5 mistakes in renovation that others struggled with, but you can avoid

Doing renovation yourself is a fairly common practice, especially when the budget is limited. However, not everyone can plan all technical and decorative solutions in advance, which leads to regrettable mistakes.

We explain the most common oversights made during renovation and how to avoid them.

1. Forgot to account for tile trimming

THE ISSUE: tile trimming is a necessary step, but whether these fragments will be noticeable depends on the layout. In the worst case, all joints, misalignments in patterns and other technical flaws will be clearly visible.

WHAT TO DO: tiles should be laid so that they appear whole. No more than 50% of the tile format should be cut on the first plane. It is better to plan all layout options in advance to ensure that the final result looks beautiful and doesn't ruin the rest of the interior.

Design: Ludmila Krystal

2. Did not plan the junction of furniture, plumbing, and casings

THE ISSUE: a complex issue is a wall with relief tiles or 3D panels. Visually, it retains an aesthetic appearance until a skirting board, casing or cabinet is attached to it. The free space created in the gap will quickly draw attention.

WHAT TO DO: it is recommended to use relief building materials only as a visual accent (e.g., in a niche). The most important thing is that no appliances or furniture should touch it.

Design: Kirill Ponomarenko

3. Did not implement a pass-through switch

THE ISSUE: a pass-through switch allows you to turn the light on/off from two points. For example, if you turn the lights on in the hallway and move to the living room, you won't need to go back to the entrance to switch them off.

WHAT TO DO: before starting the renovation, all movement paths within the house should be planned and an electrical layout with pass-through switches developed.

Design: Elena Teplova

4. Miscalculated the size of household appliances

THE ISSUE: sometimes it happens that kitchen cabinets are chosen with niches for specific appliances, but after the renovation there is not enough space for ventilation.

WHAT TO DO: first, choose the appliances, then the cabinet. It is important to familiarize yourself with the technical requirements for installation (for example, ventilation gaps must be exactly as specified by the manufacturer).

Design: Anna Zueva

5. Furniture and decor do not match each other

THE ISSUE: if you buy everything and anything for the apartment without any concept or hope to come up with a design on the spot, you end up with a chaotic mix during renovation.

WHAT TO DO: all furniture should complement the chosen interior style, so such details should be worked out at the initial stage. Consider material combinations, forms and color palette of all items.

Design: Lidia Bolshakova

Photo on cover: Anna Zueva's design