How to Future-Proof Your Renovation
Make design decisions that will stay fresh through the years – and avoid renovator's remorse
Nadia Sakey
17 June 2016
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior Designer and House Doctor. Artist, colourist, and pragmatic creator of beautiful but practical spaces.
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior Designer and House Doctor. Artist, colourist,... More
The term ‘trend’ by definition is something that’s always changing, which means that today’s trends are often tomorrow’s regrets. Remember those fashion faux pas you’ve lived to regret? Leg warmers anyone? Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford to be fickle when considering a major home renovation: decorating mistakes don’t come cheap.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when renovating is to follow a trend. But there are ways you can future-proof ideas, starting from the planning stages through to the decorating. Whether you are planning a new build, renovations or extending an existing home, these future-proofing tips will save you time and money – as well as remorse – from the planning stages through to the finishing flourishes.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when renovating is to follow a trend. But there are ways you can future-proof ideas, starting from the planning stages through to the decorating. Whether you are planning a new build, renovations or extending an existing home, these future-proofing tips will save you time and money – as well as remorse – from the planning stages through to the finishing flourishes.
1. Plan ahead
Don’t get caught up with what you think looks good now. Sure, open-plan living looks appealing in glossy magazines, but it isn’t always practical. While it’s great to be able to keep an eye on babies while you manage daily chores, as the kids grow, you may need separate space to hide away their mess, or to let them watch a movie while you prep a meal. And the older kids get, the more their parents need a retreat.
Don’t get caught up with what you think looks good now. Sure, open-plan living looks appealing in glossy magazines, but it isn’t always practical. While it’s great to be able to keep an eye on babies while you manage daily chores, as the kids grow, you may need separate space to hide away their mess, or to let them watch a movie while you prep a meal. And the older kids get, the more their parents need a retreat.
Strategise before you start the project and plan multi-functional spaces. A renovation needs to meet your current needs and anticipate your future. Will you need a second living space, an area just for the children to play or a master retreat to escape the teenagers?
Are you likely to take in a parent or even a paying guest later on, meaning you might need to add another bathroom? Think about your home’s existing footprint and speak to an expert about creating cost-effective flexible spaces that allow your home to evolve.
Even if you can’t afford to extend your home now, create a plan that allows additions without undoing what you have already done. This is smart planning and will also appeal to buyers, should you wish to sell before carrying out those plans.
Design strategies for a future-proof bathroom
Even if you can’t afford to extend your home now, create a plan that allows additions without undoing what you have already done. This is smart planning and will also appeal to buyers, should you wish to sell before carrying out those plans.
Design strategies for a future-proof bathroom
2. Make your home perform
Some trends make sense and are wise investments for the future. Homes that prioritise healthy living, sustainability and efficiency are the fastest growing trends in New Zealand and Australian architectural design, and a direct response to the huge amount of existing ‘sick’ and under-performing homes, specifically a rash of poorly constructed homes in New Zealand that were recently proven to be far from weatherproof, and were therefore unliveable.
Smart homes will provide a good return on your investment. Before you talk to your architect, assess your home’s energy star rating, and wise up on what makes an energy star-rated home. Improvements can be as simple as increasing your thermal insulation, ventilation, water and energy efficiency, to more complex changes such as selecting the right building materials, recycling materials, maximising site positioning and solar gain.
Some trends make sense and are wise investments for the future. Homes that prioritise healthy living, sustainability and efficiency are the fastest growing trends in New Zealand and Australian architectural design, and a direct response to the huge amount of existing ‘sick’ and under-performing homes, specifically a rash of poorly constructed homes in New Zealand that were recently proven to be far from weatherproof, and were therefore unliveable.
Smart homes will provide a good return on your investment. Before you talk to your architect, assess your home’s energy star rating, and wise up on what makes an energy star-rated home. Improvements can be as simple as increasing your thermal insulation, ventilation, water and energy efficiency, to more complex changes such as selecting the right building materials, recycling materials, maximising site positioning and solar gain.
3. Prioritise function over form
Whether you are planning a house or just renovating a kitchen, be practical and give priority to function. Following trends, your house could be as pretty as a picture, but it’s all a waste of time and energy if it doesn’t perform at an optimal level. So, consider your home’s design and prioritise function over aesthetics. Efficient storage and ease of use are key to every room in the house, but are most especially important for a great kitchen design.
Whether you are planning a house or just renovating a kitchen, be practical and give priority to function. Following trends, your house could be as pretty as a picture, but it’s all a waste of time and energy if it doesn’t perform at an optimal level. So, consider your home’s design and prioritise function over aesthetics. Efficient storage and ease of use are key to every room in the house, but are most especially important for a great kitchen design.
