Your living room is where you spend most of your time at home (aside from your bedroom, but that’s because we’re not counting the hours you spend sleeping). From cuddling up by the fireplace with your family for a movie night to watching your parents unwrap the gift you spent weeks on the waitlist for on Christmas morning, a lot of life’s moments—big and small—happen in this space. So, it’s no wonder why it’s the first project on so many homeowners’ to-do lists—your living room is where the living happens!
At Shack Built, we’re dedicated to making the renovation process the way it should be—honest, collaborative, and stress-free. Sadly, people have made plenty of mistakes throughout their living room remodel in Overland Park, and they end up spending more time and money in the long run fixing things. That’s why our team is here to map out everything you need to know when preparing to refresh your living room.
1. Nail Down the Why
First things first, if you want your contractors to nail your vision, you need to have a detailed understanding of your wants and needs. Are you interested in remodeling your space to make room for your growing family? Want to update the aesthetic to reflect your personal style?
What do you use the space for? A family that’s big on movie nights and a single couple that loves to throw extravagant parties probably don’t share the same vision.
Once you’ve nailed down the purpose of your home interior renovations in Overland Park, then you can start hammering out the details. What are your non-negotiables?
Finishing these first few steps is crucial not only for loving your new living room, but also for creating a realistic timeline and budget for your project. Take the time to assess your current space, noting what you like and dislike about the layout, style, and function.
2. Get Out of the House
Next, it’s time to explore your options. Start browsing Pinterest and potential contractors’ project galleries to get an idea of what aesthetic you’re going for. Take note of specific layouts, light fixtures, textures, and architectural features you like—and don’t like—as these will help maximize your time when you sit down with a designer.
Don’t feel limited to what’s trending online; get out of the house to research, too! Whether you’ve always loved the look of personality-packed historic buildings downtown, new modern homes on Lee Boulevard, or even your favorite restaurant or hotel, take pictures of it all.
Then, ask yourself why you like it, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself if you’re not sure what caught your attention—your design team will help you nail down specifics for your mood board before drafting up plans for your living room remodel in Overland Park. Remember, even the best designers and contractors aren’t mind readers, so the more inspiration you have to reference, the better (for everyone).
3. Think About Proportions
Interior decorators tend to stick to the 60/40 rule, meaning that about 60% of your space will contain furniture, while the remaining 40% will remain open. However, there’s more to think about when it comes to a living room remodel in Overland Park than buying the right size rug for your sectional sofa.
That’s why mapping out the purpose behind your project is the first step, because that will determine exactly what you need in your living room, so you can determine where everything should go (and build the appropriate space for it).
Don’t forget about things like the ceiling, walls, crown molding, and doors! For example, coffered ceilings bring the space in to create a cozy feeling, while vaulted ceilings expand the space out for a more spacious feeling. Or, you can paint the ceiling—white or a bold color—to change the mood!
You can get creative with the layout by being intentional about your walls, choosing from library paneling, chair rails with wainscots, drywall, or a combination. To spice things up, you can create a feature or “accent” wall with geometric designs, a mural, or unique trim—just to name a few ideas! You can also opt for built-in storage, from on-display bookshelves to private junk rooms. You can also paint your crown molding to move away from traditional and towards contemporary, or remove it altogether to switch up the style.
From start to finish, keep the flow of traffic in mind to make sure your plan makes sense visually and functionally. Remember, you can always remove or relocate doors.
4. Be Mindful of Trends
We’re not saying to stick to a basic, boring design, but if your budget doesn’t allow for another remodel in the future—or if your tastes change often—we recommend prioritizing longevity.
When preparing for your living room remodel in Overland Park, remember that swapping out your trendy pillows is a lot more cost-effective than ripping out wallpaper, shiplap, or barn doors. Use trends as inspiration, not as a blueprint.
5. Do Your Research on Materials
From flooring to lighting—and, well, everything in between—there’s more to think about when choosing your materials than their appearance. We know that opting for less expensive laminate flooring may seem like a great idea now, but you’ll end up spending more time and money replacing it down the road. You don’t absolutely need to get the best of the best of everything, but just to be mindful of how things will hold up over the years.
