• Red Cottage VIP Printable Library
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Red Cottage Chronicles

All Things Home

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Legal Stuff
  • Recipes
    • All Things Sweet
    • Appetizers and Dips
    • Mains and Sides
    • soups & salads
    • vegan/vegetarian
  • Around the Home
    • Housekeeping/Homemaking
    • Home Decor
    • Tablescapes
    • flowers and wreaths
    • gardens
    • Seasonal, Holidays & Special Occasions
  • DIY
    • One Room Challenge
    • Thrift Store Upcycle Projects
    • Seasonal, Holidays & Special Occasions
    • DIY Renovation Projects
  • Lifestyle
    • Explore Niagara
    • Family
    • health and well being

Around the Home DIY

The Zen of a Home Renovation Project

Are you thinking I am out of my mind?  That Zen and Home Renovation are oxymoron’s!  I can assure you that a home renovation project does not have to be a stressful experience if you follow a few simple steps.

This is a lesson I learned last year when I participated in the One Room Challenge and renovated our living room last year, complete with DIY plywood plank floors!  I made the entire experience far more stressful than it had to be.  I am surprised my husband is still talking to me!

Here a few tips to ensure your next DIY home renovation project is more Zen-like experience than a project leaving you wanting to pull your hair out and not speaking to your significant other.

I will be using our den as an example, as we have just started to renovate that room and reclaim the space as living space instead of the storage space it has morphed into.

1.  Have a realistic (and somewhat flexible) timeline

 den before

I really, really wanted to do this room for the One Room Challenge this year.  The problem is that the challenge requires you to complete your room in six weeks.  (at least finished for the most part).

When I had a hard look at the space I knew there was no way could we finish in 6 weeks given the scope of work required.  To do it right, we realized the room is far too cold and not properly insulated.  This is going require that we tear out the exterior walls, re-insulate and re-finish.  Trying to get it done in six weeks was unrealistic and would have surely made it less than Zen!

2.  Have a Plan 

Reno list

Until my living room reno last year I was a “fly by the seat of my pants” kinda girl.  I had a vision in my head of how it should come together but never took the time to right it down.  We had more than a few disagreements along the way. Lesson learned.

Our plan for this project has come together with little notes I have jotted down as I think of them, and then Tim and I sat down and put each task in order that made sense to us.  This will serve as a road map from start to finish.

3.  Have a vision and create a vision board

 Den Vision Board

1.  Pottery Barn  2.  Ikea  3. Dash & Albert  4. Ikea  5.  (shiplap walls)Apartment Therapy  6 Magnolia Farms  7.  School Electric & Supply Co.

 Since this will be Tim’s space (or so I am letting him believe!) I want to keep a rustic, industrial, cottage vibe.  Not feminine but not overtly masculine either.

Having a vision board keeps me focused on the end product and it gives Tim an idea of what is going on in my little brain.  In the past my vision has not always made sense to Tim when he couldn’t see it too!

While I love the table I have pictured here from Pottery Barn, it likely won’t fit in our budget but it keeps me on the look-out for something similar that will be more affordable.  In this case it may even be another DIY project.  The shelf from Magnolia Farms is a must as I will use it to hold the television modem and Tim’s Play Station.  It really matches the look and feel I am going for.  The television itself will be hung on the wall to save floor space, so the shelf can be mounted right below it.

Having a vision board takes the stress out of last minute decisions.  It is okay if it evolves as the project progresses but getting the major decisions out of the way before you start is must to keep things stress free.

4.  Establish a realistic budget before you begin.

Den Budget

 Before you begin your DIY decide on a budget and stick to it.  Our budget is another reason why we could not meet the 6 week time frame of the One Room Challenge.  We plan to spend cash for our reno and have to budget timing accordingly!

It is important to resign yourself to your budget to keep things stress free.  And, when you budget one amount for something and find it (or something similar) for under budget it will put a big smile on  your face!  Isn’t that what Zen is all about!

5.  Communicate!

If you are working on this project with your spouse, a friend, or relative make sure you are always on the same page.  If an issue comes up address it together immediately.  There is nothing worse than letting something fester until it comes to the boiling point.

