Remember the scene from "Alternative 4" when Bożena Dykiel was painting her apartment and the paint dripped onto the freshly laid carpet? Or your own renovation adventures from the '90s, when your dad would bring back the wrong tiles from the construction site, your mom would choose floral wallpaper the size of dinner plates, and the whole thing looked more like a construction disaster than a home makeover? These memories come flooding back when we face our own renovations. At Pillovely, we believe that renovations don't have to be like bad horror movies—they can be like a good Netflix series: with a plan, pace, and a happy ending. Because "You are someone"—someone who deserves a renovation without the stress, tears, and divorce.

Phase 0: Before You Call the Crew – Simpsons-Style Planning

Dreams vs. reality – the first reality check

Let's start with the brutal truth: Pinterest is a lie. Those perfect photos are like retouched models – beautiful, but unrealistic. Your M-3 won't turn into a New York loft, no matter how many walls you tear down (and most of them are load-bearing anyway). Create a mood board, but a realistic one. Instead of "a house like something out of Architectural Digest," think "a house like something out of a Polish TV series, but the new one, not the Kiepskis." This is the first rule of a stress-free renovation – realistic expectations are half the battle.

Budget – the mathematics of pain

The golden rule of renovation: everything will be 30% more expensive. Always. It's like inflation, only faster. Planning on spending 50,000? Prepare 65. Think 20 will be enough? LOL, as the youth used to say in the 2000s.

Budget smash like a pizza:

40% - labor (unless you have a brother-in-law who is a handyman, but remember: cheap brother-in-law = expensive renovation)

35% - materials (no, sale tiles are not a bargain, they are on sale for a reason)

15% - surprises (and there will be, oh yes, there will be)

10% - "what if..." (something always comes up)

Timeline – time is money (and nerves)

The crew says "two weeks"? Multiply by 2.5. That's not pessimism, it's the experience of generations. Just like with PKP (Polish State Railways) – theoretically, it should be on time, practically... exactly.

Plan in stages like levels in a game:

• Level 1: Wet work (anything dirty and noisy)

• Level 2: Installations (cables, pipes – what will be hidden later)

• Level 3: Finishing (this is where it starts to get pretty)

• Boss level: Details (here you usually argue about the color of the grout)

The order of work – choreography of chaos

1. Demolitions – controlled demolition

If something has to go, let it go first. It's like pulling a tooth – better to do it quickly and immediately. But be careful: check what can be torn down. The load-bearing wall isn't the one that annoys you – it's the one that holds up the ceiling.

Pro tip: Take photos of EVERYTHING before demolition. It'll be useful when the electrician asks, "Where did the wiring go here?" Spoiler: no one will remember.

2. Installations – invisible foundations

Electrical – more outlets than you think you need. Always. It's like the memory on your phone – however much you have, it won't be enough. In the kitchen? At least 10. In the living room ? On every wall. By the bed? Two on each side, plus a USB port.

Plumbing – don't skimp on pipes. Cheap pipes are like cheap shoes – initially OK, then a disaster. And remember the shut-off valves – like airbags in a car, they may not be useful, but if they are...

Heating – do you really want radiators like those from the communist era? Underfloor heating is an investment like ETFs – a bit of a start, but with a long-term payoff.

3. Plasters and screeds – the base for everything

There's no philosophy here – it has to be level. An uneven wall is like poorly tied shoes – you can walk on it, but it's annoying. Check your spirit level more often than your Instagram stories.

A self-leveling screed is like Photoshop for floors – it evens out imperfections. It's worth the extra cost, because then every tile will lay like a dream.

4. First finishing touches – walls and ceilings

Plastering – yes, it's tedious. Yes, it's expensive. But crooked walls will haunt you like a childhood trauma. Do it now; you'll only regret it once.

Priming is like a base for makeup. Without it, your paint will look like foundation on a tired face after a party. Don't overdo it, prime.

5. Floors – the foundation of aesthetics

Floors first, then paint the walls. Always. It's like getting dressed – pants first, then shoes. Unless you like spots on your new floorboards.

Panels vs tiles vs boards:

• Panels: like H&M – cheap, nice, but clearly not premium

• Tiles: like Reserved – solid, different styles, good compromise

• Board: like Gino Rossi – an investment, but for years

6. Painting – interior makeover

White isn't just one color. There are literally thousands of them (as advertised). Warm white, cool white, white with a hint of gray... It's like shades of blonde—theoretically similar, practically the difference is like between Doda and Małgorzata Rozenek.

