Have you ever wanted to have your own home gym? What about an office for remote working, or a studio to paint or play music in? Many people decide to convert a spare room in their house to a more functional space, and it can transform their quality of life.
Renovating or converting a room allows you to make the most of your existing space, while creating an area for you and your family to be productive and improve your lives. Perhaps you have a basement or attic that is gathering dust. Or a spare bedroom that is empty now your adult kids have flown the nest. Whatever your situation, it makes sense to use this valuable real estate rather than keeping it as a missed opportunity.
But converting a room can be expensive, especially if you hire a professional to do the job for you, paying for their labour, time, and all the raw materials required. It would be so much simpler and cheaper if you could just do it yourself.
The good news is you can. There is no reason why you can’t learn the basic skills and techniques required to renovate a room and transform your home. Here are some tips to help you convert a room in your home into a brand new space.
Make a plan
Before you can start the conversion process, you need to have a clear idea of what you want the finished room to look like. You’ll know at this stage whether you are creating a new bedroom, a gym, an office, or something else. Decide what you want it to look like, and what furniture and other items you want it to have. This will dictate every subsequent step from flooring and wallpapering, to cladding and where you’ll need electrical outlets.
Clear it out
If your spare room is being used for storage, you’ll need to clear it out before beginning work. See this as an opportunity to give your home a spring clean. Rather than simply shift your junk from one room to another, go through your possessions and get rid of anything you don’t need. If you’re concerned about waste you don’t have to throw things out. You can take them to a charity shop or sell them online instead. Once the room is clear, you now have a blank slate on which to work.
Add flooring
If the room needs a new floor, it is possible for you to do it yourself. Start by ripping up the old carpet, wood or tiles you want to get rid of. Add a subfloor or underlay to begin with and then you can start installation. Carpet is easy, as you simply need to measure the space and buy the appropriate quantity of carpet tiles. Ceramic or porcelain tiles will require you to lay an adhesive on the floor before placing the tiles and then grouting the spaces between them. If opting for laminate flooring, you will find the job slightly more laborious as you need to ensure each plank is correctly spaced and sized. There are plenty of online tutorials that can help you with this process.
Decorate the walls
It’s likely the walls may need to be painted to give the room the desired effect. Choose a colour scheme that fits with your vision for the space. For example, if it’s going to be an area for relaxation then choose cool pastel hues like blues and pinks. But if you’re building a gym you might want bold, vibrant colours to pump you up. Once you have painted, add some artwork to the walls and other ornaments dotted around to make it feel like home.
Fill the space
It’s time to start filling the space with all the items it needs to fulfil its function. A home workout room will require plenty of gym equipment, as well as storage for smaller items and some speakers or a TV screen for playing music. A home office will need a desk, a computer, and an ergonomic office chair. It may take a bit of time before you find the right layout and configuration but when you do, you’ll be amazed that you converted the room all by yourself.
These are just a few tips to help you get started when converting a room in your house. There is plenty of information on Fresh Design Blog that will help walk you through tasks like wallpapering and decorating. If you are unsure about anything or there is any danger involved, such as dealing with gas or electrics, always call in a professional to do the job for you.
Featured image credit: Photo by HausPhotoMedia.com on Unsplash
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