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NOTE

Home Renovation

English translation of the original VNote “Home Renovation”, preserving its structure with only necessary small corrections.

InvestingUpdated 3 min readhistorical

This is a historical learning note and may contain outdated or incomplete understanding.

Note: The original VNote structure and historical views are preserved. Product rules, returns, policies, and specific assets are time-sensitive; only clear errors or changed institutional rules are corrected minimally. This is not investment advice.

1. What Is Renovation?

2. Why Renovate?

3. How to Renovate

3.1. Space Layout

3.1.1. Entrance

  • The first area after opening the front door is the entrance/foyer.
3.1.1.1. How to Arrange the Entrance

Whether an entrance works well largely depends on storage capacity.

3.1.1.1.1. Furniture
  • Shoe cabinet
  • Coat hooks
  • Storage cabinet
  • Mirror

3.1.2. Kitchen

  • The place for cooking.
3.1.2.1. How to Arrange the Kitchen
3.1.2.1.1. Open vs. Closed
  • Open
    • Advantages
      • Air conditioning while cooking in summer
      • Easy access to items
      • More open space
    • Disadvantages
      • Cooking fumes
      • Tidiness
3.1.2.2. Furniture
3.1.2.2.1. Three Major Items
  • Sink for washing dishes
    • Put the sink near a window for good light when washing food and dishes.
    • Leave about 30 cm beside the sink for a drying rack.
  • Stove
    • Leave a 70-140 cm preparation/cutting counter between stove and sink.
    • Leave at least 20 cm between stove and wall/refrigerator for plating food.
    • A large kitchen can consider a center island; a common design puts the sink in the island.
  • Refrigerator
    • Remember the space needed to open the refrigerator door.
3.1.2.2.2. Three Types of Cabinets
  • Base cabinets: including the counter, height is commonly around 85 cm in the note.
    • Shelf cabinet
    • Drawer cabinet
    • Narrow pull-out basket
    • Appliance cabinet
  • Wall cabinets: commonly about 37 or 40 cm deep in the note.
    • Swing door
    • Lift-up door
  • Tall cabinet: strong storage capacity; can hold refrigerator, oven, microwave, washing machine, water softener, and other large appliances.
3.1.2.2.3. Three Small Items
  • Hanging rail: can hold spatulas, ladles, tableware, knives, chopping boards, condiment bottles, pot lids, etc.
  • Gas water heater
  • Microwave
3.1.2.2.4. Other
  • Close-capture range hood
  • Pull-out sink faucet
  • Kitchen air conditioner
  • Kitchen knives: Chinese cleaver + Japanese santoku + Western chef’s knife + peeler, scissors, fruit knife.

3.1.3. Bathroom

3.1.3.1. How to Arrange the Bathroom
  • Where to put clothes while showering.
  • Where to put a phone while using the toilet.
  • Odor prevention.
3.1.3.2. Furniture
3.1.3.2.1. Four Major Items
  • Wash basin
    • Small basin
    • Integrated basin
    • Countertop basin
    • Double basin
  • Toilet
    • Wall-hung toilet: recommended in the original note
    • Floor-drain toilet
  • Shower
    • Overhead shower
    • Handheld shower
  • Bathtub
3.1.3.2.2. Small Items
  • Smart toilet seat
  • Pull-out faucet
  • Multi-function bathroom heater
  • Mirror cabinet with outlet and lighting
  • Bidet spray

3.1.4. Dining Room

3.1.4.1. How to Arrange the Dining Room

A dining room is not only for eating; it also needs storage for dining-related items.

3.1.4.2. Furniture
  • Sideboard
  • Dining table

3.1.5. Living Room

3.1.5.1. How to Arrange the Living Room
  • Human-centered living room
    • Several small sofas arranged for conversation as the center.
    • Do not let the television dominate.
  • The living room should display the owner’s tastes.
    • Outdoor enthusiast
    • Calligraphy enthusiast
3.1.5.2. Furniture
  • Television
  • Sofa
  • Speakers

3.1.6. Balcony

3.1.6.1. How to Arrange the Balcony
  • Housework area
    • Requires an appropriate drain.
    • Can contain washing machine, wall cabinet, shelves, hanging rail, faucet; with enough space, add a sink and stack a dryer above the washing machine.
  • Tea/chat area
    • Two small folding chairs and a small tea table; fold them away when drying clothes.
  • Plants area

3.1.7. Bedroom

3.1.7.1. How to Arrange the Bedroom

Keep the number of bedrooms streamlined.

3.1.7.2. Furniture
  • Bed
    • Bed frame + mattress
  • Wardrobe

3.2. House Systems

3.2.1. Lighting

Lighting system = brightness design + precise placement.

3.2.1.1. Brightness Design
  • Reference illuminance × room area ≈ lumens required for the room.
    • Luminous flux
    • Illuminance
  • Lighting color temperature
    • Warm-white lights around 3000K-4000K are commonly used.
3.2.1.2. Precise Placement

The original note referenced a local attachment image.

3.2.2. Electricity

High voltage/power + low-voltage/signal wiring.

3.2.2.1. Power Wiring
  • Wire gauge
    • Determine appliance power, then current, then the required wire specification.
    • Circuit breakers
  • Distribution design
    • The original note referenced a local attachment image.
  • Outlet locations
    • Entrance: separate automatic/sensor lighting and manual control; reserve an outlet.
    • Kitchen: provide sufficient outlets at multiple heights, including suitable circuits/outlets for high-power appliances.
    • Bathroom: many small appliances require careful electrical layout.
    • Dining room: more than one outlet may be needed for induction cooker, microwave, kettle, toaster, etc.
    • Living room: simplify light switches but provide plenty of outlets, especially near the media cabinet for audiovisual and networking equipment.
    • Bedroom: provide bedside switches/outlets and power for wardrobe lighting.
3.2.2.2. Low-Voltage / Signal Wiring
  • The original note describes low-voltage circuits used for signal transmission. Modern building/electrical definitions should follow local electrical codes rather than treating all “weak current” simply as DC below 36V.

3.2.3. Water

Water quality + water pressure.

3.2.3.1. Water Quality

Water quality here refers to hardness and purity. Ways recorded in the note: pre-filter + water softener + point-of-use purifier.

3.2.3.2. Water Pressure

Water pressure is the pressure in household pipes, measured in MPa. The original sentence about flow was incomplete.

3.2.4. HVAC System

  • Systems for conditioning air.
3.2.4.1. Temperature
  • Cooling
    • Central air conditioning
    • Split air conditioning
  • Heating
    • Floor heating
    • Air conditioning
    • Radiators
3.2.4.2. Air Cleanliness
  • Air purifier
3.2.4.3. Fresh Air
  • Fresh-air ventilation system

3.3. Renovation Style

3.3.1. Main Materials

Flooring (wood, tile, or stone), wall materials (paint), ceiling materials, doors and windows.

3.3.1.1. Floor
  1. Do not divide the floor into too many visual zones.
  2. Avoid overly decorative skirting boards.
3.3.1.2. Walls
  1. Do not divide wall surfaces excessively.
  2. Avoid excessive wall panels or padded walls.
  3. Avoid an overly decorative TV feature wall.
  4. Avoid random color use.
3.3.1.3. Ceiling

Hide structure. Hide water/electrical systems. Hide air conditioning. Hide lighting. Hide wireless APs. Hide fresh-air ducts.

3.3.1.4. Doors and Windows

3.3.2. Furniture

Buy simple, modern furniture.

3.3.3. Decoration

3.3.3.1. Lighting Fixtures
3.3.3.2. Well-Designed Everyday Items
3.3.3.3. Green Plants

4. References