Types of Renovation

Does your home need some work? There are many different types of renovation and refurbishment projects to improve your home. These vary in scale from having your loft insulation redone to completely changing every aspect of your home’s interior and exterior. Read on to find out more about different types of renovation that you can have carried out. 

Loft Conversions

One very popular type of renovation that you can look into is a loft conversion. This involves taking your loft, which may previously have been used for storage or simply left empty, and turning it into a liveable space. Loft conversions can be a good option for those living in urban areas without the possibility to extend their homes horizontally, or who perhaps do not have the budget available to have a full storey vertical extension carried out. This type of project generally starts at around £15,000 and can go up to £45,000 for more extensive renovation work. In general, renovating your loft will not require planning permission, unless you are looking to make alterations to the roof (this is not generally necessary and would only normally be required if the amount of headroom in the planned conversion did not meet building regulations). That said, if you live in a terraced or semi-detached house, you may be required to inform your neighbours if the works will impact their walls and roof as well. You will also have to meet regulations regarding fire safety. However, this is only likely to cause an issue if your house is unusually tall, having two or more stories and with the potential escape window being more than 4.5m from the ground. This type of renovation can be a great way to improve the amount of usable space in your home, as well as markedly increase its potential resale value: the extra bedroom afforded by a loft renovation can increase the value of your home by around 20%. For the average house in the UK, this would be an extra £46,000. This type of renovation is also easy to tailor exactly to how you want it, choosing from a whole range of colours and furnishings, and you'll end up with practical space to turn into a bedroom, lounge, games room, or anything else you want.

Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation is another type of renovation that offers an excellent way to add more value to your property. Refurbishing your kitchen is also a great way to improve your own quality of life, especially if you happen to be a keen cook. Kitchen refurbishments normally involve replacing the appliances and fixtures of the kitchen, as well as the cabinets and other pieces of furniture. As with any type of renovation, it is very important to make sure to have this type of home improvement project carefully planned. This is in particular the case with the kitchen because it is likely to be out of use while the works are being carried out, so if there is any unforeseen issue then your kitchen could be out of action for longer than you may have previously intended. It is also worth taking into account, if the property's resale value is an important concern, that your idea of a dream kitchen may not be the same as that of a potential purchaser. 

Kitchen refurbishments can also be one of the more expensive home renovations that you might decide to take on, but arguably one of the most rewarding in terms of everyday life. An impractical kitchen layout, lack of storage space or counter space, or simply an outdated design can have a serious impact on your enjoyment of your kitchen, while optimised spatial planning, a practical workspace, stylish finishes and even custom kitchen furnishings can transform the space into a kitchen you'll love to use. If you're looking to minimise costs, as with any renovation project your own involvement can have an impact on how much you spend. While it's possible to carry out some of the work yourself if you are experienced in DIY, it's important to be realistic about your level of free time and DIY experience, and especially to be careful with anything related to the electrics, gas, or water in the kitchen. When considering your kitchen design, think about how you plan to use the space, to cook, clean, or even eat and socialise as well. One design option which is popular at the moment is to have an open-plan kitchen and dining or living area, with the kitchen work surfaces and cooking appliances arranged in a central island.

Bathroom Renovations

Renovating your bathroom can also be a great way to make your home more enjoyable to live in, since this is a space which is used every day.  Bathroom refurbishments are the most popular form of home improvement projects, and can be a solid investment in terms of your home's value and your quality of life. It's important to be realistic about the costs as well, given the plumbing and fixtures involved. While bathroom renovation work most often requires hiring professionals, the greatest expense generally comes from parts and materials, rather than labour. When looking at how to carry out this type of renovation, think of efficiency and ventilation: these will both save you money in the long run. Today's toilets and showers use a smaller and smaller amount of water, and modern shower head units can deliver high performance while having flow-rates as low as 2.5 gallons per minute. Lighting is also an important factor to consider when carrying out a bathroom renovation. One central light fixture in the middle of the room will cast shadows - instead, consider going for recessed LED lighting fixtures which will light the space much more evenly. You can also have the lights fitted with a dimmer switch, which can be a useful addition. It is also important to make sure that there is a sufficiently adequate ventilation system: this will make sure that moisture doesn’t build up in the bathroom which could eventually lead to damp, mold or mildew. You'll also want to consider the best layout for your bathroom, depending on the space available, as well as the choice of fixtures. For example, nowadays a shower has become a more popular choice than a bath, due to being more efficient and taking up less space.

Creating a Home Office

Another practical way to improve your home is to renovate a room of the house by transforming it into a home office. Whether you're finding yourself working from home more often, you run your own business and need a dedicated space to work, or just need an organised space to pay your bills, a home office can be an important addition to your living space. This type of renovation is generally smaller-scale and can even be a DIY project you could tackle on your own, if you already have a space available. In this case, it may simply be a matter of replacing the room's furnishing with some quality office furniture and equipment enabling you to carry out your work. If you don't already have a room you can convert into an office, however, you may need to consider making structural or layout changes to your home or even adding an extension. 

When considering decor for your home office, the choice of colour is an important factor - for example, research has shown that green is one of the most relaxing colours and can help relieve stress. It is also important to make sure that this space has a good internet connection - it could be time to think about upgrading your home to fibre optic broadband, which will of course benefit the whole property. Storage is also an important concern for a home office. You might be surprised how much proper storage and organisation can make your work much easier and increase your efficiency; according to some studies, the average worker spends as much as a week each year looking for misplaced papers and documents. As with every type of renovation, optimising natural light in the space is also something to aim for. 

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