Your home is one of the biggest and most important purchases you’ll ever make. Because of this, it’s only natural that you’d want your home to truly reflect our personality and style. Getting there, though, can be tricky, especially if you don’t know where to begin. The good news is that home makeovers aren’t anything new. In fact, there is so much information out there that can help us do just about anything we want when it comes to decorating or updating our home. To help get you started, we’ve compiled 5 important steps to take when giving your home a makeover. By following these steps, it should make the process much easier to navigate.

1. Set a budget and a timeline

It’s never a good thing to start a project— let alone a home decorating project— without being fully aware of how much money you can spend or how long you have to accomplish it. As wonderful as it would be to have unlimited time and money, most of us don’t have that luxury. Therefore, guidelines have to be set. And, as often as possible, adhered to. Without a budget and a timeline in place, you leave yourself vulnerable to all sorts of problems, including unexpected overspending and delayed completion. To stay on track, put your deadline and allowable dollar amount in writing–and stick to it! It’s also a good idea to keep a running log of purchases, fees, etc, so you remain aware of what’s left to spend.

2. Evaluate your needs and lifestyle

As much as we try to convince ourselves at times, needs are not the same as wants. This is why it’s so important to evaluate closely and prioritize. To get started, make a list that includes your actual needs and then focus on those wants. Once you have your completed list, rank them based on importance. Be sure to get the family involved since it’s their home, too. Eventually, the list will get narrowed down to a project that is easier to digest.

Another thing to do with the list is to identify any pieces of furniture that must stay in your home. If you love it but it needs a facelift, give it one either by hiring a professional or giving it the old DIY try. Anything that can go, should. If you can’t sell it, consider donating or giving it to a friend or extended family member.

3. Sketch out a plan

This step is more important when it comes to large projects. However, if new furniture or even a new configuration of old furniture is part of the plan, sketching out your idea can be incredibly helpful. To ensure all of your furnishings fit properly, measure each area, and then mark those measurements on your sketch. The last thing you want is to purchase a piece of furniture that’s too big or too small for the space.

4. Start with the big, finish with the little

A lot of times, less is more— yet many of us forget that and try to cram as much as we can into our home. To keep that from happening, refill your space slowly after any updating work. As you fill the space, work your way from big to small. Big-impact items like furniture and wall color are good places to start. Next, move onto things such as area rugs, window treatments, and light fixtures. Finally, you can then move onto the smaller decorative accessories. In the end, the goal should be to make your home look fresh, not frenzied because of too many things.

5. Expect the unexpected

Even if your home has a lot of nooks and crannies, there’s no reason you have to fill them all up. In fact, quite the opposite. Instead, leave room for the unexpected things you may come across later on. Even if you think you wouldn’t change your mind about a certain piece, there’s a good possibility that you could. This is why it pays to take it slow sometimes. Being flexible (and having the room to do so) will allow you to make your home truly yours. Your aim should be for your home to look as though it was put together with earnest intentions.

Ready to get started on your home makeover? If so, we can help. From our quality custom furniture to our wide selection of fabrics, we have something for everyone regardless of your decorating style. Stop by one of our showrooms so we can help bring your decorating dreams to fruition.