“I wish I didn’t know now…” Ah, the old “ignorance is bliss” chestnut.
It is sage wisdom in some respects. I truly wish I didn’t know how to download social media apps, as I would spend my day in far more productive ways (all respect, TikTok moms). But when it comes to home improvement, I would give anything for a slice of the knowledge I have now before we started any of the nine (yes, you read that right) remodeling projects we have done on our home.
From kitchen makeovers to master bedroom expansions, keep reading for some of my top lessons learned from redesigning our house.
You Take How Much You Use a Space for Granted
We had a meticulous plan for every one of our renovation projects. The budget was down to the cent. The contractors were in place. All materials were accounted for.
The one factor that never ceases to amaze me is how much we underrated displacement. Every. Single. Time.
When we redid the kitchen, we thought we could get by with cereal bars for breakfast, eating out for lunch (our kids were at school and we both worked at the time of our kitchen renovation), and heading to my parents’ for dinner.
This lasted for all of 48 hours before we were all going crazy. We spent as much on takeout and Door Dash as we did the renovation. And that’s only a slight exaggeration, since the project lasted nearly two months.
The home office conversion is another story. We had a small, seldom-used fifth bedroom. We decided to convert it to a home office, as my husband had recently been given the opportunity for a hybrid work set-up.
I never knew how much junk we kept in that fifth bedroom. It somehow felt like the stuff we had crammed in there was going to force us to pitch a tent and sleep on the lawn. If I had it to do over again, I would rent a small storage unit and residential dumpster to keep all of the clutter out of the way while the transformation was taking place.
Lesson learned: no matter how seamless you feel like the renovation will be, having an area of your home out of commission can never be underrated.
Upgrading the Kitchen Countertops Is the Best Decision Ever
Back to the fabled kitchen renovation that had us digging deep for fast-food coupons before it was all said and done.
I will go on record to say that it was 100% worth it. I wouldn’t give up my kitchen for anything. Open concept, with a large island and farmhouse sink. New luxury vinyl tile flooring that does not stain anything like our old linoleum. Energy-efficient appliance with twin ovens, one for my baking and one for day-to-day cooking.
With that said, the one feature that stands tall above the rest is the upgraded countertops. Replacing our old laminate with elegant granite instantly transformed our kitchen from something found in a bargain rental listing to the epicenter of a modern family home. Although I may be biased, I truly believe the best stone for kitchen countertops is granite. It has handled the heavy-duty needs of my family for eight years now. Even though we don’t seal the surface as often as we should, an onlooker would never notice. The granite countertops look as classy and timeless as the day it was installed.
Lesson learned: although they may not be the “sexiest” part of the kitchen, the countertops are without a doubt the most important.
Soundproofing Is Not As Scary As I Thought
Without dating myself too much, 90’s grunge rock reached its peak at a rather impressionable time in my life. Although I am not a musician myself and am rather indifferent to grunge (yes, I can feel your eye rolls), I had several friends who were set on being the next Nirvana.
What still strikes me to this day is not their music (sorry, old friends), but how they had stapled egg cartons to their garage walls to keep from driving their neighbors crazy.
It wasn’t until we had an infant that couldn’t sleep through the night that I was disabused of the notion that egg cartons were the key to soundproofing. I just assumed that our baby was going to cry herself to sleep each night in a box of corrugated cardboard.
Thankfully, modern options are far more stylish. Sound proof doors come in oak and metal options that blend seamlessly with interior design schemes. In addition, innovative acoustic panel art approaches complete soundproofing with as little as 15% wall coverage. It uses a fiberglass or mass-loaded vinyl core wrapped in a decorative fabric. Disney princesses were the theme for our daughter’s room.
She still thinks they are posters to this day.
I hope she is not reading this.
Lesson learned: there is a modern material or solution that makes nearly any design idea possible.
Our Needs As Homeowners Are Constantly Evolving
It is pretty common knowledge that needs change as homeowners. But I feel like this is always biased toward growing families.
Finding sleeping space for an infant. Toddler-proofing kitchen cabinets. Getting a chest freezer to store food in bulk.
However, it truly surprised me how much evolving needs are far more all-encompassing. The office renovation was a great example. At the time we bought the house, we never dreamed my husband would have the chance to work at home on Mondays and Fridays. Then there were the shower grab bars after my knee surgery. I had that tucked away for something to get on the radar for our golden years. Other renovations that sort of snuck up on me were the patio floor makeover, garage insulation to accommodate our workout arrangement, and energy-efficient low-E windows.
Lesson learned: you never know what your priorities as a homeowner will be in the future.
Lessons Learned: What I Wish I Knew Before Remodeling Our Favorite Areas
With nine home renovations under our belt, the lessons I know now would have served my younger self well. From never taking your space for granted to keeping an open mind toward evolving wants/needs, consider my lessons learned to help you on your home improvement journey. For more of the latest family and lifestyle trends, explore the content at BoredMom.com for ideas and inspiration!