A minimalist kitchen is a contemporary statement, but like most trends, this popular style may become less so in time. Aside from focussing on an efficient design for your kitchen, for example, invest in a well-made cabinetry carcass that will allow you to replace doors and accessories later on, should your tastes change.
How to customise a flatpack
How to customise a flatpack
Remember, bigger is not always better when you are renovating, and you are most likely going to be paying a per-square-metre rate to your builders. Create a layout determined by the way you and your family live on a daily basis.
Is a separate study and guest room really necessary? If overnight guests are infrequent but you need a space to work at home, why not install a pull-out wall bed (also called a Murphy bed) inside a cabinet in an office or study space, to accommodate visitors when necessary.
And bedrooms don’t need to be large spaces to serve multiple purposes either. They just need a little creative planning. Make use of all of the space you have available, including vertical space, to get the most of of every room in your home before considering whether or not you need to add on that coveted magazine-style extension.
4. Be style-savvy
Once you are confident that your new layout is efficient and future-proof, then you can start to get a little giddy about the individual personality you want to inject into the space. But stay focussed on your overall style and don’t be swayed by trends. When you decorate with a trend, that particular aesthetic tends to become inescapable – which will eventually become tiring to the eye.
Once you are confident that your new layout is efficient and future-proof, then you can start to get a little giddy about the individual personality you want to inject into the space. But stay focussed on your overall style and don’t be swayed by trends. When you decorate with a trend, that particular aesthetic tends to become inescapable – which will eventually become tiring to the eye.
Unlike current trends such as minimalism, metallics and moody colour palettes, style is individual and should be unique to you and your home. An independent approach combined with a balanced use of colour, shape and form is what creates the wow factor. A good interior designer will help you unearth what your style is and bring it to fruition without impressing their own style or trends.
5 signs that you need an interior designer
5 signs that you need an interior designer
If you are fixated on a particular trend or feature, consider limiting the application to items that can be easily changed – such as wall colour and wallpaper, accent pieces, tap ware and pendant lighting. This feature wall is printed on a wide-width reusable vinyl paper. It can easily be removed without damaging the walls if/when you grow tired of its clamour.
Keep big-ticket items such as kitchens, bathrooms and major pieces of furniture functional and classic, and invest in quality. Quality items are less likely to date.
5. Consider resale value
You might think this is your forever home, but you never know what the future will bring. You need to keep in touch with the market and your return on investment. Remember that house you didn’t buy because of the nasty blue kitchen and terracotta floor tiles? Point made. You do need to enjoy your home but don’t set yourself up to fail.
You might think this is your forever home, but you never know what the future will bring. You need to keep in touch with the market and your return on investment. Remember that house you didn’t buy because of the nasty blue kitchen and terracotta floor tiles? Point made. You do need to enjoy your home but don’t set yourself up to fail.
Prioritise a healthy, sustainable home with a practical and functional floor plan that allows room for growth and change.
A beautiful, magazine-worthy home can be achieved if you plan well. Choose only trends that make sense and add value relative to your investment, such as outdoor rooms. Always research materials, and be wary of untested systems in your climate.
And remember, cheap is often a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so if you are looking to renovate or even just redecorate, if you can’t afford to buy quality, you may be better off waiting until you can rather than settling for sub-par materials and workmanship.
And remember, cheap is often a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so if you are looking to renovate or even just redecorate, if you can’t afford to buy quality, you may be better off waiting until you can rather than settling for sub-par materials and workmanship.
When you can, choose quality materials that will stand the test of time, especially in flooring, which gets the most amount of wear and occupies the largest surface area. It’s also wise to keep colour schemes neutral, or restrict yourself to a natural palette on the whole, injecting interest and personality with smaller, interchangeable items.
And there you have it: a future-proofed style savoir-faire home with fantastic resale value.
TELL US
Have you managed to avoid trends during your home renovations? Share your experience and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Things You Can Do Now to Future-Proof Your Home As You Age
What Today’s Home Buyer Wants
Trend Forecast: Key Colours for 2016
And there you have it: a future-proofed style savoir-faire home with fantastic resale value.
TELL US
Have you managed to avoid trends during your home renovations? Share your experience and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Things You Can Do Now to Future-Proof Your Home As You Age
What Today’s Home Buyer Wants
Trend Forecast: Key Colours for 2016
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Great article, good to keep as a checklist when renovating, as it is very easy to get side tracked or carried away and then have regrets in the future.
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Stay on top of your renovation costs with the Home Remodel Costs Calculator Excel Template.
This spreadsheet is a helpful tool for planning, monitoring cost and payment status during renovation process.
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