Fellow homeowners out there – worrying over your home’s renovation process and not sure what to do? Check out our below compilation of good advice from other Qanvast homeowners like yourself who have been there and done it and spare yourself the panic and stress right away.
1. Map Out Your Ideal Floor Plan With… A Liquid Paper
When it comes to designing your home, the sky is the limit. For out-of-the-box ideas, use correction fluid to remove the outlines of those (hackable) walls from your floor plan. Now, you will view those living areas from a new perspective instead of planning solely what’s written on the floor plans,” Vanessa shared.
Read more on Yin Chong and Vanessa’s renovation experience.
2. Don’t be fickle-minded
For Hairul and Suyin, having a clear idea of the desired design is key to ensuring a smooth renovation journey. “We referred to Qanvast to get ideas for HDB homes. Before you meet your interior designer, have a clear picture in your mind of what you want. If not, there’ll be a lot of time wasted going back and forth over ideas,” advised Hairul.
And we totally agree; having to repeat your design requirements to at least 3 designers can be cumbersome, not to mention having to consider the various proposed different ideas from them. Stay grounded to what you like and the decision process automatically simplifies.
Get advice from Hairul and Suyin.
3. Plan For Power Sockets
Reflecting on an important detail they forgot whilst planning, Kelvin and Sharon remind fellow homeowners to plan the location and the number of power points when designing their homes. “We forgot to take this into consideration and the power points are either hidden behind our furniture or positioned too far from where we are usually seated. Now, Kelvin and I have to compete to use the power sockets when we want to charge our mobile phones in the living room.” – Sharon shared amid laughter.
Social urbanites who need to stay connected 24/7, this is an important point to take note!
Learn more about the renovation do's and don’ts from Kelvin and Sharon.
4. Do Your Research to Know What Works For You
Couple Xuan Rong and Angela who got their ideal home was determined to share their top secret to their success - “Start by doing some research and ask around about what works for others and what doesn’t. Also, get your interior designer to bring you to visit their completed projects or visit your friend’s homes so you can get a better idea of how your renovation will turn out.”
Xuan Rong and Angela tell their renovation story.
5. Get An Interior Designer Who Listens
For Dominic and Chloe, having a listening ear was one of the key factors they looked for when deciding on a designer. “It’s crucial that the interior designer listens to what you want,” they said. A good interior designer should be “one who takes in this information, understands, and then interprets the spaces to their best knowledge".
Taking a step further, the couple also gave their interior designer free will to design based on their requirements without having a budget to restrict the design planning. From there, they decided what was necessary and what wasn't. The result? A workspace that was unlike any.
Hear what Dominic and Chloe have to say.
6. Be Flexible With Your Budget
“Have a good buffer and don’t be too fixated on the budget”, recommends Kheng Hwee and Valerie, who highlight the importance of having a flexible budget. “Find a balance between what you can spend and the quality you are getting,” they advised.
Indeed, having to top up for quality works beats scrambling to tear down and/or repair sub-par works. Know the differences in what you are getting and weigh in factors like the frequency of the usage and the material durability.
Kheng Hwee and Valerie share more about their experiences.
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