Big remodeling projects can be intimidating because they are, well, big. They are necessary, however, if you want to carve out that perfect kitchen or revamp the basement.

Here’s how to approach a big home improvement project and gain some peace of mind.

1. Break it down. Look at the overall project and make a list of the major steps. Interview contractors. Call references. Select a contractor. Meet to discuss layout and timeline. Check online sources, such as the National Association of Realtors remodeling section. Once it’s in the planning stages, it seems a little less intimidating.
2. Take control. Realize that you can control lots of things about remodeling (except for the old wiring in the walls and the uneven floor under the linoleum). If you’re worried about the project going on and on, then put a variable timeline on your plan. We think it will take 6 weeks, but we’ll allow for 10. See, you’re controlling it.
3. Hire the right contractor. Find someone with the right skills and a good attitude about facing challenges. When you find a few surprises, like these noted in the Chicago Tribune, you want someone who can handle them gracefully.
4. Get your finances in order. Whether you are taking out a loan or using savings, make sure funds are ready when you want to start your kitchen or basement remodeling. Here’s more from Better Homes and Gardens on the financing options.
5. Let go of some of the control. If you hire the right contractor, you can relax and just step in and out for the major decisions.

Big remodeling projects can be a challenge, but they don’t have to overwhelm you. Just think about the major transformation that lies ahead. In the end, all your work will be well worth it.

If you’re looking for easy home design upgrades, focus on your windows. This is one area where you can make an impact pretty quickly, using nice fabric or sleek window blinds to boost the look throughout the house.

This type of home improvement project can be confusing, however, as there are so many styles to consider. Do you want full length drapes or roman shades or a combination of several styles? Here’s how to decide.

Window Treatment Styles

Start by looking at online sources to see what kinds of window treatments are available. Ask yourself which fits your style and budget:

• Full-length drapes with a thick lining that puddles at the floor for added drama
• Vertical blinds for a sliding glass door
• Wooden shutters for the windows around your breakfast table
• Pull-down shades for a child’s room

Window Treatments: It’s All in the Material

You’ll want to consider the material (wispy or heavy?), the width of the slats on any blinds (thick or thin?), and how much privacy you need. If the window treatments are for a bedroom window you’ll want to block the morning sun and create a private retreat. In a den overlooking a wooded lot, you might not need much.

If you have unusual window shapes, turn to the experts for tips. In a bay window, for example, forget the flowing fabric and think shutters, like these from Hunter Douglas.

Selecting window treatments can be lots of fun, but it is work. Start this type of home improvement project when you’ve got some time to shop around. You also can save money by looking for ready-made window treatments instead of custom-made ones. That’s one way to have your home improvement dollars go a little further.

If you own an older house, you’re probably aware of the dangers of lead paint, but you may not know how widespread it is or how to work around it if you need to. According to the EPA, over two-thirds of homes built before 1960 have lead paint. That covers a wide range of houses, so it’s important to consider whether you have lead before moving ahead with remodeling.

This is National Poison Prevention Week, so it’s a natural time to focus on the potential risks of lead poisoning. Start by finding out where the lead might be lurking and what you can do to protect your family.

Remodeling with Lead Paint in Mind

Lead paint doesn’t have to mean the end to your remodeling dreams, however. We have lead in our house and there are many ways to do remodeling around it. Here are a few tips from HUD that can help you get in the know:

• If you have young children, avoid sanding, scraping, and moving any dust throughout the house.
• If the paint is in decent shape, paint over it. This adds another buffer layer before the lead can chip off.
• Don’t eat or drink in the room you’re remodeling in.

What Contractors Should Know

When hiring a contractor, make sure he or she knows how to work with lead paint. Ask the contractor for details on how he or she plans to work around potential lead paint threats. According to Oregon’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, you should seal the room, keep all debris contained, and avoid any unnecessary scraping and sanding. Wearing eye masks, rubber gloves, and washing your work clothes separately can also help prevent unintentional transfer.

Lead paint doesn’t have to derail your home improvement plans–but it should definitely impact how you approach your remodel.

If you’re expecting a few visitors to your house this year, why not do a little remodeling and create a nice haven for them? A well appointed guest suite can enhance your home design and add much needed privacy for your guests.

The best part of this type of remodeling is that you can do it using existing space. Converting an unused office or empty bedroom into a guest room doesn’t require major structural changes. If you have to do a any bathroom remodeling, that will impact your budget. Just keep your overall home design goals and budget in mind.

