Large-scale home renovation projects may be overwhelming and daunting, but people rarely regret undertaking them once the transformation is complete and they’re living in a beautiful, light-filled space that flows perfectly. The process is often stressful and although you can’t avoid all the hazards and pitfalls, there are ways to minimise them and protect your investment and wellbeing in the process.

Decide exactly what you want to achieve

Number one, before you consult anyone – be that a builder, designer or architect – decide exactly what it is you want to achieve, and if there’s more than one of you, decide together. You need to be on the same page before you start to share your ideas with the professionals. The journey will feel much easier if you’re heading in the same direction.

Secondly, think about your budget; it’s the key to securing the outcome you’re looking for. Set a realistic budget and then share it with the professionals. It’s important to be clear at the design stage about what you want to spend so that your project can be planned accordingly. Designers will also work with you to get the most for your money.

People sometimes have a reluctance to share this critical piece of information at the start of a project because they’re concerned about losing control of the budget. Knowing what you want and how much it will cost means that you have a far greater chance of keeping within budget and achieving the outcome you’re looking for.

Engage in the creative process

Thirdly, if you’ve appointed someone to do the design – an architect or designer – engage in the creative process. Share photos of styles you love and places that have inspired you and then go on the journey with them. Try not to put the brakes on and backtrack to your comfort zone.

Finally, engage the right people to work with and step into the role of project manager. You’ll feel much more confident about this if you’re armed with the right information and have a good team around you.

It takes courage and energy to see a project through to completion. Taking the process step by step, giving yourself time to plan, and working with the right team will make the journey both easier and more rewarding.