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Beautiful home renovation ideas you'll love

Photo credit: Bert & May
Photo credit: Bert & May

From simple changes to new rooms from scratch, these home renovation projects will make your place a happier, more functional space...

Home renovation: Add a basement conversion

Photo credit: Catherine Gratwicke
Photo credit: Catherine Gratwicke

Extra space at home can bring huge value both financially and practically. Why not build downwards? A basement conversion can add up to 30% to your house price, as long as the build cost per square foot converts to less than the property value in your area measured by the same metric.

Converting an existing basement space will be much easier and cheaper than digging out a new one, so they are a good choice if you already have a cellar.

To keep a conversion below ground level from feeling dingy, build out in the area around your floor space, too. This will allow natural light to pour in, whether through a constructed wall with a doorway that leads to the garden, or through flat, skylight-style windows that sit on the level above.

Home renovation: Think about an extension

Photo credit: Mylands
Photo credit: Mylands

Extending outwards or sideways is an ideal way to create extra space on the ground floor. In this part of a property, communal areas work better than bedrooms, so have a think about what your home is missing when planning your extension.

If you have a three-bedroom house with only one reception room, for example, then another living area is likely to add more to both your house price and your lifestyle.

Similarly, creating an open-plan kitchen/diner that is flooded with natural light will make a much more practical and enjoyable hub for cooking, entertaining and relaxing than a small kitchen that could otherwise be opened up.

Most extensions also provide an entrance and exit to your home, ideal in larger properties and for giving additional access to the garden from your living space.

Home renovation: Retile your bathroom

Photo credit: Bert & May
Photo credit: Bert & May

To change your bathroom without completely overhauling it, consider retiling the space. New tiles will give a fresh look to your existing fixtures and fittings, giving you an updated bathroom without the hassle of ripping out and installing new sanitary ware.

Retiling is a relatively simple job, and most tradesmen will take only a couple of days to complete the work, depending on the dimensions of the room and how many tiles are used.

Choose a design that adds a sense of character to your space – try Bert & May for a beautiful selection of encaustic, glazed and reclaimed tiles in a mix of patterns and colours. Just like the ones above.


How to pay for a home renovation

If your savings don’t quite stretch as far as funding a home improvement project, then there area number of options you can consider:

  • 0% purchase credit card: if you have a good credit score, then you could take advantage of up to 20 months’ interest free credit for spending on smaller improvements. Take a look at comparethemarket.com for providers.

  • Personal loan: if you’re looking to spend thousands, you may want to consider a personal loan – you can compare rates at moneysupermarket.com

  • Remortgage: to fund major extensions, it could make sense to free up some cash from your home. Speak to your mortgage provider to discuss your options.



Home renovation: Move your bathroom

Photo credit: runna10 - Getty Images
Photo credit: runna10 - Getty Images

Bathrooms are typically the smallest rooms in a house and often relegated to functional status. In principle, any room can be transformed into a bathroom, so, if you have the luxury of space, why not create a dedicated suite for some spa-like indulgence?

Some rooms will be easier to convert than others, mostly dependant on the location of pipes (key for access to fresh water and to dispose of waste water) and ventilation, too – a professional will be able to advise.

If you do make the swap, the bathtub should be the focus of your room. Try the range at Victoria + Albert Baths for contemporary luxury, and the rotating collection at Nostalgia & New for one-of-a-kind designs.

Home renovation: Put your roof to good use

Photo credit: ANNA STATHAKI
Photo credit: ANNA STATHAKI

By utilising the areas of your roof that are otherwise redundant, loft conversions give extra space without taking it away from anywhere else. They allow you to create your own layout across the width and depth of your property, but roof height is key – while some odd dimensions are inevitable in a loft, ask a professional tradesman for a clear idea of what your property can achieve.

With an average cost of up to £40,000, be realistic about how you’ll use a loft conversion and don’t be afraid to re-think how you’ll live in each room downstairs as a result of the build upwards.

The sloping ceilings and skyward-facing windows in a loft make less sense in rooms for socialising and entertaining, for example, but they can be a real asset in spaces dedicated to relaxing, such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

Home renovation: Rethink your outside space

Photo credit: Mark Bolton Photography
Photo credit: Mark Bolton Photography

If the past year has taught us anything about our homes, it’s that outside matters just as much as in. Whether you have a petite balcony or acres of land, treat your outdoor space like the inside and give real thought to its design and decoration.

Just as you wouldn’t have a sub-par sofa in the sitting room, don’t let poor-quality furniture lower the tone of your garden.

Designed by the architects and interior consultants at Kitesgrove, this project shows that beautiful furniture elevates outdoor spaces. Upgrade your landscaping with weatherproof porcelain tiles (try Mandarin Stone) and, for a smart and elegant look that still allows green fingers to flex, fill pots generously with blooming flowers and manicured shrubbery.

Home renovation: Consider an outdoor office

Photo credit: Peter Cade - Getty Images
Photo credit: Peter Cade - Getty Images

With many of us working remotely more often, demand for permanent at-home working space is on the up. If you have a garden with room to spare, an outdoor office may be a better option than converting or extending your home.

As well as being far less disruptive to install, they often work out as a much cheaper upgrade than a full-on conversion. Consider exactly how much of your garden you’d be willing to lose and start from there – sizes of outdoor rooms can vary from miniature glass pods to generous, multi-purpose spaces.

To stop them from feeling like the poor relation, furnish outdoor rooms with rugs and armchairs, as well as a high-quality desk, and display artwork on the walls and books on shelves, just as you would an inside study. Try the experts at Green Retreats and Crane Garden Buildings.

Home renovation: Give your front door some love

Photo credit: Farrow & Ball
Photo credit: Farrow & Ball

Even before crossing the threshold, our front doors create an impression of the kind of property that lies within. Taking the time to make your entranceway look tip-top will make for a joyous welcome home, and re-painting the door is a simple way to upgrade it in just one day.

Start by removing the door’s hardware and giving it a polish, and then clean the door frame with a strong detergent. Next, scrape off any existing paint, sand the wood and apply your new colour – whether it be a traditional deep shade or a prettier rainbow hue, make sure it creates a pleasant welcome.

Shown here is fashion designer Anna Mason’s front door, painted in Farrow & Ball’s cheerful shade of Crimson Red.

This feature is taken from the June 2021 issue of Red, on sale now.

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