35 mistakes when renovating an apartment

Unfortunately, only after finishing repairs in our new (or old) apartment, we understand that it was necessary to start with completely different things, and that many mistakes could have been avoided “if only to know …”.

But that’s what they make mistakes, to learn from them. True, it is not necessary to learn from our own: we study other people’s mistakes in repair – and we shake it off!

The content of the article:

1. 15 mistakes in kitchen renovation
2. 10 mistakes when renovating rooms
3. 10 mistakes in bathroom and toilet renovation

15 mistakes when renovating a kitchen – choosing furniture, covering walls and floors, household appliances

The kitchen is one of the most important areas in the apartments for rent in Norman. After the bedroom – the second most important and time that we spend there. And given that the kitchen is also a place for meetings, decision-making, tea parties (and so on), it is better to carefully consider a plan for its renovation in advance.

• Floors. Wooden floors in the kitchen are always the presence of dents from toys, falling covers and so on. Even if your kids are super-tidy, the grasping reflex is your family thing, hardwood floors are impractical anyway. Today it is customary to lay laminate flooring in the kitchen, but usually the owners of such kitchens quickly become convinced of the wrong decision: the first leak (sink, refrigerator, etc.) – and the laminate swells.
• But what about the tiles? Tiles are a great solution for the kitchen! The main thing is not to be mistaken with the color and texture. Dust and dirt are perfectly visible on dark tiles, and even wiping the floor every hour will not provide a feeling of cleanliness. And light tiles are too easily soiled. Also, do not take tiles that are too smooth (slippery) and too embossed / rough (it is extremely difficult to wash them). The ideal option is wide, matte tiles with minimal relief and optimal (so as not to protrude dirt and dust) shade.
• Lighting. No need to spare the kitchen bulbs. In this room, there is always not enough bright light, so think in advance – how many bulbs you need, and in what places they are then “fastened”. Be sure to pay attention to the area above the stove, the area above the dining table and the area above the table where you directly cook (this area is the most important).
• Sockets. The main mistake of all newbie repairmen is saving on sockets. More precisely, the savings are small, but the shortage of outlets is then extremely acute. And it is in the kitchen that they will be most missed. How many sockets do you need – count according to your household appliances (existing and future). As a rule, the kitchen requires about 8 sockets (or even more) – a refrigerator and PMM, a microwave oven and a kettle, a coffee machine, and so on. It is recommended to immediately make double sockets everywhere. And be sure to provide at least a couple of outlets above the worktop (right on the apron). When planning the number of outlets, consider also such a moment as a power reserve for servicing all appliances.
• Protruding handles on furniture… Firstly, everyone will beat their knees (adults) and heads (children) about them. The hostess of the kitchen will beat on the handles on the upper cabinets. In addition, the more solid the handle, the smaller the opening angle of the door itself, and the more difficult it is to pull the drawer out.
• Ergonomics of space. Carefully, in advance (!) Think over the design of your kitchen. It will be extremely difficult to redo the repair when the gas and water pipes are connected, an apron and a hood over the future stove are made. Consider the most important points: no labyrinths in the kitchen – it’s inconvenient! The main space should be free for quick easy movement, free opening of drawers, etc.
• Marble and other rough porous materials are not practical in the kitchen! Not as a floor covering, countertop or washbasin. The porosity of the material ensures deep penetration of dirt and its difficult removal. For the countertop, it is better to choose an artificial stone.
• Facades… No gloss! Unless you have plenty of time to constantly wipe fingerprints off the gloss. Embossed facades are also a headache. It is difficult and time-consuming to wipe off dirt that has gotten into the relief (especially white!). White facades look gorgeous, but over time, the shade of the most frequently wiped areas on furniture changes.
• Place for pots, lids, pans and household appliances… Immediately think over the cabinets in the lower part of the kitchen for all this beauty, so that later it does not fall on your head from the upper shelves.
• There must be no gaps between the hob (hob) and the worktop. Otherwise, everything that you carry to the stove will fall on the floor, and there will always be dirt on the floor between the stove and the curbstone.
• The apron is made of only refractory materials! Wallpaper, even if it is very beautiful, must be protected with special glass. Leave the polypropylene finish for other rooms – it will simply melt. Choose materials for the apron that do not burn, do not melt, do not emit poisons into the air when heated, and do not deteriorate from exposure to household chemicals.
• Apron tile. The deeper and wider the seams, the more dirt they contain, which is difficult to wash out throughout the entire area above the kitchen work surface. White grout is another big mistake for beginners, it is difficult to wash it, and the dirt is clearly visible. The ideal option is absolutely flat, not glossy and not too embossed tiles with minimal seams.
• Washing. If you choose a sink that is too small, you will constantly observe a mountain of dishes right on the table. A sink without a wing is a constant “sea” around the sink. It is convenient to place cups and other utensils dripping after washing on the sink wing.
• Walls. If you are going to hang heavy cabinets in your kitchen, make sure the walls can support them. A plasterboard partition will naturally not withstand such furniture – it must be strengthened in advance. It is recommended to immediately provide places throughout the apartment that may require additional reinforcement – under the TV, under the shelves, etc.
• Do not place the stove next to the refrigerator! Even if there is not enough space, look for another option. Otherwise, your wonderful fashionable refrigerator will order a long life in the shortest possible time.

