Home renovation tips for beginners - Episode 73
If you’ve been through a renovation (or are about to start one), you know how much of a journey it is — from planning and budgeting to design choices and the unexpected curveballs in between.
In this episode of Create & Consume, I’m sharing practical, beginner-friendly renovation tips based on everything we learned from our own home project.
I talked more about our home search in my life update episode if you missed it, but today’s focus is all about how to actually handle a renovation from start to finish.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating this week: before and after content of the home renovation!
I did a carousel post on Instagram, a whole renovation vlog and I’m working on editing some fun before and after transition clips for short-form as well.
What Austen is consuming this week: The Life of a Showgirl but I want to spend a whole episode discussing that, also started season 9 of Love is Blind.
Initial LIB thoughts: can’t stand Nick and feel like sparkle Megan and Jordan could go the distance??
In this episode:
Gather inspiration early
Start building your vision before you swing a hammer.
Pinterest boards, Notion pages, or even a simple Google Doc can help you organize your ideas.
As you start planning, save links to actual items you love — even if you don’t end up using all of them, they’ll save you time later.
You can check out some of our favorite home finds here for inspiration and ideas from our renovation.
Look for themes between the images you save. For example, I kept saving checkerboard floors, rounded light fixtures, and warm light wood double vanities — those details helped me define my style and narrow down our choices.
If you’re stuck, find one hero piece (like a tile or light fixture) and build your space around it.
Write down a few words to describe your style — ours were clean, classic, warm, sophisticated, and hotel-inspired.
Use Canva to mock up designs! This was a game-changer for visualizing layouts, spotting design flaws before they happened, and communicating ideas with Andrew and our contractors. It ultimately saved us time, money, and a lot of frustration.
Set your budget and timeline
Think of your renovation like a project plan — and be realistic with both your time and budget.
Here’s how ours broke down:
Labor (45%) — Contractors, materials, and disposal fees.
Kitchen (27%) — Most of that went toward cabinets and countertops.
Bathrooms (16%) — Tile was the priciest, followed by vanities and glass doors.
Appliances (10%) — Kitchen appliances, hot water heater, and washer/dryer.
Fireplace (2%) — A quick DIY with leftover tile and a mantel shelf.
A few lessons learned:
Read reviews and watch product videos before purchasing.
Track sales — we waited for a Samsung Frame TV discount.
Treat it like project management — track quotes, materials, and progress.
Keep a fake timeline and fake budget (tell your contractor one number, but keep your real buffer privately).
Start researching contractors
A great contractor makes all the difference — but finding the right one takes time.
Look for references and reviews (Google, local Facebook groups, etc.).
Get free quotes or consultations to compare styles and communication.
Ask upfront:
Do you design in-house?
How does on-site supervision work?
Are you licensed, insured, and pulling the proper permits?
What’s your communication plan and timeline?
What’s included in the budget (for example, our contractor handled painting and materials)?
Check in on progress
Even with great contractors, your eyes on the project matter.
I visited almost daily to make sure things stayed on track.
Being present helped us catch small mistakes early — like a towel bar hung in the wrong spot or a soap dish installed upside down.
Understand the constraints of your space (we couldn’t move plumbing or build into certain walls).
Keep running lists of open tasks to stay organized.
If you don’t like something, speak up early — it’s much easier to fix mid-project than after completion.
Things I’d do differently next time
Every renovation teaches you something new. Looking back, here’s what I’d change:
More time to make decisions.
Ask for a weekly schedule update from contractors.
Bring cabinet samples to countertop appointments.
Ask more questions — especially around design and timelines.
Over-communicate deadlines.
Order more samples for tile, paint, and finishes to see how everything looks together in natural light.
Summary
Renovations can feel overwhelming, but with organization, clear communication, and patience, they’re absolutely doable — even as a beginner.
The key is balancing your vision with realistic expectations and remembering that some delays and surprises are part of the process.
If you’re starting your own renovation journey, I hope these tips help you plan with confidence and enjoy the process along the way.
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