This includes respecting each others time and capabilities.  I know there have been times when I have been way too eager to see a project finished that I completely ignore Tim’s plea for rest, which makes for a very grumpy husband.

6.  Expect the Unexpected!

Be prepared for little surprises.  No reno ever seems to go without some unexpected expense, repair or delay of some sort.  Give yourself some grace and know that it is just a set back.  Get back on track as quickly as you can, but don’t let it define the entire project and completely ruin your mood.  Find a solution to the problem and work to solve it.

Untitled 1

We followed these tips when we added our pea gravel patio last summer and it made the job so much easier, and actually a bit faster than we anticipated.

We are implementing them again as we embark on this renovation project.

As a rule Tim is on board with whatever ideas I come up with, but I really took the time to involve him in the planning process.  It is a big project for us given we are ripping the exterior walls right back to the foundation and rebuilding.  I didn’t want to stress Tim by making him bite off more than he could chew and he assured me he is capable and eager to get this done.  We looked at Pinterest photo’s together so we could agree on the décor style, which made him happy.

If you are planning a DIY home reno in the future, I hope you take these tips into consideration to ensure that Zen and Home Reno really can fit together in the same sentence!

I will update our progress on the den weekly and have given ourselves a very generous timeline of 3 months since our work and activity schedules keep us busy and downtime is essential element of Zen!

What tips do you follow to keep your reno on track and stress free?  I would appreciate you sharing by leaving a comment!

And don’t forget to subscribe to get free updates right to your inbox.

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

(Visited 30 times, 1 visits today)


3 Comments

Subscribe

Get all the latest news from our little red cottage straight to your inbox!

« Reclaiming Space in a Small Home
The Masters 2013 »

Comments

  1. Jeanie @ create&babble says

    April 8, 2015 at 7:26 am

    These are great tips Maureen. I’ll remember these for my next reno project! I can’t wait to see the progression of your den. I’m sure it will be fabulous!

    Reply
  2. Diane says

    April 8, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    This makes so much sense Maureen. When I start renovating my bedroom this spring I will certainly be following this plan, rather than just jumping in willy nilly as I usually do. Thanks for posting.

    Reply
  3. Leilani says

    April 12, 2015 at 2:49 pm

    Oof! Removing popcorn ceilings. Best but most annoying project we’ve done. BUt we did an entire house so that didn’t help. Great plan! I need to replan and focus on finishing the laundry room!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Red Cottage Chronicles

Oh, hi there!

Well, hello! I am Maureen, and welcome to our little Red Cottage. Married to my high school sweetheart, I am a passionate baker, accidental DIY'er and love all things home! Read More…

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Stay updated!

Get all the latest news from our little red cottage straight to your inbox!

