Home Renovation Basics: A Comprehensive Guide to Budget, Style, and Material Selection

Home Renovation Basics: A Comprehensive Guide to Budget, Style, and Material Selection
Author Kevin Anderson

By: Kevin Anderson

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Category: general

Reasonable Planning of Renovation Budget A renovation budget is the cornerstone of the entire project; reasonable planning can avoid overspending and the hassle of additional charges later. Generally speaking, renovation costs are divided into three main parts: hard furnishing costs (labor + auxiliary materials + main materials), soft furnishing costs (furniture, curtains, lighting, decorations), and home appliances (air conditioners, kitchen appliances, sanitary ware, etc.). There's a saying in the industry: "Budgets are a bottomless pit, planning determines everything." It's recommended to initially allocate funds in a 2:2:1 ratio, i.e., 40% for hard furnishings, 40% for soft furnishings, and 20% for home appliances, while reserving 10%-20% of the total budget as a contingency fund to cope with unforeseen expenses. Regarding renovation methods, semi-package (homeowner purchases main materials, contractor is responsible for auxiliary materials and labor) is suitable for homeowners with some time and energy; full package (renovation company handles both labor and materials) is worry-free but requires strict review of the quotation; and labor-only package (homeowner purchases all materials, only hires workers) is the most economical but the most time-consuming and labor-intensive. Regardless of the method chosen, all items should be clearly listed before signing the contract to prevent malicious additional charges later.

Analysis of Mainstream Interior Design Styles The interior design style determines the overall atmosphere and living experience of a home. When choosing a style, personal preferences, apartment layout, and practical functions should be considered. Modern minimalism is characterized by clean lines, neutral tones, and functional design, emphasizing "less is more." It's suitable for small apartments or those seeking a clean and uncluttered feel, is timeless, and cost-effective. Nordic style emphasizes natural light, light wood grain, comfortable fabrics, and greenery to create a warm and comforting atmosphere, especially beneficial for well-lit apartments. New Chinese style blends traditional Chinese elements (such as latticework and landscape paintings) with modern materials, emphasizing symmetry and negative space, suitable for larger apartments or families with a strong cultural background. Light French style has become popular in recent years, creating an elegant and romantic feel through plaster moldings, arches, carvings, and low-saturation colors. Industrial style retains concrete walls and exposed pipes, combined with metal and leather elements, suitable for loft apartments. In addition, there are Japanese natural wood style, American retro style, etc. It is recommended to collect inspiration images through home decor apps (such as Xiaohongshu, Zhuxiaobang) to maintain a unified style and avoid excessive mixing and matching that looks cluttered.

Key Points for Material Selection: Decoration materials directly affect the health, durability, and later maintenance costs of the living space. Water and electricity materials are the most important of the hidden works. Choose reputable brand copper core wires for electrical wires (such as Qifan, Panda), and PPR antibacterial pipes for water pipes (such as Weixing, Rifeng). Apply waterproof paint at least 2-3 times and conduct a water tightness test; this part of the budget should not be skimped on. For flooring materials, ceramic tiles are durable and easy to clean, suitable for living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. When choosing through-body tiles or glazed tiles, pay attention to their anti-slip properties. Wooden floors are warm and comfortable, suitable for bedrooms. Solid wood composite flooring is more stable than pure solid wood and offers better value for money. For wall materials, you can choose latex paint (environmentally friendly and easy to repair), wallpaper (good texture but pay attention to the environmental friendliness of the adhesive), or artistic paint (unique effect but high price). Board material is the core of custom furniture. Pay attention to environmental protection levels; the national standard ENF level is the highest, followed by E0. Particleboard offers good value but is slightly less moisture-resistant. Multi-layer boards are suitable for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, while solid wood finger-jointed boards are environmentally friendly but prone to warping. When purchasing, remember: environmental protection first, practicality second, and aesthetics third. Ask for a test report and keep a sample for verification.

Renovation Process and Avoidance Guide Renovation follows a standard process; understanding it will give you peace of mind. It generally consists of: Preliminary Design (measuring, design plan, budget) → Main Demolition and Alteration (wall demolition, wall construction, plaster removal) → Plumbing and Electrical Work (grooving, pipe laying, wiring; be sure to take photos) → Masonry Work (pipe wrapping, waterproofing, tiling, grouting) → Carpentry Work (ceiling, feature wall, custom cabinet installation) → Painting Work (wall preparation, latex paint) → Finishing Installation (switches, sockets, lighting fixtures, sanitary ware, doors, flooring, kitchen appliances) → Soft Furnishings. Key points to avoid common pitfalls include: Don't pay large sums too early; pay only after each phase of inspection and acceptance; calculating plumbing and electrical work based on actual meters can easily lead to overspending, so try to get a fixed price or agree on a maximum limit; leave gaps between tiles to prevent warping due to thermal expansion; ensure accurate measurements for custom-made furniture, especially for embedded appliances; formaldehyde mainly comes from boards and adhesives, so it's best to ventilate the space for a summer after renovation before moving in. Remember, renovation is an art of imperfection; focus on the essentials and prioritize core functionality and environmental compliance over perfect details.