An older home is a beautiful thing. They often come with a ton of character and charm. Unfortunately, older homes can also require some fairly dire repairs and upgrades. When renovating an old home, you have to balance keeping its natural charm and bringing it into more contemporary trends in home design.
Old homes can feel a little clunky in design. A huge part of renovating is redesigning according to space efficiency. This can often mean knocking out a wall and expanding the main living area, expanding a bathroom, or making the master bedroom larger. Look for storage opportunities as well, such as underneath sitting areas, in-wall storage, and kitchen cabinet upgrades.
Here are more ideas on how to renovate an old home to suit your tastes:
1. Your Kitchen
The kitchen will be a room with lots of ideas because there’s always a lot to renovate. You can buy new appliances, countertops, backsplash, cabinetry, and handles. It’s very easy to overspend here. If an old home hasn’t been renovated in many years, it’s almost certain that the kitchen will be somewhere that needs a thorough look and redesign.
2. Plumbing Fixtures
Things like bathtubs, showers, and sinks are probably going to need replacement. In an old property, plumbing is something you certainly will want to look at. It is very easy for pipes to eventually corrode or for there to be a possibility for future leaks. For any old home renovation, you should contact a professional plumber. They can do a thorough inspection, providing you with an accurate glimpse into what’s happening where you can’t see.
3. Light Fixtures
Your light fixtures are going to play a critical role in how an old home feels. You can choose to buy new fixtures or go all out and redesign your lighting. Accent lighting, for example, is not something a lot of old homes have. In-wall or in-ceiling lighting are both optimum ways to accent a room. There are lots of creative light designs that won’t conflict with an older home’s natural look.
4. Repurpose Old Materials
An old home is meant to have an antique vibe to it. There are lots of opportunities here to repurpose old materials, such as wood. You can sand it, stain it, and install it, as flooring, decorative exposed beams, or shelving.
You can do the same with certain metals and other materials that may otherwise be sent to the landfill. Think about what you might be able to bring in and redo to provide that sort of vintage feel. Also, remember that repurposing old, landfill-bound materials might also save you a hefty amount of money.
5. Don’t Do Your Own Demolition
Doing your own demolition work can save you lots of money. If it’s an exterior piece, such as a deck, it’s easy. If it’s an interior demolition, don’t do it. Some older homes are built in surprisingly unexpected ways. A person can very easily accidentally cut into wiring or pressurized plumbing or take out a load-bearing wall. As tempting as it can be to save money, hire a professional to get the demo done. You avoid all risks by doing so.
6. Save Money On Lookalike Materials
In renovation, there are many imitation materials, lookalikes, and synthetic materials that look just like something more expensive. With flooring, cabinetry, and millwork, a homeowner has lots of options regarding what material they use. Some cheaper materials will not necessarily appear that much different from their premium counterpart.
7. Don’t Move Your Plumbing
If you can help it, do not move any toilets or the kitchen sink. This will easily increase your plumbing old home renovation costs by a lot. Any new toilets or sinks will need new plumbing, which will have associated costs. If you know your current plumbing is in fair shape, moving or installing a sink or toilet will necessitate more of your budget.
8. Donate What You’re Taking Out
Connect with a charity organization, a local Habitat For Humanity, or a similar organization. Donate what you take out. Many of these old homes have lots of recyclable materials, from beautiful woods to fixtures and metals. If you’re going to throw them away, don’t let all that beauty go to the landfill. Give the items to a party that can make use of them. It’s salvageable and the right thing to do from an eco-friendly standpoint.
