Whether you are updating your home, fixing a poor design, repairing major damage, or creating a new look, renovation projects are complicated processes that involve many steps. Careful planning is in order, as is a clear vision of the end result. Home Artisans of Indiana members share their recommendations, tips, and advice from start to finish to help you plan a successful project.

Define Your Goals: Don’t start tearing out your walls before understanding what your project is supposed to achieve. Whether you want the end to result in a larger space, an updated style, or better functionality, knowing your goals will help you create a process that reaches them.

Home Artisans member David Decker, The Affordable Companies 

Create a Design Scrapbook : If you are going to hire a team of home improvement professionals, you will find that visual examples are best at communicating your vision. The more pictures and color samples you can find the better—your professional team can literally see what you want. Websites like Houzz and Pinterest are great sources for gathering visual references, but you can pull from anywhere, or even take your own pictures.

Home Artisans member David Decker, The Affordable Companies

Share Your Budget: Creating a budget is the first step in avoiding overspending; sharing your budget with your contractor is the second. Communicating what you want to spend at the start will eliminate the tedious back and forth that occurs when your contractor does not know the available resources. Furthermore, a reputable company will take your budget seriously and maximize the value of what you get from what you spend.

Home Artisans member David Decker, The Affordable Companies

Rethink Your Lighting: Your newly renovated space may no longer have adequate lighting, or it may be that it was not well lit to begin with. So, while you’re at it, try a new lighting scheme! How you will use the space determines what lights are best for it. Can lights and chandeliers provide ambient lighting for relaxing and dining. Under-cabinet lights or pendants brighten work spaces. Decorative lighting can help you create atmosphere in a stylish space. Explore your options—layered lighting best illuminates home interiors.

Home Artisans member Tracey Leeper King, Indiana Lighting Center

Consider Future Storage Needs: If you didn’t have enough storage in the first place, renovating is a good time to design around how to best store your stuff. Reorganizing and finding more effective solutions can create even more free space. Consider your current pieces and finishes, like flooring, cabinetry and paint, to ensure your storage options will compliment them. For the best result, consider future storage needs too, so you never run out of space.

Home Artisans member Erin Moore, California Closets

Check Your Utilities Plan: Having your renovation plans looked over by plumbing and electrical professionals will help you avoid expensive blunders. Changing bathrooms and kitchens, or adding new appliances and lights, can greatly affect the underlying plumbing and electrical systems in your house. Your design may require a different electrical load and configuration, or plumbing relocation.

Home Artisans members David Burtner, Burtner Electric and Cathy Stegemoller, Steg Plumbing

Plan for Aging-in-Place: Want to stay where you are for the long-term? Consider how your renovation design can make your house more accessible. Are you rebuilding a doorway? Making it 32’’ to 36’’ wide will accommodate a wheelchair. Are you installing a custom shower? Including blocking behind walls will make it easier to install a grab bar in the future. Aging-in-place tools on the current market offer a variety of styles and decorative options, matching and complimenting the look of your home.

Home Artisans member Kent McCool, Home Safe Homes

Schedule Cleaning and Disposal Early: Before your project begins, make sure to schedule a residential dumpster to make hauling and disposing of your tear-out and material scraps easy. Also, to make room for equipment, clean your house before the project starts. Then, after the project is over, have the house professionally cleaned top to bottom to get rid of all the renovation dust.

Home Artisans members James Spink, Bin There Dump That and Christina Garten, Christina’s Complete Clean

Have questions about your renovation project? Check out our Members page for more home improvement resources.

Image courtesy of Home Artisans member The Affordable Companies