Condo Renovation Tips

Are you a condo dweller looking forward to having your unit renovated or remodeled? Perhaps you’ve been reading up about condo remodels and looking at pictures of renovated condo units.

Condo renovation is no walk in the park, especially when you have many remodeling ideas in your head. Then, there’s the budget you have to consider as well as the timeline you have to stick to. All these can make condo renovation challenging. To help plan your project, take a look at the Home Renovation Price in Toronto to get a better idea of potential costs.

There are, however, tips on condo renovation you can follow to make the task a lot less burdensome. In this post, we will talk about condo renovation tips. Bonus if you live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as you can easily choose a top condo renovation team.

Know the Rules of Condo Renovations Ahead of Time

Each condominium association or board has its own policies about condo renovation. Make sure you can easily comply with these policies before you start your renovation. 

While the majority of the policies on the days or hours you can do your condo renovation, the board or association may have rules that could even affect some of your design choices like material selection. Below are some of the policies you may encounter.

• Work hours
• Material disposal and transport
• Elevator and parking booking
• Insurance or deposits

Avoid the hassle by knowing these rules ahead of time and including your compliance with policies in the planning stage of your renovation.

Understand for Whom These Renovations Are

Once you know the restrictions imposed by your condo association or board, you’ll now need to understand who will benefit most from the unit renovation.

If you intend to make changes to your unit to fit your needs, then you need to know what your timelines are and identify your design preference. You probably want to do a condo kitchen renovation or a low ceiling basement renovation. These will be very different tasks and plans.

It’s different when you want to undertake renovations for investment purposes like selling or renting your unit. If this is the case, then you’ll need to know which renovation choices will yield higher returns for your money.

Simply put, you need to know who the renovations are for as it will guide you in making renovation-related decisions. You seldom make these decisions and hence require more time to ponder.

Condominium Renovation Trends in Toronto in 2025

In 2025, several key trends can be identified that help increase comfort and property value:

• Space optimization through smart storage solutions
  In limited space, built-in wardrobes, transformable furniture, and hidden storage systems are becoming a must-have. These solutions help keep things tidy and visually expand the space.
• Integration of technologies for comfort and savings
  Smart lighting, remote-controlled thermostats, touch switches, and automatic blinds. Condo owners strive to create “smart” homes where technology works for their convenience.
• Acoustic comfort and noise insulation
  With the growth of building density, the issue of sound insulation is becoming particularly important. Modern materials for walls, ceilings, and floors reduce noise from neighbors, creating a cozy space.
• Environmental friendliness and energy efficiency
  Owners choose materials with low VOC emissions, energy-efficient appliances, and coatings that are durable and safe for health.
• Color and design experiments
  Condo owners are increasingly turning to professional designers to create a unique style that reflects their lifestyle and the character of their home.

Hire a Designer

A designer can help you turn your ideas into a reality. Many times, condo dwellers and owners have several ideas and designs in mind but have difficulties converting these ideas. A designer can help by taking you through furniture selection, color schemes, furniture, and fixture choices.

Plan Your Budget with a Cushion

Proper budget planning is key to a successful condo renovation. Underestimating costs is one of the most common reasons for overspending and stress. To avoid issues, follow these steps:

• Break your budget into categories

Materials: flooring, tiles, paint, lighting, furniture. For example, a new kitchen can cost $8,000–$15,000, while a bathroom renovation might range from $5,000–$10,000.

Labor: contractors, electricians, plumbers, painters. In Toronto, labor costs for condo renovations often make up 30–50% of material expenses.

Unexpected costs: hidden wall damage, outdated wiring, subfloor repairs under old tiles.

• Include a 10–15% contingency

Even with a precise estimate, surprises often occur. For instance, removing old tiles might reveal damaged subflooring that requires additional work. A contingency allows you to cover these surprises without overspending.

• Compare multiple quotes

Request estimates from several contractors and suppliers to find the best balance of quality and cost.

• Track expenses during the renovation

Use a spreadsheet or budgeting app to monitor all costs and ensure your spending aligns with your plan.

Stay Somewhere Else During Renovation

Make sure you have a place to stay while your condo is being renovated. You can stay in the unit if you wish, but that means your contractors will have to renovate it on a room-by-room basis. In contrast, having your renovation teamwork on the entire space can speed up the renovation process.

Plus, considering that condos have such small space, it would be uncomfortable for you to live in this tiny area with all the renovations going on.

Figure Out Your Limits

Renovations require knowing what your limitations are. You need to have a realistic design and renovation plan, otherwise, you will be spending so much money on plans that can’t be achieved.

Consider that some design choices or structural plans are not feasible with small spaces or because of a condominium association or board restriction. 

Your designer or renovation team can help or guide you should something you want is not achievable. 

Play Around With the Lighting

Most people forget how changing lighting can make a difference when renovating a home. Typical condominiums use cement for their ceilings, which means there are fewer choices for additional lighting fixtures.

You can change this during renovation by adjusting the ceiling height, and you can have a lighting fixture with a six to 12-inch drop. You can also add more lighting in other areas to add more drama to different spaces in your unit.

Don’t Be Afraid to Paint

Painting can completely change the vibe of a space. If you are renovating to either sell or rent out your unit, then you may want to do a paint job to make the unit look new and fresh.

Don’t shy away from dark colors in your paint job. If your unit is designed like a bachelor’s pad, then a dramatically dark paint color is a good idea. 

Regardless of the colors you choose, a well-done paint job helps spruce up the space. When trying to rent out or sell a condo unit, a paint job will make your unit look more attractive. 

If you are working with a designer, then you can ask for colors that go well with the entire space.

Picking the CSG Renovation

CSG Renovation can help you turn your design ideas into reality. The company has helped many residents around GTA renovate their condos for many years now. CSG Renovation has also earned the highest rating possible for a renovation firm.

Aside from condo renovations, our firm also offers home and commercial renovation services. Our company believes in working closely with our clients to ensure that their concerns are addressed properly.

Condo renovation may seem daunting at first. But knowing your limits and condo policies, understanding who the renovations are for, and working with a designer goes a long way in making renovations much easier and even more pleasurable.

Plus, with the right contractor, you can keep within both the budget and timeline. Among other things, we can help you with your townhouse renovation needs.

Let CSG Renovation take care of your needs. Contact us today at (647) 428-0007 for a free consultation.