10 mistakes when renovating rooms – covering walls, ceilings and floors, windows and doors, batteries and an electrician

So that you do not have to bite your elbows after the repair, carefully read the reviews of the “victims” of the repair, in order to definitely prevent their mistakes at home. Save yourself nerves, time and money!

So, renovating rooms – living room, bedroom, nursery – what mistakes to avoid?

• Don’t leave old wiring. If it was done during the reign of Tsar Pea, don’t spare money for a new one. So as not to open the repaired walls later in search of a short circuit. It is important to note that in old apartments, where there has been no renovation since Soviet times, wiring can go in a completely unpredictable way, even diagonally. That is, hanging the shelf, you can happen to hit the wire with a puncher. Only new wiring will help to avoid problems – made according to all the rules, by professionals, and marked on the drawings, according to which you yourself will be guided later. Important! First, think over exactly the plan for the arrangement of furniture, so that then suddenly it turns out that there are not a single outlet near the bed, not a single outlet at the work table, and as many as five behind the closet.
• Shield and separate machines. When making electrical wiring, install an automatic machine for each room (plus it is recommended separately – for a boiler and a washing machine). Firstly, you will know for sure – because of which room the overvoltage plugs were “knocked out”, and secondly, you will not have to de-energize the entire apartment if you need any electrical work.
• Warm floor. All “victims” of renovation begin to regret the absence of warm floors with the arrival of autumn. Even in the southern regions. Warm floors will not eat up a lot of money and energy from you, but the whole family will then thank you from morning to evening, calmly spanking barefoot even on the tiles in the bathroom. Make warm floors wherever you go barefoot. Naturally with a timer.
• If children are growing up in the family, set the switches at the desired height.so that children can handle this function on their own.
• If you don’t have closets (Soviet storage rooms) and your own veranda and shed, and there is not even a loggia where you can take all that is superfluous, then think over a place in the apartment for things that require storage – suitcases and vacuum cleaners, sleds and strollers, Christmas trees with toys, and so on. All this needs to be stored somewhere. Where? Make a pantry in advance!
• Soundproofing. If you have a non-Stalinist house – with thick walls – start with soundproofing. Otherwise, then you will be very sorry, listening from two sides (or even from three) every evening concerts of neighboring teenage musicians, young children and adults in depression. Use special materials (fortunately, there are no shortcomings in them today) that have similar characteristics. If you have children and dogs, and your domestic women love to clatter their heels around the apartment, then think about your neighbors below too – make noise insulation before installing the floors.
• Flooring. Carpet is a warm and pleasant floor covering. But there is a lot of dust from it, it is impossible to wash it, it gets dirty quickly, it can cause allergies. If you do not have a special washing vacuum cleaner with steam treatment and a lot of free time, choose other coatings. The cork floor is pleasant, environmentally friendly, natural, and is not afraid of moisture. A fat minus – traces of furniture remain on the cork and, in general, cork is absolutely not practical for rooms where life is in full swing. And what kind of floor covering to choose for a children’s room?
• Forgetting to make an extra switch near the bed, you doom yourself to get out of the warm bed every evening to turn off the light. By the way, don’t forget to install the switch at the door in the right place. So that when you enter the room, you can immediately feel it with your hand.
• Big beautiful chandeliers are great! But it is much more convenient (in practice) when you have several light sources in your room – a bright chandelier, spotlights, several sconces and a floor lamp, table lamps.
• Do not hang heavy cabinets or shelves on the bed. Of course, the master can fix the shelves “tightly”, and you will only put “light” items on it. But, as a rule, sooner or later something falls on the head. And it’s good if it’s a teddy bear, and not a stack of books or the shelf itself.

10 mistakes when repairing a bathroom and toilet – tiles, plumbing, lighting

• And again sockets. It would seem – why in the bathroom! You can also throw an extension cord? No extension cords in the bathroom – it’s dangerous! Install the sockets in advance (and with moisture-proof covers!), So that later you do not shred the walls directly on the new tile. Immediately think of sockets for a hairdryer, a washing machine, an electric heated towel rail (if there is no classic one) and other needs.
• Don’t combine bath and toiletif space allows you not to.
• Lack of waterproofing it can cost you a pretty penny if the washing machine suddenly breaks down, or you forget to turn off the tap in the bathroom. Don’t skimp on waterproofing!
• Do not lay glossy slippery tiles in the bathroom – it is traumatic… Black tiles (and generally dark shades) for a bathroom are a big mistake. All stains, stains, dust, dirt are visible on the black tiles (and faience!).
• Choose expensive plumbing immediately… Then it will be very offensive when the toilet becomes covered with small cracks, and the acrylic bathtub turns yellow.
• Forced exhaust… Even if you have a dry and warm apartment, a forced draft hood (which will turn on along with the light in the bathroom and toilet) in the bathroom is protection against mold and odors.
• Pipe routing… Trust the work only to the master! In addition to the fact that the piping in the bathroom must be of high quality, it is necessary to take into account both the angle of inclination and a high-quality drain.
• Do not brick up access to communications! This is the most common mistake during repairs. Leave beautiful (and large!) Plastic windows, which, in the event of an “accident”, will provide access under the bath, to taps and pipes.
• One lamp in the bathroom will not be enough – make additional light near the mirror, but taking into account moisture protection.
• Stretch ceilings will save you from a neighbor’s flood. False ceilings in the bathroom are a waste of money.

What do you think are mistakes in apartment renovation? What did you regret after the renovation of the rooms, kitchen, bathroom? Share your experience and advice with our readers!