There’s no time like the present to start planning a renovation project. That’s because the most successful home renovations plans for the busy spring season are actually in progress long before temperatures thaw. Typically, spring home renovations kick off in the winter. Hiring a crew, figuring out a design plan, ordering materials—and receiving them—these tasks can take months. So you’ll never regret thinking about your spring project in the winter as soon as you have the bandwidth to give it your full attention.
You may be asking yourself how to get started on the work, especially if you haven't tackled this kind of project before. First, you have to figure out exactly what kind of renovation or redecorating project you want to take on. Then it’s all about researching how much money you’ll need to complete it. At that point, you can begin prepping and planning for it, which can include some of the fun parts: measuring, moodboarding, crafting a project timeline, and assembling your dream team of pros.
Home improvement projects for spring require months of prep, so let this guide be your proof. Here, you’ll discover the many reasons why you should start planning for spring remodeling now, tips on how to kick this phase of your project off, and what options you might consider to upgrade your home for the warmer weather that’s around the corner.
Why Start Home Renovation Plans in Winter?
There are plenty of reasons to kick off spring home renovations in the winter. It’s a far less busy time for many people, including contractors, and having a longer runway for planning can make the work go smoother and faster, saving you both time and money.
Securing Contractors Before the Spring Rush
The sooner you can lock down a contractor for your home improvement projects for spring, the better. It’s a good idea to make inquiries several months before you want to actually start your project because it can take a while for a contractor to respond to your inquiry and have an open spot in their schedule. Plus, you’ll likely want to get a few different quotes to figure out who might be the best pros for your job.
Contractors also tend to be slower with work during the winter months. So you’ll probably play less phone tag with them and hear back on emails faster than you would during the spring and summer, which are considered the height of construction season.
Extra Time for Design Decisions and Materials
After the holidays come to a close, winter tends to be a nesting season. The days are shorter and colder, and you might find yourself staying in more at night and on the weekends. So why not spend some of that extra time at home working on making renovation decisions and sourcing materials?
You could dedicate a few minutes every night (or a few hours every weekend) to what designers call “procurement,” which refers to specifying (and ordering) products for a project. Look for a few options for each material so you can compare similar samples to find the best fit for the look you’re going for and your budget. It’s always good to have back-up items, too, since materials can get delayed in transit or be out of stock indefinitely.
Planning for a spring renovation in the winter also allows you to potentially special order a specific color, unique finish, or certain material that isn’t in stock and thus will take longer to ship. The more time you can pad for shipping custom items, the better.
Budgeting Early for Smoother Projects
You might also be in a better place to finance your spring home renovation plans if you start prepping in the dead of winter. Giving yourself more time to budget not only allows you to set aside funds for longer, but it also gives you the wiggle room you might need to find cheaper options if you end up overspending in an area you didn’t anticipate as a project progresses.
This kind of situation can sometimes arise if you start demo, and maybe didn't think you’d need to replace or fix your electrical, as an example. But then, upon opening up the walls and discovering faulty wiring, your contractor needs to hire an electrician, which means you may have to move money around a bit to take care of this new expense. You’ll be happy you thought through potential places to trim the budget months earlier. That way, your project won’t get stalled or held up for long to accommodate this new line item.
Regardless of when you budget, it’s always a good idea to have a small contingency fund for unexpected expenses for your home renovation plans. Typically, a renovation contingency is about 5 to 10 percent of your total expenses (though can be higher depending on the scope and difficulty of work). This functions like a safety net should any issues arise during the project.
Popular Spring Home Renovations
Now that you know how important it is to start planning spring home renovations in the winter, it’s time to pick a project. Your ideal project depends on your goals for your home and your budget. Are you looking for a big return on investment (ROI), or is a smaller project more your speed spending-wise? Do you want to focus on the interior of your home or the outdoors? Could your home benefit from something structural and aesthetic like new floors or windows? Checking out the suggestions below may also help you find your perfect project match.
