Home renovation is something you keep on putting off till you can’t any longer. Living in a country that has extreme climates, repairs and renovations are

unavoidable.

"We have intense heat and severe cold, humidity, dust storms, all of which are corrosive in some way or the other," says architect Gargi Patel.

Home renovations can be broadly classified into extensions, alterations and repairs or restyling.

"The most common renovation includes panelling, electrical and carpentry work, painting, polishing, refurbishing and refabrication work on curtains and upholstery," she says.

A lot of Patel’s high-end clients go for alterations in their houses or apartments to make it more Vaastu-friendly. These mainly include extending rooms and adding or removing windows and entrances.

“It’s worth the effort, even if it means that your pockets will be squeezed," says housewife Divia P N. Doing up a house also increases its resale value, she adds.

If you are going in for large-scale alteration or modification, it is always better to get an architect or a contractor to help you out.

The first thing to remember while going in for renovation is budgeting the cost. Nowadays, home renovation loans are available with a relatively lower interest rate.

"Upholstery and refabrication are the most common things people tend to go for," Patel says. Most fabric retailers help upholstering, sending tailors and carpenters to do the job, but textures and surfaces, such as leather, require professional help.

Painting, though cumbersome, is an essential in our homes. In India, painting the exteriors is a mandatory practice at least once in a couple of years, again because of extreme climate conditions.

Nowadays, leading brands offer washable paints, both textured and non-textures.

"When we renovated our three-bedroom flat, we just changed the colour scheme in our guest room. This made a world of difference," says Divia.

Flooring is another area that people change. Old apartment floors are usually paved in mosaic. Nowadays, people go in for marble, wood, or laminate.

The exact dimensions of the room and its position have to be taken into consideration. It makes more sense to renovate around the original electrical points and lighting.

Bathroom

This area could take up most of your budget. Installation of gadgets and new bath accessories can be quite expensive. "The key is to get accessories from hardware shops that give you a deal," says Patel.

Living Room & Bedrooms

Many families are now going in for readymade living and bedroom units. Care should be taken when buying these and you would do well to remember that positioning depends on the existing electrical points.

Kitchen

A number of companies such as Venita Cucine and Godrej offer kitchen units. Most of them are aesthetically appealing and functional too. But if you have a tight budget, it is better if strike a deal with the hardware shop from where you are buying the rest of the fittings.

Good planning is the key to renovation. “But the actual key to a good and budget-friendly makeover of your home is keeping it neat and tidy after that's done. This will reduce the need to renovate so often,” says Patel.