The renovation decisions you’ll thank yourself for making early

A renovation is a long and sometimes daunting project. At Bethell Projects we are, of course, with you every step of the way to support, advise and assist. Whilst it is perfectly normal to change your mind about certain things as the project moves along, there are a few key decisions that can save you both time and money if you commit to them early in the process.


1. Finalise your electrical plans early. In order to get this right you need to know where the furniture is going, so this is the order that works for me:

*Decide how you are going to use each room.

*Decide on the furniture layout (so that sockets etc are not blocked and are situated conveniently).

*Plan the electrics so that you have sockets, switches and lighting where you need them.

(You can have these things moved but you will pay twice, so give yourself time to think this through before committing).



2. Choose your flooring. Your build team will want to know the type and thickness of your chosen flooring quite early on, as this has an impact on doorway openings. We are delighted to work with you on this and work with some superb suppliers of all types of flooring - 

Wooden

Parquet

Tiling

Carpets/Runners/Rugs



3. Heating & cooling - you will need to know from the start whether you are using an existing or new gas boiler or if you are going down the heat pump route. If you want aircon, tell your build team from the beginning to avoid channeling through beautifully plastered walls! You'll also need to know whether you prefer to use radiators or underfloor heating. Technical decisions such as these might seem a little overwhelming at first, but with our support we will find what works best for your home.



4. Finally, if you can't stretch to renovating your whole property, prioritise the areas that will make the most difference and where you spend most of your time. For a lot of clients that means the kitchen comes first, while the entrance hallway also has a huge impact on the property's first impressions. Why not spend a week or two documenting how long you spend in each area of the house, or think about which areas you most enjoy relaxing in?