How to Start a Living Room Remodel
Do you feel it is time for a living room remodel? Perhaps you want to spruce it up, make it more functional, or increase the resale value of your house. So, you start wondering, where to begin with the remodel.
Here are the main steps and ideas on how to remodel a living room.
Define Your Priorities for the Living Room Remodel
Determining the top priorities and goals for the remodel will enable you to better plan for the project and execute it seamlessly. You should understand your preferences – if they are to enhance functionality, improve aesthetics, safety, and accessibility, or enhance resale value. You may also need complete living room renovations.
By clarifying your priorities and goals, you can create a clear and focused scope for your project. How extensive will the remodel be? What kind of changes will you be making? Will you be bringing down walls and windows or installing new ones?
If you simply want to change the furniture, shop around to find furniture you like. Online stores such as Coleman Furniture offer a variety of products at affordable prices. Browse the store and reach out to Coleman customer service if you need any additional assistance.
DIY Vs. Professional
One of the fundamental decisions you must make for your living room remodel project is whether to undertake it as a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) or hire a professional. Each option has its pros and cons. It is up to you to decide which one is best suited for you.
DIY saves you in labor costs. It also gives you better control and flexibility regarding design, project timeline, and scheduling.
However, you require hands-on skills. A lack of essential experience can lead to errors and costly fixes. It may also take you much longer to finish the project compared to if you hired a professional.
Conversely, professionals contribute their knowledge and abilities to the workplace to guarantee high-quality workmanship and reduce mistakes. They complete the task quickly and effectively.
The drawback is also that professional services might be costly. Yet, you risk hiring incompetent contractors who deliver subpar results.
To avoid the latter, do your due diligence before hiring a contractor and relevant service providers. Check customer feedback on social media and review websites such as Pissedconsumer.com to establish the credibility of prospective service contractors.
Set a Realistic Budget
Write down all the anticipated expenses and allocate funds accordingly. Your costs may include materials, labor, permits and licenses, design fees, furniture, furnishings and finishes, décor, etc.
Also, set aside some amount for contingencies. Hardly do remodels and room renovations go exactly as planned. No matter how well you plan, there are likely to be hidden problems or complications that come up. For example, design changes, structural, electrical, or plumbing issues, material shortages, or price increases.
Setting aside an extra amount in your budget as a contingency cushions you against unforeseen costs. It saves you financial stress and ensures that the project keeps running smoothly to completion. The general guideline for a contingency budget depends on the estimated project cost as follows:
- 5-10% for projects under $10,000.
- 10-15% for projects ranging between $10,000 – $50,000.
- 15-20% for projects over $50,000.
Come Up with a Plan
The next stage is to create a strategy for the living room remodel if you are clear on your priorities for the project, have decided whether you will DIY or hire a professional, and have established your budget.
Research and gather information to inform your design choices if you are undertaking the remodel as a DIY. If you are working with a professional, consult them.
Look for inspiration and room remodeling ideas on websites, blogs, and social media. To see the outcome in more detail, make a mood board. After that, draw a blueprint of the living room and mark the locations of the furniture, lighting, and fixtures.
Choose a color scheme and determine the type of materials to use for flooring and walls. Window shop for furniture and décor both online and at your local stores to identify pieces that align well with your design concept.
Set a realistic project timeline. Depending on the scope, the remodel can take a few days up to a few weeks. Either way, break it down into specific steps and assign each step a chronological time frame.
It is crucial to decide whether you can stay in the house during the remodel or whether you need to find alternate housing before getting started. If you must go, make the necessary preparations and set a moving date. If not, think about how the remodel will affect your day-to-day life and the functionality of your home, and find ways to work around the disruptions.
Prepare the Space for Remodeling
Clear out in preparation for the living room remodel. Remove the furniture, wall hangings, décor, and personal items and place items in adjacent rooms or a storage unit, taking precautions to protect them from damage, debris, and dirt. Seal fragile items and valuables with plastic sheets or bubble wrap if possible.
If you won’t change the flooring, remove carpets and rugs, and cover the floor with heavy-duty cardboard or Masonite sheets to protect it from scratches or damage. Remove blinds or curtains from the windows.
Cover the air vents and registers to prevent dust from spreading through the HVAC system. Seal off adjacent rooms to keep children and pets from entering the construction area. You may also cover the doorway or windows that connect to adjacent rooms with plastic sheeting, cloths, or plastic sheeting to keep off dust.
If necessary, turn off utilities by switching off electricity at the circuit breaker, closing the gas supply, and disconnecting plumbing fixtures. Also, obtain the required permits and licenses.
Begin the Remodel
Begin demolitions and removing old fixtures and follow through with the remodel plan. Ensure open and regular communication with the contractors. Meet with the contractor and service providers to clarify your expectations at the project’s beginning. Closely monitor progress to ensure everything goes as planned and rectify errors immediately.
Once the remodel is complete, inspect thoroughly to ascertain everything meets your expectations. If the remodeling involves major structural, electrical, or plumbing work, you may require inspection by your local officials to ensure adherence to local building codes and regulations. Finally, clean the remodeled living room, do any final touches, and set it up.
Remodeling your living room can be an exciting journey to improve functionality, aesthetics, and comfort. Start by defining your goals for remodeling. Then, determine whether to DIY or seek professional services. Set a realistic budget depending on the project’s scope, create a detailed plan, prepare the space, and then get on with the actual remodeling.
