After a long and stressful day at work there is nothing better than returning home to a space that you love. Whether you’re a property owner or are one of the capital’s many renters, it’s important that you invest some time into personalising your home to make it somewhere that you want to spend time.
Home refurbishment and improvement is massive business and you only have to switch on your TV to understand why. With copious shows being produced and aired constantly showing how a drab, dull and unwelcoming property can be turned into a comfortable, warm home in seemingly no time at all, Londoner’s are being inspired to undertake their own home makeovers.
A London flat refurbishment can offer some challenges however, and so it’s important to consider these things before you get started:
Are you allowed to decorate?
It’s estimated that the number of renters in London now exceeds the number of property owners. If you’re renting its imperative that you ask for permission to decorate before you begin. Failure to obtain permission could cause you serious problems with your landlord who may require you to undo all of your home improvements which would be a huge waste of money – and very frustrating.
But don’t worry if you’re not allowed to make any permanent changes, simple things like buying new bedding, plants and lampshades could completely change your space and give your flat a cheap and stylish redesign.
Does your lease contain any rules?
This is unlikely to affect renters but owners of London flats wishing to make major changes such as installing new flooring should be sure to carefully check their lease first. It’s not uncommon for hard wood flooring to be banned from all but the ground floor to promote noise control and if you’re not aware of this beforehand, you may find that you get complaints from your neighbours.
Likewise there are usually rules about changes you can make to the common areas and so even if a framed picture of a sunflower would look amazing next to your front door, you might not actually be allowed to hang it there.
If you can’t be bothered to read your lease, try contacting your managing agent who should be up to date with all the rules.
How will you get your new furniture into your home?
It might be that a new sofa is exactly what you living room needs to bring it back to life, but before you go and splurge on a chic to addition, consider how you’re going to move it into place.
London is notoriously difficult for manoeuvring large vehicles and so think about whether a delivery van will have access to your property. Once you get past this obstacle, it’s wise to also check whether large furniture can squeeze through communal doorways and up stairwells / in elevators. What might be a simple task for those living in the countryside can be incredibly difficult for city dwellers and can take a little more thought.
If you’re tight on space it may be worth considering buying modular furniture which can be assembled upon delivery. Flat pack furniture is also a great alternative for anyone planning on undertaking a London flat refurbishment.
Once you’ve thought about all of the practicalities you can enjoy the fun bit of planning your home improvements – designing your rooms exactly how you want them and shopping for unique pieces is an excellent way to spend a lazy Saturday. You may just find that going to work isn’t so bad when you know you’re coming home to your dream flat.