If you've renovated a house please can I have your tips!

[GreyVelvet]

What are little things you'd recommend, things that you didn't necessarily think about at the time but now you're living there you think might have been handy to know?

Things like, uplighters are better than all spotlights or don't forget to do X.

I've found a flat I love but it needs a lot of work and I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment!

More electrical sockets!

Changing the way a door opens can make a big difference to the way a room feels - but you have to move the light switch

Always buy the most powerful boiler you can get - esp if having a combi boiler.

Is there a specific way you'd face a door, towards or away from the window?

It's more to do with whether it opens against the wall if in a corner: the Victorians wanted doors that didn't show the room when half open but I like doors that open into the room so you can see through - makes it feel more safe and spacious

Like this

Ah ok, I get you. The doors in this house open into the middle of the room so it's six of one and half a dozen of the other! No scope to move them either

Don't put inset ceiling lights in rows, stagger them or do triangles, go for warm led. Be able to turn lights on or off without getting out of bed. Don't fo entirely for spots, get a mix of central ceiling lights (decorative) in some rooms and spots in others.
Take your time, and don't rush, you'll learn more about what's right for the house.

Do lots and lots of planning. If it's liveable then live in it for a little while, seeing how the rooms flow and what suits your lifestyle best - particularly if it's a size or shape that you haven't lived in previously.

A great finish for the decorating is mainly about the prep. Like, 2 days of sanding for every day painting, if there is a lot of woodwork.

If the shirting boards are thick with 20 layers of paint, just get new skirting boards. And if you're having laminate or wood flooring, put the skirting down after so you don't have to have horrible beading everywhere. The finish just looks so much cleaner.

If you have a large room,with two entrances, put light switches at each entrance

Plan your lighting carefully, and early on in the process

Friends of mine who have had glass roofs have all had problems with leakage. We therefore chose large Velux windows

I liked making mood boards and then sitting them somewhere prominent so they catch your eye frequently. Then when it comes time to choose what's going to fit into your budget, you can remove the stuff that's not a must-have.

I read all the interiors magazines, but the one I think it most helpful and practical when coming up with colour schemes and the style and mood you want is Ideal Homes.

Put the control taps to the shower where you get in to the shower rather than where the head and spray will be. It will save you getting a cold wet arm every morning.

Make sure all electrical, plumbing, & heating work is done at the start, long before you decorate and put new flooring down.

Don't "assume" that everything works - check it out properly. If the electrics/pipework is old, get it changed now before you decorate/floor.

It may be expensive, but it is false economy not to do it at this early stage. You'll end up spending a lot more if you do repairs/replacements piecemeal in later years.

Everything will cost more than you think!

Buy an industrial vacuum cleaner and you will cope.

Don't skimp on stuff like plumbing... we went for cheap bathroom fittings and did it ourselves and its never been quite right. Get personal recommendations for tradesmen.

Spend money on the things you touch every day. Cabinet handles, door handles, switches, etc.

Thanks for all these tips

Electrics and plumbing are there first things that will be happening the wiring is a nightmare...

I'm excited yet daunted!

If you can, live in it first for at least 6 months.

Unfortunately it's not in a liveable state so I have to get the work done before I move.

Don't use white/ivory grout when tiling a floor.. I put a stone floor in my kitchen with ivory grout.. looked stunning the day it was laid but not so ever since as the grout looks mucky even if the floor has been cleaned. I have just bought a karcher steam cleaner to deal with it but would have been far easier to have grouted using a dark grey or charcoal grout. Easily my biggest regret!