Many people can’t afford to build their dream house. Getting enough funding, planning the construction, and anxiously waiting for the building to finish is enough to stress out any hopeful individual. The good news is, you can always choose the cheaper route of renovating your current home on a budget. This way, you no longer need to sell your home and through the mortgage process again. You won’t even need to leave the neighborhood you have come to love just to build your dream home.
What to Consider Before You Get Started
Many homeowners were able to upgrade their existing home into their dream house. You too can do the same with enough planning and budgeting. But before you go on with the renovation, start with your family’s habits, lifestyle, and future plans.
Study your family’s current lifestyle. Which rooms do all the members of your family use the most and what can you do to improve each one? What do you like to do and how do you spend your time in each one?
It is also important that you consider your plans for at least 2 years from now. Do you want to spend more time outdoors or maybe you want more space where you can entertain guests? Or maybe you plan on growing your family in the next few years?
Asking these questions can help you decide which projects you can focus on. This enables you to prioritize projects that make more sense. You get to avoid spending more money on areas you won’t even get much use for.
For instance, you plan on accommodating more people inside your home. It only makes sense to focus on increasing the living space. Recreating your yard, adding additional seating, and possibly investing in functional and multipurpose furniture would make better sense than building a gaming room out of your basement.
Doable Projects When Rebuilding Your Dream Home
If you are having a hard time thinking of renovation projects, here are some approaches you can consider.
Add or Reinvent Your Porch
A charming porch can easily add curb appeal to your home. It can make your house stand out from a distance and make it look more inviting to your visitors. You can use this area to chill during lazy afternoons and in accommodating guests.
If you already have a porch, you can freshen the space up by painting the front door. Invest in comfy outdoor furniture and add new cushions. Consider installing a ceiling fan to keep bugs away and boost your comfort level when settling on your porch.
Add a few personal touches like your favorite plants and ornaments. You can even go the extra mile by ordering a custom-made doormat online to greet your family and guests. Don’t forget to add a bit of exterior lighting to make the space look even more attractive.
Open up Your Floor Plan
If you want your home to look bigger but don’t have the budget to add a room or two, considering opening your floor plan. Tear down walls to make the space bigger and wider. This helps eliminate pass-through walls that only make cleaning the house a lot less fun.
Opening a floor plan is a good way to make your favorite room in the house stand out. This allows more natural light to enter your home and easily connect your outdoor and indoor space. This also makes it easier for you to watch over the kids while you do your chores or entertain guests.
If you are considering this option, make sure to keep the following considerations in mind.
- The safety of your little ones
- The structure of your home
- Which rooms you want to connect
- How the space will work for the whole family
- How you plan on redesigning the now connected rooms
- Storage, structural and electrical considerations
Improve the Kitchen
Do you or your family cooks and bakes a lot? Do you often eat in the kitchen area as a family? Or maybe you want your family to start eating healthier foods in the future? Then this only means a kitchen renovation is in order.
One doesn’t necessarily need a full-blown kitchen renovation just to make it work. Just focus on the areas that require the most improvement. Take a closer look at your kitchen and you can easily find the things you don’t like and could use some improvement.
For one, you can start with giving your old but still usable kitchen cabinets a makeover. Give your backsplash a new color, add a bit of under cabinet lights, and upgrade your hardware and fixtures. If you have more budget to splurge, go for energy-efficient appliances to replace your old ones.
A tight budget does not necessarily mean you can now scrap the idea of building your dream home. You can always renovate your current home to make it look and feel like your dream home. With a bit of creativity and solid planning and budgeting, you can turn your humble abode into your dream house.