Here’s how to approach the remodeling. You’ll need:

• A bedroom and, preferably, a connecting bathroom. (Again, you may have to do a little bathroom remodeling to bring it up to par.) Depending on your home design, you might want a soaking tub. If space is limited, try a fancy shower stall .
• A place away from the crowds. This is tricky, but look for a guest room that is close enough to the stairs or kitchen, yet has a little privacy built in.
• Comfy bedding, pillows, and a few good books to read add the final homey touches. Better Homes and Gardens offers great tips for making your guests feel cozy.

Remodeling and Space Planning

Space planning is the key, as you’ll want the room to be accessible without being in the way. One popular option is a first floor master suite along one back hallway. This is ideal for older guests who might have physical limitations.

Add a cozy guest room is a great remodeling project for spring. With a little creativity, you can add a room that really shines for your guests.

If you’re looking to spruce up your yard for the spring, realize that many jobs can be spread out over time. Landscaping in stages has become a common practice, with many people doing a three to five year plan.

Live With Your House Before Major Landscaping

This type of approach allows you to live with the house a little before committing to large sections of roses or cutting down trees to add a new deck.

After you’ve been in the house for awhile, you’ll know about sun and shade patterns and street noise. You’ll learn that your neighbor’s large deck parties are a little loud or that you want to block the nearby convenience store. That’s what home improvement is all about.

When adding landscaping in stages, it’s important to start with a plan, like this one from the University of Missouri Extension Service. You’ll want to include:

• Sun and shade patterns
• Flowerbeds
• Backyard play equipment
• Future plans for a pond or hot tub

Start Landscaping With Hardscapes

The first phase of any landscaping plan should be patio, sidewalk and other hardscapes. These areas are difficult to change later, regardless the home improvement budget.

The next stage is adding large trees and shrubs. Large plantings are important focal points in the yard, as they provide screening and add height and texture.

Finally, you can scope out ideal sites for a flower or vegetable garden, and start adding all those little touches.

Landscaping and Your Finances

There also are many financial reasons for planting in phases. A slow approach helps you spread out the costs with the contractor and possibly save money by doing some of the work yourself.

While it’s easy to go, go, go with landscaping, a better approach is to slow down. Landscape in stages. work with your contractor on timing. You’ll be glad you did.

If your hall bathroom has been taken over by the kids, why not have a little fun with it? A kid’s themed bathroom can bring out your imagination and create a fun focal point on the second floor.

Kid’s bathrooms include everything from polka dot wall tiles to dinosaur murals to seascape shower curtains. Here’s how to pick a theme and get the ball rolling.

• Define your audience: Your approach will change depending on the number of children, whether they are boys or girls, and their ages.
• Select a theme: Four-year-old twin girls might be delighted with a pink Princess theme while an 8-year-old boy obviously won’t.
• Plan colors: You don’t have to do the traditional pink or blue and if you have a girl and a boy, you’ll be better off with greens and yellows anyway.
• Find a contractor with a little creativity. A few wall niches or kid sized storage units can add nice finishing touches.

Bathroom Remodeling Reminders

As you figure out plans for the bathroom remodeling, remember that kids don’t stay young forever. Heed advice from HGTV and don’t drastically change structural items. A pink bathtub will be a disaster when you try to sell the house one day, while cute pink wall tile can be removed (by you or the contractor) in a few years. Also focus on:

• Paint
• Towels and accessories
• Storage baskets
• A fun mirror
• A fun toilet seat, like this one from Amazon.com.

And, if you get so carried away with the bathroom remodeling that you want to extend the child’s theme, try these ideas from Better Homes & Gardens.

Designing a kid’s bathroom can be lots of fun, so relax and let your creativity shine through. Look for a contractor who knows how to have a little fun, too.

Basement remodeling has become a popular project, as people look to remodel their existing space instead of moving. While we’ve all seen rec rooms in basements, there are lots of other options.

Adding a Home Theater in the Basement

Want a fun place to watch movies? The basement is ideal because you typically don’t want lots of light and windows in a home theater. All you need is:

• An enclosed space
• A large wall for a television or projection screen
• Plenty of seating like couches or large comfy chairs

Add in a small kitchenette with a microwave and an under-counter refrigerator and you’re set. Even if you don’t get as elaborate as these set-ups in Home Theater Design Magazine, you can create a comfy place to relax.

Basement Remodeling for the In-Laws

Basements also are ideal for guests, as it creates a private place for them to hang out. One option is an in-law suite, as noted on CNN, that would pair a bedroom and bathroom to provide a full hotel type package. Tuck the room at one end of the basement for maximum privacy.

Exercise Away With Your Basement Remodeling

If you’re tired of going to the gym for workouts, why not create your own exercise space? A 10-foot by 8-foot room is plenty of space for a treadmill, exercise bike and a few weights. If you can swing a bathroom down there, make them accessible to each other. Bob Vila has some great tips for home gym design.