Categories

Instagram

redcottagechronicles

redcottagechronicles
Introducing our new little bean!! Falcon Lake’s Introducing our new little bean!! Falcon Lake’s Jingle Bell Rock!! Otherwise known as Dasher!!! Can you tell we love Christmas!! He will join the family in about 3 weeks!! So excited!! #goldenpuppys #goldenretrieverpuppy #puppylove
A very Merry Christmas to all! When the snow start A very Merry Christmas to all! When the snow started to fall last night this girl was a very happy camper!! #whitechristmas #letitsnowletitsnowletitsnow #snowmakesmehappy #perfectday
My sweet boy is out like a light after spending a My sweet boy is out like a light after spending a spa day @fetchme.later  He always comes home looking fabulous and happy to be all fluffed and buffed!! #adogslife🐾❤️ #sleepinglikeadog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #goldenlove #lovemygoldenretriever #letsleepongdogslie #christmasready🎄
A sparkly Christmas tree makes me happy!! And, fro A sparkly Christmas tree makes me happy!! And, from what I am seeing not only on social media but also right here in our neighborhood #, folks are decking their halls early this year! Twenty-twenty has been quite a year, and anyway I think people are looking for a way to add a little joy into their lives! Today on the blog I am sharing this, my Victorian inspired Christmas tree, plus links to 27 other inspirational trees!! Link in my bio! And, if decorating for the holidays is too soon for you or you don’t decorate at all, that’s okay, but I encourage you to find a little thing to light up your day!! #christmasdecor #victorianchristmastree #holidaydecor #sparklythings #christmastreedecorating #victorianmagazine #hgtvcanada #dowhatmakesyouhappy #christmasinniagara #styleathomemagazine #canadianlivingmagazine #englishcountrystyle
The living room Christmas mantel is almost finishe The living room Christmas mantel is almost finished!! Instead of buying new garland I used inexpensive garland I have had for several years and embellished it with faux green stems bought during a 2 for 1 sale, and beautiful silk garden roses I already had!  Best part, I can reuse all the elements and create something new next year!  #christmasmantle #fauxgarland #victorianmagazine #repurposedchristmas #handmadechristmasdecorations #christmasdecor #countrylivinguk #nutcracker #pinkchristmasdecor
Our Thanksgiving may be behind us here in Canada, Our Thanksgiving may be behind us here in Canada, I am joining my American friends in sharing some inspiration for Thanksgiving table decor! I am leaning towards the simple things these days and this table reflects that! See the entire post through the link in my profile! #thanksgiving #tabledecorideas #autumntable #easycenterpiece #inspiredbynature #simplelife #homedecor #styledtablesaturday #styledtable #thanksgiving2020
Love autumn in Niagara! #autumncolours #notl #chan Love autumn in Niagara! #autumncolours #notl #changingleaves #niagaraescarpment #niagaraparkway #secretpaths #walkinginthewoods #leafcoveredpathways #redcottagechronicles
Having an outdoor socially distanced birthday cele Having an outdoor socially distanced birthday celebration with my “bubble”! @samantha__38 used my Cricut Explore 2 to make me a fan to “blow out” my candles!! #happybirthdaytome #fabulousat55 #birthdayfun #cricutmade #cricutexploreair2 #cricutcreated #genius #covidbirthday2020 #daughters #cricutcrafts
Decisions. Decisions!! #oneroomchallenge #bedroomr Decisions. Decisions!! #oneroomchallenge #bedroomrefresh #warmgray #benjaminmoore #graypaintcolor #upholsteredbed
Long Sunday morning strolls are so relaxing! Doesn Long Sunday morning strolls are so relaxing! Doesn’t get much better than autumn in #niagara
With 2020 being the most ridiculous year ever it i With 2020 being the most ridiculous year ever it is easy to feel defeated, sad, fed-up, and overwhelmed. I try to find a way to elevate the every day, and y’all know how much I love my fresh flowers!  These gorgeous hydrangeas cut from my garden this morning will bring a smile to face for days to come. And, remind me how blessed I am to have a safe spot to land when the world outside seems too much to handle. #hydrangeasmakemehappy #home #cozy #autumndiningroom grooom #freshflowers #flowermagazine #frommygarden #elevatetheeverday #bigflowerarrangement #simplebouquets #falltabledecor #falltabledecor
Went on our annual trek to go apple picking at @wi Went on our annual trek to go apple picking at @windwoodfarms  It has been a tradition for the last 8 years! That means apple recipes in the blog this week! #applecake #applepickingseason #autumntraditions #applerecipes #niagaraapples #appledesserts #freshpickedapples #bakingfromscratch #autumndesserts #beamsvillebench #passionatebaker #oldfashionedrecipe
Load More... Follow on Instagram

tablescapes

tablescapes

One Room Challenge Kitchen Edition

Budget Kitchen Renovation

STAY UP TO DATE

Get all the latest recipes straight to your inbox

Disclosure & Privacy Policy

Disclosure & Privacy Policy

More From Red Cottage Chronicles

5 best Christmas cookie recipes

5 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

DIY Storage Ideas

10 DIY Storage Ideas to Organize Your Home

Brown Butter Tarts with Maple and Nutmeg

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

basement bedroom renovation

The renovations begin!

Copyright © 2021 · Site by Pretty Pink Studio

This site uses cookies : to enhance your user experience Find out more.