5 mistakes that will ruin any renovation

In 40% of cases, finishing a renovation within the planned time is impossible — the process drags on for months or even years. For a novice, a renovation can become a real test. Our expert Natalia Kruglova shared what mistakes can ruin the work.

Natalia Kruglova is an expert and general director of "Metrium Group", a real estate and consulting company operating in the Moscow region's residential property market.

Not enough outlets

To properly plan the electrical layout, you must have a clear idea of how the room will look — down to the placement of sofas, wardrobes, and decorative elements.

Especially on the kitchen, a shortage of power sources is felt most acutely. To avoid tripping over cables, calculate in advance how many outlets will be constantly occupied (refrigerator, exhaust fan, TV, aquarium) and add three to four spare ones.

Design: Elena Ivanova

It is also necessary to plan the placement of light switches. It's important to ensure they are installed near the door handle, not next to the hinges. For convenience, a long corridor or bedroom should be equipped with a pass-through switch (a device that allows controlling the light from two points).

No place to store things

Find a spot for a walk-in closet: it's much more convenient to store clothes in one place than to fill the entire apartment with wardrobes and dressers. Modern walk-in closets are equipped with numerous shelves, racks, and various hanging systems that help store items more compactly.

Design: Anastasia Avvakumova

Don't forget about a hidden storage space for household items. If you don't have a storage room, a vacuum cleaner, ironing board, and clothes dryer can become interior décor elements. If a storage room isn't possible, you can order furniture with built-in modules for storing large items.

Poor logistics

It would be regrettable to spill ceiling paint on a brand-new parquet in the living room or get newly applied wallpaper in the hallway dirty while hauling construction waste. To avoid such situations, start the renovation with the furthest room and carry out finishing work from top to bottom: ceiling, then walls, and finally the floor.

Incorrect savings

Don't cut corners on engineering systems. Poor-quality pipes, plumbing, and wiring can ruin the entire renovation. The same result is highly likely with savings on window units: drafts and increased humidity can damage expensive finishing materials.

Inattention to details

If you plan to install heated floors in your apartment, consider the furniture and appliance placement in advance: it's pointless to heat the floor under a kitchen cabinet, for example. However, don't forget to define the boundary between warm and cold zones precisely: if you don't calculate the distance from the wall to the nearest centimeter, you might end up cooking in wool socks.

Design: Vera Nikolaenko