An Interior Designers’ Home Renovation Guide
Renovating your home is an exciting opportunity to create a space that truly reflects your lifestyle and the people you share it with. But without the right guidance or previous experience, we often hear that it can feel overwhelming to know where to start! While there will always be obstacles to contend with along the way, a well-planned renovation should be as smooth and considered as the design itself.
In this blog we’ve produced a step by step guide to walk you through the process, ensuring that every element is approached with clarity, forethought and there are as few surprises along the way as possible!
Our turnkey interior design service includes experienced end-to-end project management, working seamlessly with the builder’s project manager or directly with trades to ensure every aspect of your renovation is expertly overseen, from the big decisions to the smallest details.
The Design & Planning Phase
Before the first brick is moved, a strong foundation of planning is key. This is where we define the vision, map out logistics (including budgets and resource), and anticipate potential challenges to ensure as seamless an experience as possible. Creating a core team of people you trust to both understand and execute your vision is so important; whether that’s your interior designer, contractor, builder or architect.
Key Steps:
Understanding Your Needs: Every home should be both functional and beautiful. Your renovation should always begin by discussing your lifestyle, preferences, and how you use your space.
Creating the Design Plan: Layouts, materials, finishes, and furniture selections are carefully planned to achieve a balance of aesthetics and practicality.
Budgeting & Timeline: A realistic financial plan is set, including a contingency for unexpected expenses, alongside a structured schedule with clear milestones.
Deciding on Living Arrangements: If the renovation affects essential spaces, we explore temporary solutions to minimise disruption and keep your family safe.
Site Logistics: Access, deliveries, and waste removal plans are put in place to keep the project running smoothly.
Sarah’s Tip: Investing time in the design phase saves money and stress in the long run. Making decisions early ensures materials are available and construction stays on schedule, as well as giving you confidence and oversight throughout the projects.
Preparing for Construction:
With a clear plan in place, the next step is preparing your home for work to begin. Organising your space before construction starts can significantly streamline the process, and save you many a headache along the way!
Considerations:
Protecting Furniture & Belongings: Items that will remain in the home should be carefully covered, stored, or relocated to avoid damage.
Setting Up Temporary Spaces: If renovating your kitchen, a makeshift area with essentials like a kettle and microwave can help maintain daily routines.
Ensuring Safety for Children & Pets: Creating secure zones or arranging alternative care keeps loved ones safe from construction hazards. Your contractor should provide a risk assessment and clear guidance on how to keep your household safe during the project.
Sarah’s Tip: Dust travels further than expected! (Yes, even with proper sealing). Cover textiles, electronics, and valuables, and consider using air purifiers to maintain air quality.
The Construction Phase
Now, the transformation begins! This is the part of the process that everyone wishes would fly by without a hitch, and having clear project management roles absolutely contributes to this. This phase requires close oversight to ensure everything aligns with the design intent and timeline. With trades and builders on-site, your new design starts to take shape, which is always so exciting to see!
What to Expect:
A Busy Site: A rotation of trades, including electricians, plumbers, and decorators, working in sync.
Noise & Disruption: Even with careful planning, construction will impact daily life… understanding the schedule helps manage expectations and allows you to plan accordingly!
Regular Progress Updates: It’s important to have regular check-ins as obstacles arise and decisions are required; this will not only give you peace of mind, but also allow the project to keep progressing without delays.
Handling the Unexpected: Older homes may reveal hidden challenges, such as outdated wiring or structural issues. Always retain a percentage of your budget to allow for these, and keep an open mind to solutions and work-arounds.
Sarah’s Tip: Strong project management is beyond invaluable. Coordinating trades, resolving issues swiftly, and maintaining a clear workflow ensures a renovation that is both efficient and high-quality.
Design Comes to Life
As construction wraps up, this is where the vision comes to life in its fullest form. Every choice, from bespoke furniture to the perfect paint finish, is realised with precision and style, ensuring that the final result is not just beautiful but deeply functional and reflective of your lifestyle.
Final Steps:
Bespoke Furniture Installation: Custom pieces, designed to fit your space perfectly, are delivered and positioned. Whether it’s tailored cabinetry, a handcrafted dining table, or a statement headboard, these one-of-a-kind elements add a level of refinement and individuality that sets the space apart.
Lighting Plan Brought to Life: Throughout the design process, lighting has been carefully planned to balance function and atmosphere. Now, with fittings installed and ambient, task, and accent lighting perfectly layered, the space takes on its intended warmth and depth.
Colour & Paint Finishes: The walls are given their final coat, bringing the chosen colour palette to life. This is where subtle nuances, like matte vs. satin finishes, tonal contrasts, painted woodwork or colour drenching enhance the overall mood of the space.
Furniture Placement & Flow: The way a space functions is just as important as how it looks. Every piece of furniture is placed with intention, ensuring movement and flow feel natural and effortless.
Textiles & Layering: Soft furnishings, like rugs, textured throws, and window treatments, introduce depth, warmth, and sophistication. These elements provide both comfort and elegance; layering texture, pattern and contrast to really tie your spaces together.
Art, Accessories & Final Styling: The smallest details often have the biggest impact. Carefully selected artwork, sculptural pieces, and decorative accents bring personality, story, and curation to the space.
Final Walkthrough & Adjustments: A last review ensures every detail is perfect. This includes snagging checks, refinements to furniture placement, lighting adjustments, and ensuring every aspect of the design meets our exacting standards.
Sarah’s Tip: True luxury is about how a space feels. The right lighting can make a room feel intimate, the right textures can add warmth, and bespoke furniture can elevate functionality. Every decision made along the way culminates in this final stage, where all the details work together seamlessly.
Enjoy Your New Home
We know that your home renovation means more to you than new walls, finishes, or furniture; it’s about creating a space that enhances the way you live every day. Every detail has been thoughtfully curated to feel effortless, functional, and personal to you.
From our very first conversation to the final reveal, every stage of your renovation has been thoughtfully guided and expertly managed by our complete interior design service, offering you peace of mind at every turn.
As the last finishing touches are placed and we prepare for your big reveal, the vision we created together becomes reality. The furniture fits seamlessly, the lighting enhances every moment, and every material and texture has been chosen to bring both beauty and comfort. The flow of your home feels natural, the details feel intentional, and the entire space is ready to be lived in exactly as you imagined.
A well-designed home should feel effortless from the moment you step inside.
Thinking about your next project? We’re here to help. Get in touch today to start your dream renovation.
