The real estate market can seem like a real obstacle course lately: multiple offers, home evaluations, financing… But you’ve finally found your new house. Congratulations! We’d all love to buy our dream house that requires no renovations or to have the means to complete all the work before we move in. But in reality, more often than not once we take possession of the house, we rarely have the money left over to make all the changes we dreamed of.
This last year allowed everyone to realize just how important it really is for our home to be our cocoon, our refuge. When moving into your new place, your challenge will be to create a space to your image, within your budget, as fast as possible.
The big steps
- 1st step: Do a big cleanup of the house. Not only will this give the space a breath of fresh air, but you’ll get to know your new home inside and out.
- 2nd step: Make a list of all the urgent renovations. Establish a budget and prioritize the improvements that are quickly possible.
- 3rd step: Think about your lifestyle… you have kids, you work from home, etc. This will allow you to target the rooms that need to be redone first.
- 4th step: Make an inventory of everything you own and imagine how you could rediscover your furniture and your home décor accessories.
- 5th step: Go through the renovation process one room at a time. This way, you’ll quickly see the results. Unpack and clean as soon as possible, so you’ll gain more space immediately.
Inspiration:
Paint:
- Painting your walls white will bring the various rooms together while giving a feeling of brightness. You can later choose an accent colour.
- Use tone-on-tone - paint one wall grey and place a piece of furniture that you’ve painted one shade lighter or darker against it. This method will unify each room while adding a bit of character.
- A coat of paint can bring new life to a faded piece of furniture. Your furniture isn’t the right colour? Go ahead, paint it!
Moldings and creativity:
- A wall with moldings forming geometric patterns is a great opportunity for depth: painting them both the same colour is an easy way to create an interesting relief.
- Use moldings to create multiple zones on another wall and paint each one a different shade of the same colour.
- In the master bedroom, strategically place moldings on the wall above your bed to create an attention-grabbing and unique headboard.
- Why not use some frames and hooks to make your entrance hall more dynamic?
Tell us about yourself:
- A wall of pictures - your life in images: portraits of you and your loved ones, travelling pictures, kid drawings. Display them in mismatched frames all painted the same colour. Use your imagination and inspiration to hang them creatively; anything is possible.
Windows:
- Live in the space in front of your windows: add a reading bench or a work desk. Any reason is a good reason to take full advantage of the vew. Hang extra long drapes on both sides to make the windows look bigger and give the whole space an impression of grandeur.
Certain rooms of your new house deserve special attention
A functional and welcoming kitchen:
- If necessary, add storage space in a creative way: a few shelves with glass jars will do the trick beautifully.
- Add a railing with multiple lights to specifically target work areas. A dimmer will allow you to create a more intimate atmosphere whenever you want.
- Add some stools to create the perfect environment for conversation and exchange.
- If the space allows it, an island is always a bonus in the kitchen. Don’t try to find one that matches your cupboards. Embrace the difference and play with contrast in style, colours, and materials.
Comforting bedrooms:
- Pay particular attention to lighting.
- Play with various fabrics to create a relaxing environment: on the headboard, cushions, or curtains.
- Let everyone choose images that inspire them and unite the varying themes by using frames of the same size to display them.
A dining room full of warmth
- An intricate lamp above your dining room table will immediately add character to the room.
- Paint all your mismatched chairs the same colour to create unity.
- Add a homemade booth seat: a well-fixed bench with multiple cushions.
A practical entrance hall
- Add storage space (shelves, hooks, a place to empty your pockets). A well-organized entrance will automatically make the area seem bigger.
The final touch
- Create your own home décor with things you actually use: a table centerpiece with a decorative tray containing utensils or a vase, a cutting board with a nice plant or a bouquet of branches you picked up on your property.
- Pay equal attention to creating a space that is yours in your backyard: an area to drink a nice hot chocolate in the winter or a refreshing apéritif in the summer. Here, you can give new life to a bench or a table. Add a few cushions and proper lighting and you’re ready to host your guests!
