Renovating your home can be extremely stressful as you give up your territory and home conveniences for weeks - even months. Use these tips on organising and planning to keep the project on track and minimise disruption to your work and family life.
1. Create a separate folder for each contractor so there's no need to hunt around for the relevant documents at each discussion.
2. If you're doing painting work, ask for leftover paint for future touch-ups. Remember to label the tin with the room the paint is used in and date. Add a lick of paint to the lid so you can identify the colour without having to prise open the can, which dries out the contents.
3. Electrical trunking should be run before painting or wallpapering so you can blend it in with the wall colour. It should be wide enough to house at least four cables so your brand new decor isn't spoilt by unsightly wires crisscrossing the walls.
4. Factor in more electrical plugs than you think you'd need. With most household appliances requiring electricity or charging, you don't want trailing extension leads should you add a new massage chair or lamp.
5. Time and budget are huge considerations in any upgrading. If you want to save time, use off-the-shelf dimensions for features such as doors and storage systems instead of custom-building them.
6. We spend 60 per cent of our time in the kitchen around the sink, so plan its placement first. As a guide, stand with your arms straight down by your side and turn your hands up at right angles. This is where the bottom of your kitchen sink should be. Add the depth of the sink, and this marks the ideal working height for counters.
7. If you're home during the renovation period, carve out an oasis for yourself. Use a room that will remain relatively untouched by the chaos and put in whatever you need (your laptop, kettle, yoga mat, earplugs etc.) to keep yourself sane during that time. Keep all your renovation files, valuables and chargers in this spot, too.
8. Be prepared and make your renovation choices beforehand. Try to buy everything in advance. If that's not possible, schedule a time each day to make outstanding decisions with your spouse/family to keep within your schedule.
9. Be nice and tell the neighbours. They'll be more accommodating about the extra vehicles in the parking lots and the inevitable noise and dust.
Information provided by Georgina Wong
Find out more at http://www.asianprofessionalorganisers.com/
