Homeowners Share Some of the BEST Reno Decisions They Made

Notes taken.

We’ve heard our fair share of renovation regrets over the years. And while it’s undoubtedly wise to learn from the ‘mistakes’ of others, the reverse is also true.

From crowd-sourced responses to anecdotes shared with us on home tours, here are some of the renovation decisions homeowners are glad they made – ones you may wish to consider when the time comes for you to renovate your home.

Investing in loose furniture (if you intend to move in the near future)

Built-ins are a good way to maximise space, particularly at odd corners and/or if you have specific needs that require custom furnishings.

But here’s the catch: if you do not see yourself staying at a given place for long, it may be prudent to channel some of your funds towards premium loose furniture instead.

“We spent about $40,000 on built-ins for our previous home. It was really nice with a huge kitchen island and floor-to-ceiling panels, but we couldn’t bring any of it over when we moved here,” homeowner Sam shares.

“So, this time around, we decided to invest in a few designer pieces like the Togo sofas and dining table instead. That way, we can bring them along with us if we ever move again.”

Not scrimping on premium and/or functional fittings

But of course, you’re still going to need fittings for your home. Think sinks, showerheads, toilet bowls and the like.

And based on multiple responses on Instagram, you won’t regret investing in premium and/or functional ones. For one, you’ll be using them everyday so you’ll need to make sure they last. For another, wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy a relaxing rain shower after a long day at work?

Paying attention to lighting

Back in the good old days of America’s Next Top Model, Tyra Banks always said that “light is your best friend.” That’s also true when it comes to interior design – not just for aesthetics, but for functionality and safety as well.

In this vein, homeowners Ernest and BB went through multiple iterations just to get the ‘right’ lighting for their family home.

Notably, smart lights with presets were added all around so that their home stays appropriately lit throughout the day/night. Case in point: cove lights along the walkway automatically turn on at bedtime, providing visibility and making it safe for their young kids should they get up in the middle of the night.
Even tiny details like internal cabinet lights were taken into account, making it easier to find what they’re looking for.

Having a kitchen island

If you’ve got a large or open-concept kitchen, having an island smack in the middle could very well become the best renovation decision you could make.

For homeowners Hamzah and Munirah, the kitchen island has become the heart of their maisonette in Yishun, around which family cooking sessions, meals and social gatherings take place. Needless to say, it’s also extremely functional as a space for food prep and storage, complete with a built-in dishwasher so there’s less cleaning up to do after all the fun!

Space planning with future-proofing in mind

Lastly (and we’ve heard this on many occasions), don’t just look at your current routines when planning your space. Think about how your household’s needs may evolve in the future as well, so as to avoid having to renovate again just a few years down the road.

A common example? Having kids down the line.

On working with his ID on space planning, homeowner Kenneth shares: “When you have a huge space like this, it’s very tempting to do additional works like glass partitions. But since we knew we wanted to have kids, we decided to keep it open for them to run around in the future.”

“We have been living here for a year (and have a kid along the way!) and we love how spacious and cosy the space is,” he concludes.

Make informed decisions for your home renovation

We’ll end off with a caveat though: your unique space and lifestyle needs are likely to differ from the homeowners above, so it’s ultimately best to discuss your requirements with a professional before making these decisions.

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