Somehow, I've become a serial renovator. Our third renovation in six years has just been completed, and I hadn't even realised that this has now become an integral part of my identity. I'm known as the go-to 'renovation friend' among people, and I frequently receive late-night text messages seeking recommendations for everything from tilers to TVs.

I sometimes feel like a bit of a fraud among the Insta-reno community. I can't make a decent Reel to save my life, and I'm afraid someone might ask me how to pronounce 'boucle'. Nevertheless, it turns out that I actually know a lot about what to do, and probably even more about what not to do – thanks to the numerous mistakes we've made along the way.

So, here are the 7 things I’ve learnt on my renovation journey.

1. Design for living not just for looking

If you're thinking, 'well, that's obvious,' then how did I end up with black carpet in the bedroom and a sick baby during our second reno? Dark carpets looked incredible during the planning phase and for about 0.2 seconds after we moved in. Then my refluxy newborn created her own high-contrast Jackson Pollock artwork with spewed-up breastmilk, while dust accumulated at record speed in other areas of the floor.

Pro tip: if you don't want to vacuum your carpet daily – go for tones like oatmeal, beige, and other dusty hues.

The same applies to walls if you have children. However, if 'pasta sauce red' isn't your desired shade of wall colour, don't stress. Dulux Wash&Wear is the solution you need.

It is the ideal interior wall paint that provides superior washability and stain resistance that actually wipes clean. It also has a hard-wearing finish that lasts and keeps walls in bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and hallways looking freshly painted long after your reno has finished. With a wide selection of colours, you'll probably be able to find a match for 'pasta sauce red' if that's your thing. I actually think Dulux's Capsicum Red is pretty close.

2. Don’t sleep on social media

Remember Pinterest? You probably haven't opened the app since you pinned flower crowns and letterpress stationery to your dream wedding board. Trust me when I say that Pinterest is the easiest way to learn what you do and don't want to do in your renovation. Just start scrolling, and the app will learn your preferences and show you more of what you like. Think of your Pinterest boards as digital mood boards that you can share with your partner, suppliers, and tradespeople to get on the same page about what you want.

Instagram is also amazing for finding design inspiration and directly contacting brands if you have questions or need extra support. As a general trend – building and decorating brands tend to have excellent customer service because they know that most renovators are super needy first-timers, who require a lot of handholding and moral support. After all, we are spending a lot of money, and that's just very scary and a bit too grown-up, okay?

3. You don’thaveto use an interior designer

We’ve worked with and without interior designers over our various renovations. Something I’ve noticed is that renovation supply brands (tile companies, lighting suppliers, homewares retailers etc) now tend to offer design consults as part of their pre-sales service. For example, Dulux offers a great service with an expert Dulux Colour Consultant to help you choose the right colour scheme for your home. These are an affordable price that turns into credit when you purchase a product. If you’re doing a smaller reno (such as one bathroom versus the whole house), you probably don’t need to hire a dedicated designer.

Oh and remember that Pinterest board we just talked about? Send that ahead of your consult so your designer can understand what you are trying to achieve.

4. Background check your trades

Just like when you apply for a job, you need to reference check the people who will be working for you. It’s completely acceptable to ask to see their previous work for clients.

If you are doing a whole house reno – ask if you can visit one of your builder’s previous projects and talk to the owners. We’ve happily hosted these visits for tradies we loved working with.

For smaller projects or when you’re buying products, check reviews on Google and Houzz, and quickly go through Instagram comments. You can’t beat a personal recommendation, so ask in your group chats, at work, or in the school playground.

5. Don’t rush when it comes to planning

The upfront admin is just as important as the design. No matter the size of your reno – make sure you have a clear understanding of the financial and project management side of things. Here are some areas to start.

6. Choose high quality materials/products to avoid waste down the track

I’m all about the spendy/savvy balance. Target has an incredible crockery game, and no one beats IKEA for low-cost storage solutions. I also hate waste (both environmental and financial), so we’ve invested in high-use and high-visibility areas, where cheaper compromises would show wear and tear quickly. If you’re wondering where to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions, there are two areas to focus on:

7. Don’t be awkward about discounts

Investing in quality products can be expensive. If you are splurging, look for a discount code to bring down the price a bit.

Pro tip: search for the brand on Instagram and look at posts they are tagged in to find influencer collabs which almost always have discount codes.

Even 10 per cent off makes a huge difference when you’re spending hundreds. In my experience, almost every brand has a way to get money off your purchase. That might be free shipping, a big discount for becoming a member, a one-off voucher for joining their mailing list, or a bundle deal on popular products. And if you can’t find a discount, message their customer service team to ask about offers. Don’t forget that your membership programs elsewhere might also qualify you for some money off; your phone plan, private health, and even yourMamamiasubscription will get you discounts, so it pays to check.

Have you renovated your home? What did you learn? Share your tips in the comments below.

Ensure your walls stay looking freshly painted for longer with DuluxWash&Wear.Available now at your local hardware store.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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