Kitchen and Bathroom Refreshes
If you’re looking for a makeover with a high ROI, kitchens and bathrooms are where to spend. They also tend to be places that need refreshing every few years, more so than other rooms in the home where paint and new linens or accessories can often do the heavy lifting. Shifting trends are more noticeable (and harder to reverse) in rooms with installed materials like kitchens and baths, and finishes, fixtures, and appliances will noticeably lose their newness with use over time.
For these reasons, full bathroom and kitchen renovations will yield the most dramatic changes, but they’re also more costly than other projects. Sometimes smaller refreshes can be almost just as impactful. In the kitchen, painting or replacing your cabinets can make your cook space look close to brand new, while adding a tiled or seamless stone backsplash is a great weekend project that you might be able to tackle on your own for a pop of personality.
In a bathroom, swapping out faucets, hardware, and lighting can make a major difference alongside bringing in new linens and painting the walls. You could also change out your vanity if replacing your shower, tub, or tile isn’t in the cards.
Flooring and Finish Upgrades
Replacing or refinishing your floors is an all-encompassing, somewhat messy job. But it’s one that can really change the look of your rooms. If you’re noticing chips, scratches, or dings that aren’t that deep, refinishing could be the route to go.
For floors that are too far gone from wear and tear, you can’t go wrong with hardwood or luxury vinyl plank flooring. No matter which route you go, upgrading your floors will give your rooms a whole new visual foundation—and feel—underfoot.
Outdoor Projects to Get Ready for Warmer Months
Depending on where you live, it might be too cold outside to really enjoy your outdoor space right now. But come spring, you’ll be glad you got ahead of the summer entertaining season by planning your home renovation project in the winter.
The sky is the limit here, so consider focusing on a few key upgrades. First, if you truly entertain all the time, you might want to splurge on an outdoor kitchen or built-in barbecue setup. This will make your life so much easier, since you can prepare, cook, and serve without going back and forth from the inside to the outside of your home. Another upgrade to consider if you’re a perpetual host? A pool. Yes, they’re pricey, require maintenance, and can be safety risks if you have small children. But they definitely add value to a home.
Want something a little more manageable and budget-friendly? Try adding a fire pit and conversation area to your yard. These can be as built-in and bespoke as you like, but it’s also possible to set up a seating area around an above-ground fire pit, too. Either solution will make your yard feel like an outdoor living room—perfect for lounging.
Planning for Spring Remodeling Success
Simply put: You have to thoroughly plan for things to go smoothly with any renovation, and the sooner you start, the better. These tips will keep you on track from start to finish.
Setting Priorities for Your Renovation
In an ideal world, renovations would be as the saying goes, “fast, cheap, and good.” But like most things, realistically, you can really only have two out of the three on this list. Everything can’t be a priority, so hone in on what your non-negotiables are—and know that a tighter budget typically means more compromises. Not to worry, though. You can still have a high-impact renovation; you just might have to be a little less ambitious in the scope of your work.
Coordinating Materials and Finishes in Advance
Again, prep and planning are the keys to a successful project. The sooner you can make decisions, order materials, and hire a contractor, the more prepared you’ll be when demo starts. Being ahead of the game also helps you focus all of your attention and energy on little issues as they may arise; if your design plan is fully buttoned up in advance, you can troubleshoot the small stuff in real time without worrying about everything else.
Don’t forget the importance of ordering samples so you can get a good sense of the look and feel of the materials you’ll be using in your project. Nothing can hold a project up like having to pivot because when your flooring arrives, for example, it’s not the right color or size. Mistakes can still happen, but they are far less likely to occur when you sample materials. Let DesignShop be your destination for ordering samples, since you can pretty much pick the materials for an entire project on DesignShop.
Staying on Track with a Renovation Timeline
Speaking of time, make sure to create a renovation timeline with your contractor or decorator, if applicable. It’ll keep all parties accountable. That said, construction can be unpredictable, so try your best to remain flexible. It’s also worth noting that quality work takes time—and you don’t want any corners being cut in one of your biggest assets, your home. But if you put in the work now in the winter, come spring you’ll be well on your way to your new dream room or outdoor feature.