This was the hardest part to figure out. The changes I wanted to make in my home were cosmetic, so it’s not like they were absolutely necessary. The budget could’ve been low or high depending on how much I wanted to duplicate all those pages I was ripping out of home magazines. Setting the cost for your renovation is the single most important decision you’ll make. Do a little homework on the price ranges for the items you’re looking at so you know your budget is realistic. Do not make it up as you go along, that’s how you go broke. And crazy! If you know you only have a certain amount to spend, it’s much easier to make decisions. Even if you fall in love with a $10,000 chandelier, you just tell yourself it’s not in the budget. Then walk, no, run away as fast as you can!

Do not hire anyone who does not come recommended by someone you know (and who has the proper licensing and insurance). That someone can even be a friend of a friend of a friend. It doesn’t matter; just make sure at least one human being can vouch for their work. You might also want to check out the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no complaints against them. Not only should he or she be experienced and knowledgeable, it’s crucial to feel like you can trust this person. I decided to go with an old friend of the family although he wasn’t the cheapest one. It may not always be the case, but in my situation I felt comfortable there would be no surprise costs. If not, he’d have to answer to my whole familia!

The perfect cocina. Talk about pressure for a Latina! It’s the gathering place for every holiday, birthday or any day that needs celebrating in my family. Just when I thought I had it figured it out, another kitchen style would catch my eye. When it came time to make my decision, I still didn’t feel ready, but I didn’t want to push back my deadlines. And honestly, I don’t know if I’d be 100% happy with any kitchen. It’s the room I spend the most time in so I’m constantly thinking of ways to make the design better, whether it’s something aesthetic or truly functional that would improve my ability to get things done. For now I can always change the paint color or window treatments for a quick fix but who knows? There’s a possibility I just might redo it in the future.

Ever heard of an appliance elitist? You know, someone who chooses appliances based on their looks before considering its other features? I’m not at all ashamed to admit that’s me. I know its not the most scientific way to choose a dishwasher or microwave, buy hey, I couldn’t help it. If I didn’t like the color, placement of the buttons or the company’s logo, I moved on. Lucky for me, very few styles passed my strict design requirements. Once I narrowed down my choices, I researched ratings and combed blogs to find out which models had the best performance track records. If a refrigerator had a reputation for breaking down, totally sucked up too much energy, or wouldn’t fit more than three apples and a gallon of milk, it didn’t matter how breathtaking it was. Appliance elitist, yes. Brainless? Uh, no.

In my quest for new windows, I searched high and low for self-cleaning ones. Even after being told I was delusional by sales reps, I still kept looking. If we can send people into outer space, why can't someone make the world's worst chore obsolete? I don't have to tell you how this story ends, but needless to say I'm still cleaning windows. Once I gave up chasing pipe
dreams, it was pretty easy to settle on a style. Some people want their windows to jump out and make a statement, but I didn't want anything too complicated looking.  Plain, simple styles that blended with the rest of the décor suited me fine. Casement, double-hung (there is apparently an entire glossary of window terms), I didn’t care. As long as they were energy saving and the right size, I was happy!

Why, oh why, didn’t someone invent eco-friendly paint sooner? I don’t want harsh chemicals in my cleaning products, much less cover my walls with them. I was super happy to find a ton of green paints with lots of nice colors to choose from. Although it may seem like a waste of money, I highly recommend testing colors first before committing to them. A blue that seems so gorgeous on the paint chip, or in the can, can take on a whole new identity once it lives in your dining room. The most important factor to consider is how it makes you feel when you look at it. If you feel a sudden urge to kick off your chancletas and relax? Bingo! Tip: Buy a small amount of paint in the color you think you want to use and paint a few small areas to see what it looks like when it dries.

Have you ever dreamed of light fixtures? Well, get ready for bouncing rays of light to taunt your night hours as you’re deciding on the right ones for your home.  Wall sconces, chandeliers and even disco balls ruled my dreams no matter how much I wished for winning lottery numbers instead. Before my renovation, I had never given light fixtures much thought. If the light worked, great. If it didn’t, I hoped I had spare light bulbs. Now, I found myself obsessing over how I would use light in each room. Thankfully, my budget restrictions helped me focus on what I could comfortably afford. But the truth is there are so many inexpensive and chic options available that there’s no need to go loco. Really, how many of us are actually lighting priceless pieces of artwork or trying to appear 10 years younger to our family? (oh wait, that’s not a bad idea . . . )

Repeat after me. There is no floor like a wood floor. It’s affordable, easy to maintain and looks beautiful. It also brings the most value to your home when it’s time to resell. And it’s a lot easier to keep clean and free of allergens, stains and other yuck factors. After deciding to go with a deep, dark chocolate color, I still had lots more decisions to make. Parquet, plank, or strip? Engineered floors or solid wood? Bamboo, oak, or maple? The list went on and on, but for some reason, the process never felt overwhelming. I found it really interesting to learn about all the different styles. Yes, a little nerdy of me, but I couldn’t help it. After growing up in apartments with linoleum, I was ready for a change.

Something may look beautiful in a magazine, but there are so many other factors besides aesthetics to consider. Yes, it should look and feel good, but does it work for the room? This is where things like size and scale really come into play. There should be a nice balance to the arrangement of objects in a room. There should also be a nice balance and flow from room to room. For the most part, you want some harmony in the décor throughout the house. If you’re not used to measuring things, get familiar with your tape measure. Whether it’s how big of a couch you can fit through your doorway to the length of your curtains, the right size is obviously crucial. Keep all these measurements in a notebook and carry it around everywhere. You never know when you’ll come across something perfect for your home!

Even when the renovation process is over, it’s not really over. Your style may evolve or the needs of your home may change. It’s a work in progress and you should treat it as so. Once you come to peace with that, the pillow-less sofa doesn’t bother you anymore. Your home is your castle—a bit cliché, but so true. Nothing that lives or doesn’t live there should stress you out. And if for some reason you find yourself agonizing over doorbells, here’s a vision for you. Just remember what your home looked like before the renovation and smile.