Did you know that the average cost of a home renovation results in $41,000 USD? Think twice about buying a home that is in need of some TLC, or could you maybe be saving in the long run? Is it really worth it?

Thanks to some research done by bedroom furniture specialists Oldrids & Downtown, we’ve put together a little guide that will help you identify the real cost of renovating your home and to assist you when purchasing your next home:

Photo: Remodelaholic

Factors that Affect the Cost of Renovating

There are several factors which can influence the cost of your renovation:

The Size and Style of a Home

The size, style and age of a home can massively influence the cost of home improvements. For instance, the number of storeys in a house can be an added extra due to more floor space being needed to be covered in the renovation.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#ff006a” class=”” size=””]If you really are looking to add another story to your home, make sure to plan this renovation when it’s warm and dry outside. Summertime is the best time for renovations, but make sure it meets your local building laws. Homes near the beach may be restricted to have renovations during the summer months. [/perfectpullquote]

Photo: Erin Vale Designs

The Zip Code of Your Home

Just like house prices and home insurance, the zip code can influence the total cost of a house renovation. If you are looking into a glamorous home renovation in a prestige neighbourhood, be prepared to have a large budget than you expected.

Other Features

Other factors within a home can impact the cost, including the number of bedrooms the house has, the garage (or number of garages) and the number of bathrooms. To calculate this, Homebuilding & Renovating has a calculator to provide you with a guide of the cost.

Estimated Costing

Renovating a home can be a big project to take on, but when you break the project down into smaller tasks it suddenly becomes less daunting and helps you get a better understanding of how the cost will work out. Make sure to write up a checklist of all the costs and see if it falls within your budget. Scourge the web for places like Deaslands that offer vouchers and discount codes to save money along the way. Things like window and door installation, a new roof, and flooring are some big ticket projects that need to be researched well to ensure you get the most bang for your buck!

Photo: Glamshelf

[otw_shortcode_quote border_style=”bordered” background_color_class=”otw-pink-background” color=”#ffffff”]BDB Tip: If you truly decide on renovating your home, make sure to put all of your costs as well as labour costs down on paper. You will also want to give yourself at least $2,000 extra for any surprise costs that may come along the way. This way, you will be able to stay within your budget and will be able to afford your renovation and not leave it half finished for next year. Write up a plan, stick to your budget, and get renovating![/otw_shortcode_quote]

Photo: Domino

In the world of style, mixed prints can give you the edge. Whether it’s fashion or homeware, a carefully selected combination of patterns can be the difference between a simple finish and an exciting one. But how do you do it effectively? The answer is that it’s as much about science as it is an art. House of Fraser, provider of bedding and linen sets, has created this infographic about how to do it properly. Take a look:

Firstly, there’s some general rules to try, that work for all types of print. Good tips include starting with a bolder, dominant print, and building other prints on top. Want another word of advice? Use fabrics of varying textures to add even more interest.

Photo: Domino

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#ff0077″ class=”” size=””]Mismatching design in the world of decorating is mostly known as bohemian. It’s all about decorating with the things you love most. Colors, patterns, textures, and styles clash but the end result turns out to be very beautiful. Wooden furniture, folk carpets, leather poofs and small potted plants go a long way in achieving a bohemian look.[/perfectpullquote]

Next, there’s a focus on how to do it in practice with different types of classic household print. So whether you’re a fan of animal print, stripes, geometrics or florals, there’s advice on how to mix other patterns with them. This means that if you already have a style of print in your home, you can work round it instead of starting afresh.

Photo: Apartment Therapy

So what about fabrics? Fabric textures vary vastly and can add a completely different dimension to your home. Get advice on what’s best to try at home, such as using printed velvet bedsheets, for luxury, or woollen throws to add a cosy feel.

[otw_shortcode_quote border_style=”bordered” background_color_class=”otw-pink-background” color=”#ffffff”]BDB Tip: If you are looking to create a warm and cozy environment with mismatching prints and textures think of warming up your space with faux fur throws, woven knit blankets, and fluffy pillows. You definitely want to consider this if you have a leather sofa since these tend to feel cold and uncomfortable. Pile up the cozy accessories no matter what color or pattern! [/otw_shortcode_quote]

Photo: ForRent.com

Do you have an amazing mix and matched home? Share it with us in the comments below!

Photo: Coleccion Alexandra UK

In the interior design world, we like to call this mysterious, well-traveled decorating style – bohemian. Bohemian decorating originated from Gypsies, which are said to have came all the way from India and immigrated into Europe in the 13^th century. This perhaps explains the heavy Indian and Moroccan influence in bohemian décor. Today, we can see this type of decorating style very prevalent in tarot reading rooms.

Photo: Turbulences-Deco

Traditionally, tarot-reading rooms are places designed to inspire a feeling of peacefulness and mystique – and that’s a great look for a room if you love that sort of eastern feel. Many non-religious spiritualists, for example, are deeply inspired by Osho Zen Tarot.

This form of tarot was originally created by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (who later came to be known as OSHO); an Indian guru, mystic, and spiritual teacher. OSHO died in 1990 but still has a huge following around the world. His meditation resort in India pulls in thousands of visitors a year.

Photo: Up By Design

The feel of the true Indian-inspired tarot reading room, therefore, is one of inner calm and peacefulness, designed to inspire deep thought, meditation; a sanctuary from the outside world as practitioners take more of an inner-directed “journey” than an outer directed one.

What this means in practice from a practical interior design viewpoint, then, is a lot of eastern fabrics, silks, decorated carpets, cushions and so on – along with old appropriate books and shelves if you can source them. In short, it’s a lot of material that helps deaden any sounds from outside the room and creates an extremely warm, quiet and welcoming atmosphere within; very much the “cozy den” type of feel, with an eastern twist.

Photo: Domino Magazine

Lighting should be muted and shaded, possibly with reds, deep yellows and brown effects – whilst wall decorations can also be material-based, with highly decorated quilts and rugs interspersed with appropriate feeling pictures, frames and designs. If you think along the lines of bohemian designs, gypsy chic, and mix fabrics and accessories accordingly, you’ll soon get a feel of what you’re trying to create. You could even create your own wall art using tarot cards which helps close a room in nicely, and feel cozy and quiet.

This is much about creating a state of mind with your interior as it is about the décor itself. In other words, meditating, feeling peaceful, calm, and thinking deeply about the essence of the space you’re really looking to create for your own inner self is the first step in achieving the look that is exactly right for you.

Photo: Domino Magazine

This is a logical first step – as opposed to the more usual way for many people of being inspired first by the rooms of others – or by pictures and design etc. Having said that, there’s nothing wrong, once you’ve got a feel of what you hope to create, in using the web to look at Indian-inspired or tarot-inspired interior design ideas. The boho / tarot interior design trend has already inspired a whole world of interior design motifs, ideas, products and so on – and it’s very much in the ascendancy right now.

The specific area of Tarot inspired design is also becoming increasingly popular and if you’ve ever visited a room or a restaurant perhaps, with this kind of effect, it’s not difficult to see why; the overall effect is wonderfully calming. The fact that it looks stunning is almost a bonus.

Photo: Instagram