Basement Remodeling Highlights

In most homes, the basement is a wide open space that can be divided into two or three special area. Because the space is away from the main rooms of the house, it’s also a little easier to deal with contractors moving around and related noise. With the right contractor and space plan, basement remodeling can be a fairly easy project.

Trying to decipher a remodeling estimate? You’re not alone, as many home owners find this a tricky part of the whole remodeling process. There are many details to cover and contractors have different ways of presenting their information. Here’s what to do:

Remodeling Estimates 101

As you talk with contractors, make a list of what you want, including any special brands. Then ask each contractor to bid on those specifications. This way you’ll be comparing apples to apples instead of laminate to granite countertops.

Otherwise, you might be delighted that one contractor’s bid is less than another’s. The only problem is, he didn’t know that you wanted a Jacuzzi tub, so he included a less expensive one.

It’s All in the Remodeling Details

Before sending off the contractor to put together a bid, talk about your expectations. Some contractors include 10 pages of details in an estimate, down to the type of caulk they plan to buy, while others only hit the highlights. The key items you want included in the contractor’s bids are:

• Scope of work: demolition, repair, rebuild
• Materials list: lumber, plumbing fixtures, make and model of what is going to be installed
• Cost breakdown: labor, materials, deliveries, contractor oversight
• Payment breakdown: when are payments due

Communicating with the Contractor

Communication is the key, so make sure you find a contractor you can talk to and who will listen to your needs. A good contractor will ask lots of question, so be prepared with your wish list.

According to Ask the Builder, many contractor estimate go astray when the home owners don’t provide enough details. If you want a granite countertop, make it known. When you compare those bids, you’ll quickly see that it’s all in the details!

Storage–or lack of it–is one concern that leads many people down the path to bathroom remodeling. This is especially true in old houses where the space is limited.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal for Bathroom Remodeling

If you’re starting a bathroom remodeling project, ask the contractor whether you can expand the room by stealing space from a bedroom closet. This can add three to six feet of depth and make a big difference.

That extra bathroom storage space can become a linen closet for towels, cleaning supplies, or hair care items. Combined with over the door storage, corner shelves and other bathroom storage products–like these from Space Savers–you’ll have a home improvement bonanza!

Bathroom Storage Solutions

Even Martha Stewart (or her editors) realizes that bathroom storage is key to making the space look organized. Just beware of glass cabinets: no matter how stylish they are, you should consider what you’re storing and how neat the interior of your cabinets will be.

Bathroom Remodeling: Go In and Go Vertical

One secret to successful bathroom remodeling is using every inch of space. Ask the contractor to look for areas in the wall framing where he could add recessed shelving. This also works in the shower for recessed soap dishes It may also come in handy around the house, as shown on HGTV.

Vertical space also is important, so look for bathroom storage cabinets in tall sizes that take the cabinet above eye level. You’ll want a balance, however. Keep everyday items easily accessible, while less frequently used things can be stored in out of the way places.

Another home improvement option is to have the contractor build a shelf running around the room several feet below the ceiling. This can be a great place to store decorative knick knacks. The shelving also helps pull the eye upward and adds visual interest.

Bathroom storage can be a challenge, but with a little creativity you can make the space more functional.

We all like to think we can do our own home repairs. A leaking faucet. A wall that needs paint. While there are many home repairs for the novice to moderately skilled DIYer, other projects need an experienced hand. Here’s how to know.

• Home improvement equals time. Let’s face it. Home improvement takes time. If you have a party in a few weeks and your dining room wall is a mess of peeling paint, can you take time out of work to fix it? If not, try a painting contractor. The contractor will have the crew to come in, fix the wall, prime and paint, and put all the furniture back.
• Home improvement means lots of tools. It’s easy to nail a piece of molding back into the wall, but if one breaks, do you have the tools to create a miter cut? This is when you should call in a contractor who knows how to add the new piece of decorative molding seamlessly. Buying home improvement tools can get expensive, so consider how often you’d use them. If you don’t plan to build shelving regularly, it’s often easier to hire a contractor instead of investing in the tools.
• Home improvement takes skills. You may be well qualified to paint your kitchen cabinets, but can you install new ones? That’s a much different job, as it requires demolition, carpentry skills and perhaps some electrical work. Often, it’s better to find a good remodeling contractor for a full kitchen overhaul. You’ll save time, aggravation and get the job done right.

Home Improvement and the Leaking Faucet

Still want to fix the leaking kitchen faucet? Try these instructions from the Do It Yourself site. For bigger projects, find a good contractor with the skills you need.