How to Start a Living Room Remodel
Do you feel it is time for a living room remodel? Perhaps you want to spruce it up, make it more functional, or increase the resale value of your house. So, you start wondering, where to begin with the remodel.
Here are the main steps and ideas on how to remodel a living room.
Define Your Priorities for the Living Room Remodel
Determining the top priorities and goals for the remodel will enable you to better plan for the project and execute it seamlessly. You should understand your preferences – if they are to enhance functionality, improve aesthetics, safety, and accessibility, or enhance resale value. You may also need complete living room renovations.
By clarifying your priorities and goals, you can create a clear and focused scope for your project. How extensive will the remodel be? What kind of changes will you be making? Will you be bringing down walls and windows or installing new ones?
If you simply want to change the furniture, shop around to find furniture you like. Online stores such as Coleman Furniture offer a variety of products at affordable prices. Browse the store and reach out to Coleman customer service if you need any additional assistance.
DIY Vs. Professional
One of the fundamental decisions you must make for your living room remodel project is whether to undertake it as a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) or hire a professional. Each option has its pros and cons. It is up to you to decide which one is best suited for you.
DIY saves you in labor costs. It also gives you better control and flexibility regarding design, project timeline, and scheduling.
However, you require hands-on skills. A lack of essential experience can lead to errors and costly fixes. It may also take you much longer to finish the project compared to if you hired a professional.
Conversely, professionals contribute their knowledge and abilities to the workplace to guarantee high-quality workmanship and reduce mistakes. They complete the task quickly and effectively.
The drawback is also that professional services might be costly. Yet, you risk hiring incompetent contractors who deliver subpar results.
To avoid the latter, do your due diligence before hiring a contractor and relevant service providers. Check customer feedback on social media and review websites such as Pissedconsumer.com to establish the credibility of prospective service contractors.
Set a Realistic Budget
Write down all the anticipated expenses and allocate funds accordingly. Your costs may include materials, labor, permits and licenses, design fees, furniture, furnishings and finishes, décor, etc.
Also, set aside some amount for contingencies. Hardly do remodels and room renovations go exactly as planned. No matter how well you plan, there are likely to be hidden problems or complications that come up. For example, design changes, structural, electrical, or plumbing issues, material shortages, or price increases.
Setting aside an extra amount in your budget as a contingency cushions you against unforeseen costs. It saves you financial stress and ensures that the project keeps running smoothly to completion. The general guideline for a contingency budget depends on the estimated project cost as follows:
- 5-10% for projects under $10,000.
- 10-15% for projects ranging between $10,000 – $50,000.
- 15-20% for projects over $50,000.
Come Up with a Plan
The next stage is to create a strategy for the living room remodel if you are clear on your priorities for the project, have decided whether you will DIY or hire a professional, and have established your budget.
Research and gather information to inform your design choices if you are undertaking the remodel as a DIY. If you are working with a professional, consult them.
Look for inspiration and room remodeling ideas on websites, blogs, and social media. To see the outcome in more detail, make a mood board. After that, draw a blueprint of the living room and mark the locations of the furniture, lighting, and fixtures.
Choose a color scheme and determine the type of materials to use for flooring and walls. Window shop for furniture and décor both online and at your local stores to identify pieces that align well with your design concept.
Set a realistic project timeline. Depending on the scope, the remodel can take a few days up to a few weeks. Either way, break it down into specific steps and assign each step a chronological time frame.
It is crucial to decide whether you can stay in the house during the remodel or whether you need to find alternate housing before getting started. If you must go, make the necessary preparations and set a moving date. If not, think about how the remodel will affect your day-to-day life and the functionality of your home, and find ways to work around the disruptions.
Prepare the Space for Remodeling
Clear out in preparation for the living room remodel. Remove the furniture, wall hangings, décor, and personal items and place items in adjacent rooms or a storage unit, taking precautions to protect them from damage, debris, and dirt. Seal fragile items and valuables with plastic sheets or bubble wrap if possible.
If you won’t change the flooring, remove carpets and rugs, and cover the floor with heavy-duty cardboard or Masonite sheets to protect it from scratches or damage. Remove blinds or curtains from the windows.
Cover the air vents and registers to prevent dust from spreading through the HVAC system. Seal off adjacent rooms to keep children and pets from entering the construction area. You may also cover the doorway or windows that connect to adjacent rooms with plastic sheeting, cloths, or plastic sheeting to keep off dust.
If necessary, turn off utilities by switching off electricity at the circuit breaker, closing the gas supply, and disconnecting plumbing fixtures. Also, obtain the required permits and licenses.
Begin the Remodel
Begin demolitions and removing old fixtures and follow through with the remodel plan. Ensure open and regular communication with the contractors. Meet with the contractor and service providers to clarify your expectations at the project’s beginning. Closely monitor progress to ensure everything goes as planned and rectify errors immediately.
Once the remodel is complete, inspect thoroughly to ascertain everything meets your expectations. If the remodeling involves major structural, electrical, or plumbing work, you may require inspection by your local officials to ensure adherence to local building codes and regulations. Finally, clean the remodeled living room, do any final touches, and set it up.
Remodeling your living room can be an exciting journey to improve functionality, aesthetics, and comfort. Start by defining your goals for remodeling. Then, determine whether to DIY or seek professional services. Set a realistic budget depending on the project’s scope, create a detailed plan, prepare the space, and then get on with the actual remodeling.
