Looking to get the most out of your home? Maybe you’re hoping to add some value, improve how everything works, or make room for a growing family (or all of the above!). There are plenty of ways to make your space work better for you, and trust me, I’ve learned a thing or two about what to do – and what not to do.

In this post, I’ll dive into some of the latest trends in home renovation, focusing on making your home more spacious and efficient.

And, of course, I’ll share my cautionary tale about why doing your homework before choosing a builder is absolutely crucial. Spoiler: I wish I had!

Buy Cheap, Buy Twice

Let me tell you a little story about how, when we moved into our current home, I had this grand idea to make the place perfect for our growing family.

You know what they say: ‘buy cheap, buy twice.’ Spoiler alert: it did not go to plan.

I called multiple builders, including ones recommended by the neighbours, but after weeks of no-one getting back to me or being interested in the work, I ended up hiring a local builder I found through local advertising (they had banners all around the village).

You know the type-the builder who nods enthusiastically and says, “Don’t worry, mate, it’ll be sorted in no time,” before disappearing, saying they’ll turn up tomorrow, then turning up at random, leaving their tools everywhere, and then vanishing for two weeks, leaving your house looking like an episode of DIY SOS but without the happy ending.

When this bodge job builder finally left, I was left standing in what could only be described as a physical representation of misery. My wife was miserable, and I should have listened to her from the start. Honestly, I was stubborn, adamant that he wasn’t that bad, and I deeply regret not trusting her instincts. She saw the warning signs long before I did, and if I had listened, we could have saved ourselves a lot of heartache and money.

Never again will I dismiss her advice when it comes to big decisions like this. It wasn’t until he collapsed the roof in the kids’ bedroom and hired a proper plasterer that I gave him the boot (we still use that guy to this day, bless him). The plasterer told us there was no need to take the ceiling down in the first instance and that we could have just boarded over it.

After a few months of pretending I could live with it (and convincing myself that “rustic” was definitely a legitimate aesthetic choice for new walls), I finally admitted defeat. My wife, of course, had been right all along, and it took me far too long to see it. I promised her – and myself – that I’d never make that mistake again.

The Open-Plan Dream

We had initially wanted an open-plan living space, knocking down some internal walls to make the home feel bigger, brighter, and more flexible. Open-plan spaces and living areas have been a notable UK design trend recently, especially for family life and hosting. But, of course, Mr. Bodge-it’s work thus far had shattered any trust in him, so that idea also had to be put on hold until we could trust someone competent.

The Extension That Never Was

Originally, we were going to get an extension-maybe build out into the garden or even go upwards to add more space – but the budget had long run out thanks to the endless bodge jobs. Extensions can be a great way to maximise your home’s potential, and energy-efficient ones are especially popular these days due to rising energy costs. But for us, that dream had to be shelved – at least until we could trust someone competent to do it.

A Proper Fix

I finally hired proper builders – actual, legitimate, knew-what-they-were-doing professionals. And let me tell you, it was like the difference between night and day, or more accurately, the difference between a shed someone built in the dark after a few pints and an actual liveable home.

We had a wonderful new kitchen put in by Wickes – something that I was going to task Mr. Bodge-it with – and, get this, it had functioning drawers and everything. Not a single one was wonky, and I could even open them without having to stand on one foot and chant for good luck.

Then we upgraded the energy efficiency of the loft with the help of our plasterer / brick-layer – adding proper boards to expand the space, with fitted wardrobes for loft conversions – which meant that for the first time ever, I could store things in the loft without worrying that I’d fall through the ceiling. The luxury!

The Moral of the Story

NGL; the whole experience left me with a newfound respect for the phrase “You get what you pay for.“

Turns out that when you pay peanuts (although he wasn’t exactly the cheapest builder…), you do, in fact, get a builder who treats your house like an amateur art installation. But at least I can laugh about it now… mostly.

So, if you’re thinking about maximising your home’s potential, here’s my advice: start by not hiring the bloke who promises you he can handle everything over a cup of tea and a handshake.

Spend your money on professionals who know what they’re doing, especially if you value having a ceiling that stays where it should and a house that doesn’t make you cry every time you look at it.

Trust me, it’s worth it.