House Rules: Johanna Griggs' top three renovation tips

 House Rules: Johanna Griggs' top three renovation tips
Jessie RichardsonDecember 7, 2020

Channel 7's renovation reality TV show House Rules begins its latest season tonight.

House Rules and Better Homes and Gardens host Johanna Griggs doesn't just look at good renovations for the screen – she also runs a construction company with her husband, builder Todd Huggins. Griggs tells Property Observer about her top tips for DIY renovators:

  1. Ask yourself: How do you want your home to feel?

    Some people can get distracted by paint swatches, measurements and floor plans. But Griggs says it's important to understand what you want from your renovation before making any major decisions.

    "A lot of people can look at plans and not have an idea of how it's going to look", said Griggs. Although it may seem obvious, renovators should understand how they want to live in their home.

    "The first the we ask people is: How do they want their home to feel?

    "How are they going to use their home?"

    This includes considering how the house will work when it's full of people, if you intend to entertain. Griggs noted her own teenage boys, and the importance of designing a home where each family member has enough space and privacy.

  2. Think about how your home interacts with outside spaces

    Don't just get carried away with matching interiors – think about your entire property.

    "I find that one of the most important things when you design a home," said Griggs.

    "What do you want to see when you look out the windows, and what do you not want to see?"

    She encourages renovators and home builders to consider how their home will interact with its site and surrounding environment.

  3. Make a mood board

    "Most people have a thousands of photos of their kids on their phones," said Griggs.

    "I have lighting channels and toilet roll holder photos."

    To help clarify your ideas, Griggs recommends making a moodboard or creating another system to lay out your ideas visually.

    "I think it's really important that if you love something, you take a photo of it," she said.

    Cutting out images from magazines and laying them out in front of yourself can help you decide what you like and don't like, says Griggs. For those who prefer the digital route, there are plenty of sites like Instagram or Pinterest where you can collect ideas.

    The process of mood boarding is particularly useful for those who aren't used to making decisions about interior details, Griggs said.

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