8 things to know before you renovate your home for the first time

There’s a difference between a simple “swap out” bathroom project (replacing the tub, toilet and vanity with new, prettier versions) and a total reconfiguration of the bathroom that requires knocking down walls and moving around plumbing. That may sound obvious, but getting clear about exactly how much you’ll be changing affects many other choices you’ll need to make, including what kind of contractor to hire, whether you want a designer to help and how much you could decide to DIY. Generally, the more complex your project, the more likely it is you’ll want to hire help for everything, including design, planning and labor.

It’s often easiest to know exactly what you want to change if you’ve lived in the space for a while, says DC interior designer Iantha Carley, of Iantha Carley Interiors. “When I meet people who just purchased a house and they want to redo the kitchen, I recommend them waiting,” she says. “I’ve had lots of instances where people have not thought it out [and] don’t know a simple thing like do you want a pot filler? Do you want the microwave in the base cabinets or do you want it overhead?”