How to Plan a Ranch Remodel

Remodel all or parts of your ranch home.

The ranch home is one of the most popular styles of family housing. If your ranch home is outdated, a renovation helps it fit your needs, personality and decorating style. Remodeling an entire home is a big endeavor. Taking time to plan the ranch remodel before you begin any work makes it go more smoothly. You're also more likely to stay within your budget and get the ranch home you desired when the work is completed.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pen and paper

Instructions

1. Set your ranch remodel budget. Remodeling an entire home can get quite expensive. Setting a spending limit will prevent you from overspending on the project.

2. Establish the scope and timeline of the ranch remodel. Determine if you're remodeling all of the rooms or just some of them.

3. Walk through the ranch home, making a list of the features you want to remodel. This might include cosmetic things such as new flooring, paint and light fixtures or structural issues such as knocking down walls. Outline the ranch remodel project based on the walk through.

4. Choose an overall decorating style for the ranch remodel. Your older ranch likely doesn't have a lot of interesting architectural detail, but that doesn't mean it has to remain plain. Choosing a decorating style helps you create a plan for adding interesting features to give the home personality.

5. Measure each of the rooms included in the ranch remodel. Draw a sketch of each room so you can make details for the remodeling plan. Include the measurements on the sketches so you can establish the layout for each room.

6. Focus on the main living area for the ranch remodel. Most older ranch homes have separate rooms rather than the open floor plan that is growing in popularity. If the ranch is small, consider opening up some of the walls in the main living space for a more open look. This will help make the home feel larger as well.

7. Address any other structural changes such as adding a master bathroom, which most older ranch homes don't have. Think about the changes in the ranch remodel that will give you the best return on your money.

8. Choose the color scheme for each room. A ranch home lends itself well to nearly any color scheme. Lighter colors usually make a room feel larger which is ideal for a ranch home with small rooms. Bright colors tend to stimulate the senses while lighter greens and blues are associated with a more relaxing environment.

9. Select all of the cosmetic finishes for the rooms during the ranch remodel. This includes flooring, cabinetry and wall decor. Keep in mind the overall decorating style chosen for the ranch home.