’re already in the home stretch of finishing off the basement.
Another great reason to develop that unfinished space is that it’s a great way to maximize the square footage of your home. If you’re ready to develop your basement, really think about what you’re wanting to do with the space. Most of the time families are looking to add a couple of bedrooms downstairs so the kids have their own space. Families with either older or grown up kids, usually are looking to develop an additional chill out space or entertainment space. When you’re in this territory, then you’re exploring many different options like a wet-bar, theatre room, or a play area. When finishing your basement, the options really are endless and can be designed to suit your family perfectly.
Where to start
Your home is your greatest investment and probably the space you spend the most time. Renovations can greatly improve your quality of life, make it more enjoyable and more efficient. You want to make sure you are investing your money in areas of your home that are beneficial for your family and choosing areas that, when you do decide to move, others will find your renovations worth the extra dollar. Talking with your family, contractor and possibly a realtor, will help you decide what your family needs and where to invest your money in your home.