As time passes, we become comfortable with our surroundings. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes that comfort makes us oblivious to the obvious signs that tell us it’s time to redecorate.
According to the 2017 Houzz and Home Survey, homeowners report they plan to spend an average of $27,300 on their next home renovation project. The primary motivation: to improve the look, feel, flow, or layout of the home.
Look around your home.
Are you happy with how it looks? When was the last time you redecorated? Is it in need of an update? Perhaps a more important question might be: how do you know? Here we’ll look at three main signs that will let you know it might be time to redecorate your home.
Wear & Tear
Life happens, which means that over time, the interior of our home can take quite a beating. Depending on quality and use, items like window coverings, paint, carpet, and upholstery need to be replaced every six to twelve years.
Closely examine things such as the arms of couches and chairs, heavy traffic areas through the carpet and paint on the wall. If they look worn, matted or faded, then it’s probably time to reupholster, replace or repaint.
Change in Taste
Our tastes in things tend to change as we grow and mature. What we like two years ago might not be something we’re interested in keeping around for the next two years. It’s more than okay to change the space to suit your current tastes, but keep in mind frequent changes to decor can add up. This is why it’s important to find quality pieces that will surpass the trends. A good rule of thumb is to stick with quality pieces that provide longevity and a neutral palette that will allow you to incorporate bits and pieces of trends you love easily and inexpensively.
Lifestyle Adjustment
Whatever stage of life you’re in, it’s a safe bet that something will cause a lifestyle change at some point. Life events such as marriage, the birth of a child, an empty nest, or simply a move into a new home, can be cause for an update.
What to Keep in Mind Before You Start
If you’ve come to the conclusion that you do in fact need to redecorate, there are some important things to keep in mind before diving into a project.
- A budget and timeline is a MUST. Knowing how much you can spend and how long you can handle renovations is a very important part of redecorating. First, figure out your total budget so you don’t end up overspending or making poor purchasing decisions. Be sure to find a way to keep track of your expenditures (Excel spreadsheet, notebook, etc). Second, pick a completion date. You might not actually get everything done, but having a set date will certainly help you maintain momentum.
- Separate your needs from your wants. Knowing the difference between the two can be hard, but the more you understand the difference, the more likely you are to be happy with the process as well as the outcome. Make a list of what you want to do and then reorder the list so that it shows necessities at the top and more wishful items at the bottom. Get the family involved so nothing gets overlooked.
- Weed out what you don’t need. Go through the house, identifying what furniture or accessories need to stay and what can go. If anything simply needs a facelift, go for it. If not, try to resell what you can and then dump that profit into your project.
- Draw out a plan. If you’re buying new furniture or if you are considering a new configuration, then a rough sketch can be really helpful. Make sure you include exact measurements on your drawing so you don’t end up with pieces that don’t fit the space as they should.
- Concentrate on big items first, working your way to small. A good rule of them is to focus on your big-impact items first. This includes furniture, wall color, and the ceiling (i.e. crown molding). After the big items are tackled, move onto midscale items such as area rugs, window treatments, and light fixtures. Finally, fill in the space with those decorative accessories you’ve had your eye on.
- Stay flexible. Sometimes, something surprising pops up during your decorating journey. Maybe it makes you laugh or maybe it triggers a special memory–whatever it is, don’t discount items that are unique or whimsical.
So, is it time to redecorate? It’ll be work, but it will be rewarding. If you want some help, then feel free to stop by one of our Interior Fabrics locations where our friendly, knowledgeable staff can answer all your questions!
