So you’re about to begin renovating your home or investment property, but you don’t know where to start? Follow these eight simple steps to assist in making your renovating dreams come true!

1: Visualise a realistic outcome

Before you hit the shops for that new couch or dining table, you should spend some time planning and working out what your personal style is. Ensure that you are realistic about the renovation in that it is for your ‘real life’ not your ‘ideal’ one.

It is important that you take the time to evaluate the needs of your household then work out the aesthetics from there. You may be coveting that exquisite cream carpet but with young children, the reality is that this colour will only look good for a week (at the most!)

Utilising a mood board is one of the best ways to mesh your ideas together and stay focused. We recommend Style Sourcebook - stylesourcebook.com.au, a free product sourcing website that allows you to mix and match thousands of products from a variety of different retailers (including Choices Flooring) and streamline your selection process.

Renovating or building a new home can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when there is a specific look you are after but cannot articulate it visually. RoomView has been developed to take the guesswork out of choosing flooring, blinds and shutters and rugs in the home.

To start, all you need is photos of the rooms you intend to decorate. Upload them to RoomView and then you are well on your way to find the perfect choices for your home.

2: Time to budget!

Renovating is an investment so be honest about how much you can afford. Be sure to update your budget accordingly as things progress so you can keep track of spendings. Remember that anything outside the ordinary (custom builds) will cost twice as much, so be sure to consider this when setting your budget.

Also remember that you don’t always need to choose the most expensive items. For example, if you are looking at new carpet and want the ultimate in comfort, on a modest budget, add a superior underlay to a mid-price carpet and you will get the same feel and comfort for less.

3: The ultimate wish list

Now that you have a budget finalised start separating your wish list into two categories – ’Must Have’ and ‘Nice to Have’. This will be helpful if you need to cut your costs further down the line. Be sure to consider existing items that you can re-use or re-purpose.

4: Logistics

Some plans may require approval by your local council prior to work commencing, so it is recommended that you contact them to ensure you are following best practice guidelines.

5: Assemble your dream team

You are the project manager and now it is time to build your renovation dream team!

Unless you’re extremely handy with tools (or know someone that is) make sure you check the credentials of professionals you hire and provide them with a clear vision of what is to be created. Be prepared, renovation will consume you! As a project manager, be on-site but not in the way. Remember to give space to the tradespeople to ensure budgets and timelines are abided to.

Choices Flooring will be able to assist you with the flooring aspect of your project, from booking an installation, to assisting with floor preparation or furniture removal (if applicable).

6: Transformation

This is where the fun begins! There will be a lot of dust and mess, there may be a number of on-the-spot decisions you need to make, strict timelines and words you don’t quite understand. If you’re feeling overwhelmed refer back to your mood board and visualise your end goal.

7: The final handover

This may be the most nerve-racking stage of your renovation. Before you send your tradespeople away, be sure to do a final walk through of the job together. This is to ensure every aspect has been finished to your standards.

Make sure you are provided with all official certificates to confirm works done and any warranties associated with new items. Whether it's white goods or electrical work having these documents on file gives you peace of mind.

8: Voila!

Now the real fun begins - styling! The final touch to your renovation should tell the story of who you are and be a collection of what you love. Whether you’ve purchased new pieces or are working with existing furniture (great for sticking to the budget), you will be surprised on how this final step can pull your space together and take it to the next level.

Compare your mood board against the final result to see how well you’ve done and if you’ve used our flooring and/or window furnishings, share it with us!

Budget Hacks

Choose furniture that can serve as a storage unit to solve two problems in one go.

Shop in the ‘As Is’ sections where you can pick up slightly damaged but cheaper décor pieces for a fraction of the price!

Rather than pricey custom joinery, select a readymade bathroom vanity. With the money you save, you can splurge on a statement sink.

Consider open shelves over drawers or cupboards with doors.

Hit up the local thrift shops where you can find great unique pieces for your home.

Maximise your existing furniture and consider re-upholstering furniture with the latest colours and materials.