How early should I start the renovation process? [3 minutes read]
Scandinavian-styled bedroom, designed by Indonesia based freelance interior designer Aryo.
Renovating a house, no matter its size, is complex. Before you decide whether to hire an interior designer or hire contractors directly (take this quiz to find out which to choose), there are three things we think you should find out: your plans for the house, your design style, and your lifestyle needs.
Thinking about these six months before key collection might be too late. We recommend you start gathering answers once you have the floor plan. If you have no idea where to start, contact us so we can recommend designers who can offer advice and design ideas.
Future plans
Start by clarifying your future plans for the house. This helps you to right-size your renovation budget.
If you plan to stay in the house for the long term, spend more on durable materials. If the plan is to rent it out or sell it quickly, we recommend you minimise renovation works, especially hacking of walls, which would lower the property’s valuation.
Are there plans for (more) kids? Leave a room largely empty so it can be converted into a kid-friendly room. The less built-in furniture, the more flexibility you have to repurpose a room.
Interior design style
Interior designers each have their unique strengths. Finding one who can translate your design ideas into beautiful 3D images is as difficult as finding a good date on Tinder. This task is more difficult if you are sharing the space with someone else. The designer would have to create a design that satisfies everyone.
That said, once you find the right interior designer, he or she will be able to create your dream home effortlessly. Similarly, the right date can become the love of your life.
Knowing your design style is critical to hiring the right interior designer. You could start by taking our find your style quiz. Then start pinning photos of home interiors you like onto a blank canvas, which will become your mood board. You can use any tool to your liking - Pinterest, Microsoft PowerPoint, it doesn’t matter!
Try not to think too much when selecting these photos. Instead, tap on how they make you feel. Every photo you select should evoke a positive feeling without you knowing why. Look at the mood board after you have finish pinning. Maybe you will be able to discern certain styles by then. It is fine to have more than one preferred style. It’s simply the start of getting closer to answering the question: what does my ideal home look like?
Neutral color palette kitchen concept, designed by interior design firm owner Ethan.
Lifestyle needs
How a space functions is as important as how it looks, if not more important. As the expression goes, “form follows function.” Do you bake a lot? Love frying fish? An open concept kitchen may not be the best idea. Expect to work from home a lot more due to the COVID situation? You can consider creating a work corner at home. Do you host lots of gatherings? The house would need more social space.
Communicating your lifestyle to the interior designer helps him maximise utility of space in the designs. Every lifestyle need is important. Gather them all for your interior designer to work on.
Modern living room, designed by freelance interior designer Ray.
Not sure where to start for your renovations? We can help. Let us gather your requirements and recommend you designers. Don’t worry, you will only hear from us, and never from our interior designers directly, unless we seek your permission first.
Start your home renovation journey with us today.