Best Tips For Home Improvement: Simple Homeowner Renovations

I recently made some major interior design changes to my son’s bedroom, and want to share my best tips for home improvement.

If right now you’re considering home improvements, but don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right article!

I personally know how overwhelming home renovation can feel at first. But thankfully there are lots of tricks to make the whole process a bit easier.

Below I’ll share home improvement tips for my son’s bedroom.

But you can apply these home improvement tips to a range of home interior improvements.

•  a full out renovation
• a big spring clean
• some simple redecorating

A bit about our home renovation

My son is now 9 years old – and so has different needs for his room, including…

• a desk to do homework, computer video games, artwork projects
• a second bed for sleepovers with friends
• room to dance to his favorite music
• storage for his bike, scooter, guitar and skateboard

We live in a very cool downtown area of New York City – which is code for “my son’s room is small – but we sure love this neighborhood!”

Plus, I wanted our son’s bedroom to “flow” stylistically into the rest of our home. Basically, I had already created a “modern” and “clean” interior design for our home. I wanted our son’s bedroom to match well with our whole home.

So, we worked with Resource Furniture – an amazing space saving furniture store. Together we conjured up a dream bedroom for my son – with a transformational desk, two transformational beds and lots of cleverly blended in storage space.

Here’s what my son’s renovated bedroom now looks like in “desk mode”

The desk to the left has convenient cabinets above it – plus transforms into a twin bed or flat wall. When the desk is in “flatwall mode” Ari can play nerf basketball with his friends – on the small hoop we have up on his door. Or practice dancing. The flat wall to the right transforms into a twin bed. (Both from Resource Furniture) We also have a beautiful wall-length closet with modern white glass doors – which you see on the right when you first walk into Ari’s room – but aren’t viewable in this photo.

And here’s my son’s home renovation in “one bed mode.”

Here’s how my son’s bedroom looks with one of the two twin beds pulled down. (From Resource Furniture)

Plus, this is my son’s home improvement in “two bed mode.”

Here’s how my son’s bedroom looks with both of the two twin beds pulled down. (From Resource Furniture)

Finally, here’s our home improvement for storing his bike, skateboard guitar etc.

Here’s a a wider view of my son’s bedroom – which shows how we decided to openly store his bike, guitar, scooter, skateboards, helmet etc – as a fun wall art design.

Best Tips For Home Improvement: Simple Homeowner Renovations

1. Find Inspiration Online

If you’re struggling when it comes to inspiration, consider looking at what other people have done online. You can find so many ideas not only for interior designs but outdoor designs too – like you can install cast iron guttering.

Before we purchased from Resource Furniture, I personally spent a lot of time looking at their gorgeous photos and inspiring videos – so I could visualize clearly what would work best.

Plus I also spent a lot of time scrolling through Pinterest – and searching out home improvement ideas on Instagram. I used hashtags like “homeimprovement” or “interiordesign.”

For a guide to using Instagram and Pinterest for home inspiration, you can visit this site here. 

2. Set A Budget

One of the first things you need to do when starting home improvements is set a budget – so you’re not overspending.

Although you may have a rough idea of what you’re going to spend, you need to plan out each individual aspect of your renovation.

• Write down the maximum you’re willing to spend for each specific aspect of the home improvement.
• Also write down the maximum you’re willing to spend for the entire home renovation.
• If some aspect of your home improvement is too expensive – but you really love it – explore how you can reduce the price of the renovation somewhere else. 

It may take time to wiggle around what you pay for each aspect of the renovation. But it will be worthwhile to take this time, so you can avoid sticker shock when you’re done.

3. Plan Everything In Advance

Another great tip when it comes to home improvements is to plan everything in advance on paper – with a floor plan.

• Make drawings on this floor plan.
• Measure everything meticulously.
• Write down where you’re purchasing everything and their phone number.
• Know delivery date estimates – so everything arrives at the same time.
• Be aware in advance about how long things take to install.
• Know in advance who is doing the installing.
• Make sure you have home insurance before you begin.

Yes, it takes time to create a clear plan you can follow. But you will be glad you took this time.

 For a guide to planning home improvements, you can visit this site here. 

4. Consider How To Manage Repairs And Maintenance 

Once you’ve started planning your home improvements, you need to think about how you’re going to manage repairs and maintenance.

If you plan in advance, you’ll be much better prepared should an emergency occur.

For example, if you need emergency AC repair, knowing exactly who you’re going to contact will help save both time and money. You can also use a resource such as a home warranty company to make repairs as needed. If you want to save energy on your heating bills, remember, window replacement is usually the best way for you to do that.

Always ask the place you’re buying something from their suggestions for how to best handle “worst case scenarios” – before you actually buy anything.

5. Google Reviews Before You Purchase 

We live in a world where there’s lots of online reviews of pretty much anything you want to purchase – from products to services.

If you’re going to spend a lot of money on home improvements, you’re going to want to make sure you’re paying for something which you’ll love – and won’t break down.

Google is your friend when it comes to getting the full scoop about a product or home renovation service – before you hand over your credit card.

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