Low cost home makeover tips

I was recently invited to Grand Designs Live in Birmingham, to talk about a home makeover and how to keep costs down, whether you’re selling your home or want to enjoy living in it.

: Me, at the NEC.

Here’s a summary of what you need to consider carefully when you’re planning a home makeover, in order to keep the costs down as much as possible. (See other blog entries in the category “Makeover -tips” for more details of items on the list below:)

• Budget – keep tight control on the budget for any home makeover

• Existing Colours – make them work together rather than completely changing the scheme

• Room Use – is the layout of the house working for you?

• Existing Style – a complete style change can be expensive

• Accessories – use them to pull the scheme together

• Lifestyle – make the house work for you

• Increase Value – check the impact on the value of the house before you make major changes

• Skills – what are you really capable of doing well, and what do you need help with?

• Timescale – plan ahead carefully and ensure no clashes with trades

• Identify Trends – find the right balance between updating and making very fashionable / trendy

• Clutter – remove excess before starting any project so you can allow for what’s being kept

And just by pure co-incidence(!), if you take the first letter of all the above, you’ll end up with the most important thing to remember when planning a home makeover:

Budget Existing Colours

Room Use Existing Style Accessories Lifestyle Increase Value Skills Timescale Identify Trends Clutter