First the ceiling (always white, no arguments), then the walls. Painter's tape is your friend – like a good marriage, it requires a time investment, but the result is worth it.

7. Final Assembly – Details That Make the Difference

Doors, moldings, sockets, doorknobs – it's like jewelry for an outfit. You can have Chanel (walls), but with jewelry from Tesco (tacky sockets), the whole thing looks like kitsch.

Renovation Pitfalls – What to Avoid at All Costs

Trap #1: "Let's do it all at once"

No. Just no. It's like watching all seasons of Game of Thrones in one night – theoretically possible, practically lethal.

Trap #2: "We'll do it cheaper ourselves"

YouTube University isn't a substitute for 20 years of experience as a plumber. You can paint yourself, maybe install paneling. But electrical work? Leave it to the professionals, unless you want a remake of "Home Alone" starring you.

Trap #3: "Promotional Materials"

Tiles priced at $19.99/m² have a reason for being that price. Usually, that reason is "they're ugly/crooked/made from 10 different batches." Like outlet clothes – sometimes a gem, more often a disappointment.

Trap #4: "Trust Your Word"

A deal. Always. Even with family. Especially with family. "My brother-in-law said he'd do it" isn't a deal, it's a recipe for a brother-in-law-free holiday.

Survival guide – how to survive renovation mentally

Replacement apartment – ​​plan B

If you can, move out. Seriously. An apartment undergoing renovations is like a battlefield – you can survive, but why bother? AirBnB, mom, mother-in-law – anything is better than sleeping in the dust.

Renovation-free zone

If you must live, one sacred space. No tools, no dust, no crew. Like an embassy in a foreign country—your territory.

Decisions – make them fast

Decision paralysis is a renovation killer. Sky blue or blue? After three days of deliberation, you won't see the difference. The 24-hour rule – if you're still undecided after 24 hours, flip a coin.

Communication with the team

Clear rules from the beginning:

• Working Hours (No, 6am on Saturday is not OK)

• Keys (who has, who doesn't)

• Toilet (Your = no go)

• Radio (yes, but Tok FM, not full-on disco polo)

Budget tricks – how to avoid going bankrupt

Where not to save:

• Installations (because you have to hammer it out later)

• Insulation (moisture is enemy #1)

• Windows (good windows are like good shoes – essential)

Where to trim:

• Decorations (you can always buy more)

• Furniture (IKEA to start, design later)

• Decorative lighting (lamps can be changed)

The VAT trick

Buy your own materials, the crew only pays labor. VAT on materials is deductible (if you run a business). It's like cashback, only legal.

Renovation of a block of flats – the specificity of a high-rise building

Neighbors – expert level diplomacy

A note on the staircase is a minimum. Cookies for the neighbors next door are an investment in peace. A phone number "in case anything happens" is a must.

Elevator – a logistics nightmare

Elevator security is essential. Foil, cardboard, tape – like wrapping a gift, only bigger. And remember: materials are only allowed in the elevator before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.

Garbage – where is it all...

Containers are expensive, but necessary. Throwing debris into local dumpsters is like parking in a handicapped parking space – you can, but karma comes back.

Technologies 2025 – renovation of the future today

Planning apps

Sweet Home 3D, IKEA Place – design in 3D. It's like The Sims, only with your own apartment. You arrange the furniture before you buy it. Game changer.

Smart installations

App-controlled floor heaters, WiFi outlets, and voice-activated lighting. It's not a whim—it's comfort. Like a TV remote control—once a luxury, now a standard.

Eco-materials

VOC-free paints, recycled panels, and reclaimed tiles. Eco is the new luxury. Like the Tesla of cars – more expensive, but you feel better.

Summary – renovation as a metamorphosis

Renovating is like therapy – painful, expensive, but in the end, you emerge renewed. The key is planning, patience, and a sense of humor. Remember: there are no perfect renovations. There are finished renovations. And that's success. Every crooked grout line, every imperfect wall is part of history. Your history.

Because home isn't a place—it's a feeling. And renovating? It's just a way to make that feeling even better. Like a remake of your favorite movie—maybe not perfect, but yours.

And one last piece of advice: take photos. Not just "before and after," but also "during." One day, you'll look back on this chaos fondly. Like old high school photos—a tragedy back then, sentimental today.

Good luck, future renovators. May the team be honest, the budget sufficient, and the end result be such that the neighbors will ask, "Where did you find the designer?" And you will smile and say, "Yourself." Because, after all, it's your home. And your story.