Hey renovators,

It’s finally happened.

Somebody has emailed me asking: How can we renovate for resale?

If you engage with my content at all, then you’ll know that this isn’t really a topic that I like to indulge in. The notion of designing our homes for resale has had us all in a chokehold for the past decade and we are only just re-emerging from our grey carpeted white boxes.

However, this subscriber has made it clear: “I want to resell for big profit” - “I want it to appeal to almost anyone and feel luxurious at the same time.”

One thing that I can empathise with is the fading of the ‘Forever Home’. Let’s face it, most of us are not renovating the space that we plan to retire in, and so it would be a little irresponsible to ignore the timestamp looming over our heads when we’re making choices that are eventually going to end up on Rightmove.

I want to walk you through this reality without forcing you to put up with a boring home for the next 3-5 years. How do we create a palatable space that still feels interesting for us to live in, in the meantime?

I’m an interior designer, and I’ve visited hundreds of homes. So, let me show you the look that people love: palatable, but not basic. Then we’ll talk about what we can do to make it feel more like ‘you’ - since you’ll have to live with it.

01) Invest in the Bones

Replaster the walls and ceilings. Consider wall panelling if it feels right for the space. Spend some of the budget on a beautiful engineered oak wood floor. Add coving where it’s been ripped out. No ‘Small Ogee’, please.

These are the things which a buyer will notice when you strip out all of your fancy furniture before selling. Make sure that your property has beautiful features (‘feature walls’ don’t count).

02) Considerate Storage

Built-in storage can be a huge selling point, but only when it’s not too ‘niche’. What I mean by that is: bookshelves integrated into natural nooks - not wardrobes that dictate the layout of the primary bedroom until they are ripped out again. Before you opt for built-in, select storage areas that would make sense to anyone - not just to you.

That being said, it’s important. When you are renovating a space, make sure that there is a natural space for all of the basics. Everybody needs a cupboard for the hoover and somewhere to store shoes. These are universal needs. They are investment areas that most buyers would see as a selling point.

03) The Convenience Scale

When making renovation decisions for a space which you will likely want to sell, always run them through the convenience scale. Ask yourself: how inconvenient would it be to switch out this design choice?

Things that rate highly on this scale would be your joinery: doors, kitchen, cabinetry. Elements can be replaced, but it’s inconvenient to match sizes (especially if your openings are non-standard). Things that are much lower on this scale would be light fixings and furniture.

Now that you have the basics covered, we need to think about creating a space that you actually want to live in. When you renovate solely for resale, 3 years quickly turns into 5 and before you know it, you have been living in a space that you don’t love for a long time. Life is too short.

04) Display Your Stuff

This might sound like simple advice, but collect things that you love and display them. Even if this is not your forever home - it’s your new home. Make it feel like home!

Visit vintage markets and charity shops and find things that you love. Create beautiful displays of your favourite photographs. Trinkets and gadgets and keepsakes - whatever makes you, you.

If someone were to walk through your home and look at the walls, what would they learn about you? Make it interesting.

The best part about this is that holes from nails can be filled; display items leave when you do. You can make your home feel personal and unique without the commitment of permanence. If you’re worried about damaging your newly plastered walls, consider command strips (or install picture rails in the first place!)

05) Fun Rugs Only

If we’re keeping things fairly simple and non-controversial on the walls, we’re having fun with the rugs. Avoid plain, beige, boring rugs that will make your home feel like a showroom. We need to add in personality wherever we can.

The best place to start if you’re new to rugs is Etsy. There are so many fun options that will help to bring your lounge to life, without the price tag.

It’s also a great platform for meeting artisans. If you don’t find a design that you love, reach out to the makers directly and discuss your vision with them. Often they will work with you to create a new design, tailored to your space.

I think that’s it for today. Takeaways:

Was that helpful? Let me know.

Thanks for being a part of my little newsletter community and remember you can send me your space for some home truths. Safe space.