All that being said, choosing high-quality materials for your living room remodel in Overland Park will enhance the appearance of your space. At the end of the day, a remodel is an investment, and making informed material choices is key to maximizing your return. On average, homeowners can expect around a 70% return on investment (ROI) on their remodel, but that number comes down to your decisions.
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6. Remember How Things Work Together
Whether you’re doing a kitchen, bathroom, or living room remodel in Overland Park, it’s crucial that you and your team understand building science. Your house is a system filled with moving parts, so one small change can drastically improve or worsen its performance, affecting your home’s overall energy efficiency. From your material choices to the methods your contractors use during construction, everything impacts your home’s durability and your family’s comfort and safety.
The fundamental elements of building science are air, heat, and moisture flow. This includes:
- Insulation and air sealing
- Creating a proper thermal barrier between your home’s interior and exterior
- Indoor air quality
- Reducing indoor pollutants through high-performing ventilation
- Moisture management
- Preventing water intrusion, both internally (dehumidification) and externally (drainage)
- Mechanical systems
- Installing the appropriate HVAC systems to ensure lasting climate control capabilities
- Home automation
- Building in smart TVs and audio systems, electric fireplaces (no venting required!), wifi-connected thermostats, and interconnected smoke detectors
7. Don’t Neglect Your Outdoor Spaces
We don’t just do living room remodels in Overland Park—we offer outdoor remodeling services, too! On average, homeowners can increase their home’s value by 10% and see about an 80% ROI from building outdoor living spaces.
Whether you’re looking to get your kids to spend more time outdoors or expand your entertainment space, the opportunities are endless; a room addition isn’t your only option. Plus, Harvard scientists have proven that spending more time outside positively impacts your mental and physical health.
8. Prioritize Proper Lighting
If you’re investing in a living room remodel in Overland Park, don’t you want to shine a light on all your hard work? Lighting is a crucial element of interior design, but also in your home’s energy efficiency.
The style of light fixtures, light tone and intensity, and their placement can completely change the way the space looks and feels—from the size and layout to the aesthetic. For example, you may opt for warm, dim lighting by your television or for a reading nook, and brighter, more detailed fixtures for a desk space. Use lighting to your advantage to set the right mood, add dimension, and draw attention to specific areas.
Don’t forget about the power of natural light, either! Adding new windows or sliding glass patio doors doesn’t just let more light in—it also creates a connection to the outdoors. For added convenience, you can opt for power window shades and smart lighting.
9. Consult With Experts
Don’t be afraid to ask for help at any point. That’s what we’re here for! Phase 1 of our process is an on-site consultation, where we’ll review your goals, budget, and vision so we can work together to map out how we can bring your dreams to life.
As a design-build company, our designers and contractors work under the same roof to maximize communication and collaboration—removing unnecessary stressors from you (like being the middleman between two separate teams) and proactively problem-solving as a team.
Next, we’ll move on to phase 2: design and pre-construction. Here, we’ll start creating the blueprints, which typically takes 4 to 5 weeks for smaller projects, but can take up to 6 months for larger builds. We’ll determine the exact cost, timeline, and scope of work for your living room remodel in Overland Park before moving on to phase 3.
10. Make Arrangements & Set Expectations for Building
Finally, it’s time to enter the final phase—building. Once we’ve gotten any necessary permits and all of your selected materials, we’ll help you sign up for our management software, so you have a convenient way to contact your project manager with any questions.
Most families choose to remain in their home during their living room remodel in Overland Park, but this decision is completely yours. It’s important to take the time to set expectations and boundaries with your contractors and family to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety (and our productivity) during this phase. When you come to Shack Built, you can rest assured that our team will respect your privacy while providing regular updates on our progress. Trust us, we’ve spent years mastering this balance.
Once we’re finished, we’ll walk you through your new living room and make any last-minute tweaks as needed. When we say we’re just as invested in your project’s success—and your satisfaction—as you are, we mean it. That’s why we offer a 1-year warranty after completing your walkthrough.
Let’s Get Started
Ready to begin your living room remodel in Overland Park? You’ve come to the right place!
Shack Built didn’t become one of the most well-known renovation companies overnight—it took years of hard work. Our team isn’t just dedicated to building beautiful homes, but also to building lasting relationships with our clients.
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