Looking to start a project in your home? Before you jump into the demo, these are the questions to ask yourself when renovating a new space in your home.
Questions to ask yourself when renovating a new space in your home
what is the purpose of this room?
One of the first questions to ask yourself when starting a new project is what is the purpose of this room.
This may seem like a no brainer, and in most cases maybe it is. A bedroom’s purpose may be for sleeping and the kitchen for cooking meals. But taking the time to think through ALL the activities that may take place in the space will help you plan better and create a design that meets all of your needs.
For instance, maybe your bedroom will double as an office and you’ll need a desk or space to work and store office supplies. Maybe you want a cozy place to curl up and read that isn’t in bed. Thinking through all the use cases for the room will ensure that the space works best for you and as you intend to use it.
How do YOU want the space to feel?
Once you’ve defined the purpose of the room, next determine how you want the space to feel.
If it’s a bedroom you’re tackling do you wish the space to be peaceful and relaxing? Or maybe you want a room that energizes you. If you’re renovating your living room do you want the space to feel cozy, warm, and inviting?
Once you’ve determined the feel of the space it’ll be much easier to move forward with creating your design. The colors you choose, as well as the furniture and accessories, will help convey the feelings you wish to envoke.
What do YOU love about the space currently?
I love this question and yet I often find I forget to ask what it is I currently love about the space I’m getting ready to tackle. I think we’re often quick to start dissecting what we DON’T like and forget or even overlook the charm it may already have.
Taking the time to note the things you do love helps you identify elements of your style. It also helps lay the groundwork for the design of the space. Ensuring that the things you love are worked into your design scheme.
I feel like we’re all looking for ways to be more mindful and show gratitude each day for the blessings we do have. This question can help you focus on the good in your own home and find the joy that’s already there.
What don’t you like and want to change in the space?
I think this is the question everyone tends to lead with when renovating a new space in their home. It’s just natural, right?
Determining what you don’t like and want to change is the most obvious question to ask when kicking off a new project. It’s also pretty important in shaping the design of the room.
Thinking about what needs to change gets you to also think about how the space needs to work and function for you. Making it more likely that the end result will be something you love and meets your needs.
what can you change and what has to stay?
The next two questions go hand in hand with the above. Once you determine what you don’t like about the space and want to change, you need to decide if these are things you can change or if they have to stay for some reason.
An example would be a support column in the middle of a room. It may be something you would like to remove but if you don’t have another way to support the load, you may have to figure out how to incorporate it into your design.
When we were renovating our upstairs bath and replacing the subfloor, we learned that the bulkhead in our kitchen below was indeed concealing plumbing and vents. We wouldn’t be able to remove it, as planned, whenever we decide to tackle our kitchen renovation. A question that was pending and now answered, allows me to rethink and plan for with the design.
Learning what you can and can’t change, especially when it comes to larger, structural elements, helps you plan accordingly and be more intentional with your design.
What do you need in the space?
Another important question to ask yourself when renovating a new space in your home is what do you need in the space. When determining the purpose of your room you may have already started to figure some of this out.
As you start to think about the different ways in which you’ll use the room you’ll begin to create a list. Your list will not only include the furniture and accessories you’ll need but the layout and floorplan that’ll work best as well.
For example, If you’ve determined that in your bedroom you need a place to get work done and also a spot to read, you can then evaluate the space you have. Designing the best layout to achieve all of this. Creating separate or overlapping zones that work together to help you perform each activity.
In doing this you may also find that the space isn’t big enough to meet all your requirements. Better to find this out at the beginning/planning stages so you can revise and edit your designs as needed.
Does the space reflect you and your family and if not how can it be?
When you’re evaluating your space and figuring out what you like and don’t like it’s also important to ask yourself if the space is a reflection of you and your family and if it isn’t, how can you make it be?
Taking the time to create a space that truly reflects you and your family will result in a design that brings you joy and happiness every time you interact with it. You’ll actually want to use the room and in turn, it’ll be a space that energizes and recharges you.
Taking the time to ask yourself these questions before renovating a space in your home will ensure a thoughtful design
Taking the time to go through and answer each of these questions will help ensure you create a design you love AND one that meets your needs.
Do you spend time going through these or other questions before you tackle a renovation in your home?
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