Planning a Renovation? Avoid This Mistake for a Better Result.
Renovating your home can be so involved and complex that it can quickly escalate from an exciting challenge to something a little bit scary – even chaotic! So let's talk about one easy way for you to make sure you stay in control and avoid costly errors.
Your interior should be planned before you start knocking down any walls
Plan Your Interiors Alongside Your Architectural Design
When you’re embarking on a renovation or building a new home, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of finalising floor plans, getting planning approval, and booking a builder. With so many big decisions to make early on, the interior design stage can often feel like something to tackle later, once the structure is underway.
However, the way your home feels and functions day to day depends just as much on its interior layout as on its architectural design. Thinking about how you’ll live in each space, how you’ll move through rooms, where light falls, how storage works, is crucial at the very start, not after the build is complete.
The kitchen is a perfect example. It’s often the heart of the home, yet small layout decisions made at the architectural stage can have a huge impact later on - from how easy it is to cook and socialise, to how much storage you have. Making those choices early ensures your home not only looks beautiful but works effortlessly for your lifestyle.
So while it’s natural to focus first on the structure and build, try to give equal attention to the interiors from the outset. Bringing your architectural and interior plans together from the beginning leads to a home that’s both well-designed and a joy to live in.
Plan the layout of your kitchen early on, so you know the structure of the room will work with the vision you have for the space.
A well-planned space addresses both interior design and the structural layout.
NAILING THE LOOK OF YOUR SPACE
It takes time to design a home, so make sure you don’t rush decisions and that you dedicate enough time to the task. A home is more than bricks and mortar.
Before and after photos from our Harpenden project
If you balance both the interior design and architectural plans from the beginning, you are setting yourself up for a successful and rewarding renovation. Plus you’ll get the benefit of your teams’ expertise.
We use SketchUp to show clients the vision for their home
Our top tips
1. Envision your end goal.
Before making any structural decisions, envision how you want your home to look and feel. Identify your design style, the purpose of each room, the desired atmosphere and the layout of the rooms. This way, decisions on window placement, door positioning, and other structural elements will be aligned with your vision and design goals.
2. Collaborate with professionals from the start.
Involve both interior designers and architects during the planning phase to ensure the flow of your architectural layout complements how you want the rooms to look. This way your team can work together to help you get the functionality and aesthetics right from the start.
3. Prioritise functional needs.
Consider the daily practical needs of your living space and how functional design ideas can make your life easier and more enjoyable. For example, how the right window placement can bring in plenty of natural light, well-planned storage solutions can declutter your home and a good flow will provide a harmonious connection between rooms.
4. Be prepared to adapt.
Unanticipated changes may arise during the renovation process. Not great, but it happens. Keep an open mind and be ready to adapt as needed to ensure a cohesive and functional result. This isn't an invitation to start changing your mind during the build. But it pays to be aware that challenges do arise and will need to be dealt with. Having a good architect, interior designer and builder by your side, makes it much easier to find a solution which doesn't compromise on the design.
In a nutshell, patience and thorough planning are the keys to a successful renovation - along with a lot of legwork. Which is exactly what we do, and why our clients seek our help. If you’re left wondering how an interior can help on your project, read our blog post on ‘5 reasons to hire an interior designer’.
Here's how we helped Rachel, our Harpenden client, achieve a gorgeous family home.
"Engaging Alison to help us through a substantial remodel and renovation of our family home was the best decision we ever made! Over the course of 16 months she transformed our home into a practical and beautiful space, and we are thrilled with the results!
Before commencing the project, Alison made sure we had a budget in place and provided advice on where to spend and save. As an interior designer she made sure the ‘bones’ of each room were perfect: layout, lighting, electrics, flooring, and cabinetry. Thanks to her expertise we avoided making costly mistakes and future-proofed our home by making good design decisions that will stand the test of time."
We take pride in creating family homes with personality and spirit.
To start planning your interior design the right way, get in touch and let’s chat.
We're here to help with everything - from spatial planning, kitchen and bathroom designs, lighting and electrical plans, right through to sourcing materials.
With our professional and friendly approach, we'll guide you through the process of creating a luxurious and functional interior design for your family home (alongside your architect!)
Find out more about our interior design and kitchen design services here.
