Your own home should not only be a roof over your head, but also an oasis of well-being that people like to return to and where you can really relax after work is done. However, this only works if your own four walls look good and suit your own taste. Especially after a move, there is one topic that cannot be avoided: renovation. But even after a long time in the same apartment, there comes a time when things need to be spruced up again. But how can a renovation be made easy, with as little time as possible and with simple means?
Renovation made easy – budget and duration of construction work
Before you jump straight into work, it's a good idea to first create a plan and get an overview of everything that needs to be done and what materials are necessary. The following considerations should be made:
Should it be the entire apartment or the entire house? Or justindividual rooms?Should it just be painting the walls and flooring or will it actually be a complete renovation with all the trimmings? However, a tradesman should definitely be involved for some areas (electricity and sanitary systems). It's a good idea to make a list and set priorities. The things that are considered particularly important should actually be done first. Only when there is an overview of the renovation work to be done should work begin.
This is a really important point to avoid having to suddenly stop halfway through because you ran out of money. A financial framework should definitely be set in advance and a proper calculation should be made. The budget should also not be completely exhausted in case additional costs arise due to incorrect color or waste.
It makes sense to create a schedule to keep track. Of course, as a layperson it is not 100% possible to estimate the exact time frame, but an approximate range should still be adhered to.
Advice may also be useful here and can be obtained from a specialist. If you don't want to make this further investment, you can simply do some research on the Internet, because well-known sites likewww.helpster.deoffer a number of tips for hobby craftsmen and also allow you to ask your own questions - since the community is very large and diverse, an answer usually doesn't take long and the number of discussion participants often provides many new ideas and impressions.
Renovation made easy – spruce up the walls – painting or wallpapering?
Both are quite possible in the case of a light, self-made renovation; painting can even be a lot of fun with two people or a few friends! However, you should not forget to tape off the doors and windows as well as the carpet strip beforehand to avoid unnecessary splashes of paint. A tarpaulin or at least newspaper should also be laid out on the floor so that the carpet or parquet does not get dirty. It's also worth spending a little more money and buying a paint that has better coverage, as this saves you having to repaint - in the end it doesn't cost much in terms of price and also saves time.
If you decide to wallpaper, you don't have to resort to a professional. There are wallpapers in the hardware store that are already pre-glued and only need to be moistened, saving you the hassle of pasting.
Should the walls simply get a new coat of paint, should previously white walls that now have a yellow tinge from nicotine simply become white again? Should a little color spice up your apartment? Or would it perhaps even make more sense to remove the old wallpaper and stick up new ones? Could it even be something more unusual, with a wall look, for example, or with a cute motif for the children's room?
Renovation made easy – which floor covering should it be?
Carpet, laminate, parquet, PVC or tiles? This should also be thought about in advance. Another thing to consider at this point is whether you really want to do the work yourself. While it is still quite easy to lay carpet or click laminate yourself, with parquet and especially tiles it becomes much more difficult and a little practice would be beneficial. Here it might even make sense to invest a little more money and have a professional do the work in order to get a really good result on the one hand and to save yourself a lot of time and trouble on the other. If it doesn't work as it should, it can quickly become expensive, even without a professional, because a lot of material is worn out and has to be thrown away.
Tip for experienced DIY enthusiasts – beautify furniture
By beautifying the older furniture that already exists, it is possible to give your own four walls a completely fresh shine. You don't have to dig deep into your pockets, because with a little color and a little fabric, a lot is possible. And of course it takes a little enthusiasm for craftsmanship skills, but the reward in the form of self-designed furniture is even nicer! For example, the old wooden table can be planed a little and then given new paint. Or the old seating area with a floral pattern is covered with a new fabric and looks much more modern.
