New Year, New Place: Tackling Your Winter Renovation

Smiling couple leaning against a partially painted wall.

With a new year comes new year’s resolutions. A unique goal you can set for the year is to complete a home renovation. Not only will this make your home feel more comfortable and look more beautiful, but it will also increase its value. Throughout this blog, we’ll give you tips on how to tackle a home renovation, including how to use a self-storage unit to make space for renovations. 

Decide What You Want To Renovate 

Before you can start renovating, decide what projects you want to tackle. Determining exactly what you want to change will help you choose the next steps. Consider some of the following ideas for house refurbishment and improvement. 

Repaint Rooms in Your House

Homeowner looking at paint samples.

To give your home a fresh feel without putting in countless hours of work, consider repainting your home or even just one room. Adding a fresh color to your home can give it an entirely new feeling and be a great first step toward redoing your space.

Update or Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

A 2022 study conducted by Houzz, a home renovation magazine, found that kitchens and bathrooms receive the most attention when it comes to home improvement projects, and we can understand why. Since we use the bathroom and kitchen so often, it’s only natural to want to spruce them up. If you want to revamp your kitchen, consider painting or updating your cabinets. You can find paints specifically made for cabinets at most hardware stores.

Replace Light Fixtures and Faucets

A great fix for an outdated bathroom is replacing light fixtures and faucets. You could try a modern LED tube or some vintage sconces to give your bathroom a whole new feel. 

Because replacing light fixtures requires electrical work, you may want to hire a professional electrician. If you opt to DIY, proceed with caution and make sure you turn off the power to avoid getting shocked. 

Add Smart Technology to Your Home

One home improvement project that can truly make your life easier is adding smart technologies to your home. You may opt for smart lighting that can turn on by voice command or sync your lights with the sunrise and sunset. Alternatively, you can add a smart display to your living room or kitchen, which can play music and videos, check the weather, or even host video calls.

Develop Your Vision

Before you start your project, create a vision for what you want your home to look like after you finish renovating. Use an online platform, like Pinterest, to create a vision board or create one on paper. A bit of online research can also help you come up with some ideas for renovating your house. With the help of an exciting vision, you’ll be well motivated to finish your project.

Set a Budget for Home Renovations

Homeowner uses a calculator to develop a budget for a home renovation project.

Another crucial step to take as you prepare to renovate your home is to set your budget. Consider your salary and any savings you may have to complete the projects you have planned. As you budget, get estimates for projects you’ll need to hire professionals for and compare them to get the best value.

Apply for Any Necessary Permits

Some home renovation projects require permits to ensure that any renovations don’t pose threats to current or future residents. Projects that require permits will vary depending on your state and county, but generally include:

  • Adding a bathroom to your home
  • Constructing additions like decks and sheds
  • Changing your home’s footprint by expanding
  • Major plumbing and/or electrical work

To determine if you’ll need a permit or to apply, check out your local city hall’s website. Keep in mind that the application may require a small fee.

Establish a Home Renovation Timeline

As you plan for your renovation, set a goal for when you’d like to finish the projects you have planned. Different projects will take different amounts of time. Here are some project timeline estimates.

  • Painting. This can take anywhere from a weekend to a few weeks.
  • Installing smart technology. This will only take one day or a weekend.
  • Redoing a single room. This can take anywhere from one to 12 weeks.
  • Adding a deck. This can take around one to four weeks.
  • Renovating an entire home. This can take four to six months or more.

You’ll also want to consider the time of year and season for renovation. Many homeowners have wondered, “is winter the best time for a home renovation?”. The answer is yes! Many contractors have fewer projects during the winter, making it easier to find the professionals you may need to complete your renovation. You may also avoid peak pricing for these services, which usually occurs in spring and summer when more homes are bought and sold.

Clear Out Furniture for Your Remodel

Couple moves a yellow armchair out of their home to prepare for a renovation.

As you prepare to renovate, a vital step is to move furniture out of your home so it doesn’t get damaged or ruined during your renovations. This is especially important if you’re planning to paint or make other significant changes to your home or hiring contractors or other professionals for your renovation.

Get Residential Storage for Your Renovation at MyPlace Self-Storage

When you need renovation storage, MyPlace is here to help. We offer affordable and reliable personal storage in several locations across the country. Thanks to our convenient month-to-month leasing, you can make our storage units work for you, whatever timeline you follow for your home projects. We’re the perfect option if you need temporary storage during renovations.

Need more information on our storage options? Check out our FAQ page, or contact us with any questions. Rent a large storage unit online today and get the storage you need to move forward with your renovations and spruce up your home! 

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