The wall color is faded, the furniture – old-fashioned andthe distribution of spaceis anything but functional? Even the most beautiful interior gets old and many owners then ask themselves how they can modernize their apartment without a lot of effort. We will explain to you what is important when modernizing and how you can bring more quality of life into your home with a successful room and furnishing concept.
Modernize your apartment: Good planning is the be-all and end-all
Good planning is very important for the final result. If you want to modernize your apartment, you should first create a sketch with exact dimensions and think about what you want to change about the distribution of space. Even before you start modernizing, you should determine what your housing needs are. A clear formulation of goals and the creation of a project folder with photos of floors, walls and room designs will prove to be very helpful during the renovation.
The owner should then seek advice as to whether the desired changes are structurally possible and what approvals are necessary. The most important thing here is not to cut corners and have the apartment inspected by an architect before construction work begins. This is the only way to identify hidden defects in a timely manner, which can put additional strain on the budget. Depending on whether and which construction work is necessary, the associated costs can be listed in a manageable manner.
Modernization is expensive, which is why it is usually carried out every 20 years. Anyone who invests so much money and time in construction work should definitely protect the end result.A household contents insurancecovers numerous damages up to the desired insured amount.
Modernize your apartment: Achieve your dream apartment in several steps
Depending on how old the walls, floor, insulation, front door, etc. are, the following modernization work will be required:
1. When renovating an old building, the first thing you should do is replace or reinstall the electrical system, the water pipes and the interior insulation (if any).
2. The second step to a dream apartment is good insulation. The high-quality entrance doors and windows play a crucial role. Although they are more expensive to purchase, the investment is definitely worth it because they have a useful life of over 30 years.
3. The heating system must also be modernized and the radiators replaced every 15 years. It is therefore worth finding out more about this before construction work begins and possibly purchasing new radiators.
4. Walls and floor coverings have to withstand a lot over the years. The floor in particular should be robust and easy to clean, but at the same time also visually appealing. With proper care, a floorboard or parquet can be used for more than 40 years; for natural stoneware and tiles it is over 35 years. Professionally plastered walls need to be repainted or wallpapered every 3-4 years.
5. The bathroom and kitchen are renovated every 20 years. If you want to save money, you can choose do-it-yourself versions or mass production. Optionally, just the fronts of the kitchen cabinets and bathroom furniture can be replaced. Small repairs or renovation work are also necessary in the bathroom: showers, shower heads, curtains, etc. should be replaced every 8-10 years.
6. The apartment with oneSmart Home Systemmodernize. Thanks to functional complete solutions, you can retrofit the lighting, thermostats and even kitchen appliances with sensors and control them via app.
7. The furnishings and decorations come last. They are a matter of taste and can easily be replaced with new ones if desired.
