One of the biggest hurdles that clients encounter when remodeling their home is making decisions. A lot of time and money goes into these projects, and you want to make sure it’s exactly what you envisioned. After all, you’re the one who has to live in the space. This can end up being one of the most stressful parts for clients, and understandably so. There are endless options to choose from for your paint colors, cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, tubs, faucets, flooring, and more. Not only that, you want to make sure that after you’ve made your decision, you don’t find something else you like more.
Although the team at Charleene’s Houses LLC reassures their clients that everything will turn out perfectly in their home remodel, clients should expect that these decisions will be a difficult part of the process. They should be prepared by coming into the experience with a certain level of anticipation of this, so decisions can be more easily made.
So how does one avoid getting overwhelmed by these choices? Here are 4 tips for minimizing the stress of too many design selections.
Get Inspired
The best way to get on the right track for making design selections is to first figure out what you want. This goes deeper than just knowing you want to remodel your bathroom. How do you want it to look and feel? Get inspired by looking at other designs. You might want to start by checking out ideas on Houzz, Pinterest,or Instagram, being extra observant when visiting the homes of friends and family, going to different showrooms, or even taking a look at our portfolio of work. All of these choices allow you to see the variety of options in the design universe that you may not have known about previously, and will help you get an idea of what you like and don’t like. Maybe you thought you hated white cabinets but saw them in a showroom kitchen and fell in love with how they looked. Or maybe you really wanted gold fixtures with your white cabinets but saw the two paired together in a photo and decided it isn’t the look you want.
It’s a good idea to hold on to these photos as well, so you have something concrete to show our designer. Be sure to take photos when you visit showrooms (of what you like and don’t like), save a project board on Pinterest or Houzz, and print out anything you find online.
Make a List of Priorities
With all the choices you’ll have to make, you’ll need to know what your must-haves are. So once you have your inspiration, create a list organized by priority. And not just one in your head. Write the list down on paper so you don’t forget anything.
It’s important to recognize that with all of the selections, some will be more important than others. For example, try not to let a paint color drive your decision making. Not only is paint color an easy thing to change, it isn’t quite as important as deciding between a farmhouse or double basin sink, for example. You should also prioritize the most permanent decisions first, such as the layout of the space and tile selections.
Choose a Budget and Stick to It
Figuring out your budget is a big one. The financial aspect of having a budget, such as what you’re willing to spend and can afford to spend, is the most obvious reason why you need one. But budgets can also help with making design selections. Selections don’t only involve what you like or don’t like — every piece of stone and type of material has a unique price. Granite or quartz countertops will cost more than laminate, for example. If you have your heart set on granite, you may have to consider this when making your list by modifying the lower-priority items if this selection takes up a large portion of your individual budget. Or, if you know granite is not within your budget, the selection is made for you.
Not only do you need to know what your budget is, you need to stick to it. This will also help keep the options to a minimum. If you’ve created a particular budget for what you want to spend on cabinet hardware, you already know you can rule out the more expensive ones, narrowing down your selection. If your inspiration included handles instead of knobs, your selection is narrowed down again. It’s much easier to choose between 3 or 4 choices than it is between 10 or more.
Listen to Your Gut, but Don’t Rush
There’s something to be said about first impressions, and making design selections for your home remodel is no exception. Don’t let the stress of making selections cause you to overthink it. Chances are, when you first saw it, you had a gut feeling on whether or not it was right for your space. But in the same vein, you don’t want to rush the decision either. It’s important to take your time to make sure you’re making the right choice.
When in Doubt, Trust the Experts
If you simply can’t make a decision, it’s okay to trust our designer to make it for you. By this stage in the process they will have a good idea of what you like or don’t like, but also what styles look best together. The team at Charleene’s Houses LLC prides themselves on being reliable and trustworthy to our clients. This includes letting you lean on us for our expertise.
We know it can be tough making these selections. A home remodel, no matter what room you’re changing, is a huge undertaking and something you want to make sure you get right the first time. You’re not expected to know the ins and outs of design, which is why you can count on our selection’s designer to help you minimize the stress of making design selections.
