Remodeling your home is no small feat, and while you may be already eyeing up the palettes and tones, textiles and fabrics that you intend to use for your interiors scheme, they are the window dressings. You’ve got bigger fish to fry before you reach that stage – while your home is stripped back, the decisions that you make at this initial stage will impact on the usability and function of your home.
Most folks opt for professional help, typically via contractor or builder (check out some reputable remodel experts at https://www.consumersadvocate.org/). On the other hand, those with a DIY spirit and a little effort can tackle a remodeling project on their own depending on the complexity of the project.
Get connected – We live in a digital age, and innovations and new technologies are almost a daily occurrence. You need to future proof your home so that you can make full use of any technologies that are on the horizon. You can continue to rely on your wi-fi, but in comparison with the power of Ethernet options, you will have a slower and less dependable connection.
You need to spend time to assess where you will need the Ethernet cables, and think ahead to the future. Your small children don’t need internet access right now, but time soon goes by, and when they are teens, you will not want to start damaging walls to house the cables. You may want to introduce a home security network, or a smart grid for your appliances so that it is possible for them to be programmed to use during lower electrical cost periods; the list is endless.
Light it up – Rooms tend to be multifunctional, and the lighting that you choose should be able to support you in whatever you are doing in the room – whether reading a book (task lighting), watching a movie (dimmed lighting) or perhaps you want a piece of art illuminating (accent lighting). The lighting you choose for staircases is obviously important, and should be controlled from both the top and bottom of the stairwell. It’s a good idea to get professional advice and installation for your lighting solution. The distinction between a domestic and commercial electrician has blurred – the commercial professionals are used to utilizing light as an important tool to really enhance architecture and features and their knowledge and skills translate well into a domestic setting.
Plugs – Plugs are not the first thing that springs to mind when you think about a remodel. However, the success of your remodel is all in the detail. To avoid the need for excess cables and power bars, you need to have enough electrical outlets to cope with the demand. Think about how you will use the room and where a plug should go to be most convenient. For example, if you want under-counter LED lights in the kitchen, you will need a power point to support them. If you have a space that you are going to do the ironing in, make sure that you have a plug at a good height so that you don’t need to keep bending down. A remodel is the perfect opportunity to implement small changes that will make a big impact on how you use a room. Get copies of the house plans and have one for each of the categories above so that you can give contractors a clear map of what you want to achieve.
