If you own a property in Mallorca and want to renovate it once the summer season is over, your planning should begin several months earlier, ideally in spring. As in my experience, the most successful renovation projects begin months before the builders ever arrive onsite. Starting in Spring gives you time to review what is not working, make design decisions, appoint the right professionals (and get into their schedules), confirm budgets and begin sourcing the materials, furniture and finishes that will bring the whole project together.
Starting early gives you something that is often underestimated in renovation projects: time.
The Renovation Starts Long Before the Building Work Does
When people talk about starting a renovation in autumn, they often mean that is when the physical work begins. But the design process starts much earlier. Before anyone starts removing walls, bathrooms or flooring, there are decisions to make about layout, lighting, storage, materials, furniture, colour, joinery and how all of the different spaces need to work together.
Starting those conversations in spring means that by autumn there is already a proper plan in place rather than a list of decisions still waiting to be made.
Your Interior Designer Should Be Involved Early
One of the most valuable things you can do is involve your interior designer in Mallorca before major decisions have already been made. Interior design is not simply the final stage of choosing sofas and cushions, it’s part of a chain of interconnected designs, which when applied professionally results in a wonderfully cohesive home.
Everything, just like in life, is connected: layout changes affect lighting which affects electrics. The choice of furniture affects the position of sockets and switches. The position of bathrooms will affect plumbing. Joinery decisions affect walls, floors and circulation, and so on… When these decisions are considered together from the beginning, the finished property feels much more considered, and can also prevent costly changes later.
Spring Gives You Time to Work Out What You Really Want
A successful renovation is not simply a list of finishes, it can take time to completely understand what you want to change and why.
Perhaps the kitchen needs rethinking, or a bathroom no longer works for the way your family uses the house. You may know that you need more storage, a better connection with the terrace, more guest accommodation or a completely different layout. These conversations are much easier to have when there is no immediate pressure from builders waiting for answers on site.
Spring gives you and your designer the time to explore ideas, review options and make considered choices.
Summer Will Teach You a Lot About Your Home
If you spend summer in the property, make sure that you use it and then pay attention to what happens when your house is full with family and guests.
Ask yourself, which rooms does everyone naturally gather in? Which ones are ignored? Is there enough shade? Does the kitchen work when several people are using it? Are the guest bedrooms comfortable? Is there enough storage?
These observations are incredibly valuable and can help refine a design that is already being developed. Summer is the moment to test design ideas against real life rather than the moment to begin the entire process from scratch. If you want to look more closely at what summer can reveal about your home, read my blog Why Summer Is a Good Time to Review How Your Mallorca Home Works.
Living on an Island Means Longer Lead Times…
Many of the items that make an interior feel complete are not available immediately.
Furniture, lighting, bespoke joinery, upholstery, tiles and specialist finishes can all have significant lead times, especially when they are being created to order and shipped to Mallorca. Materials can take three or four months to arrive, so selections and orders need to be made well in advance.
In my design process I like to have everything ordered and on the island before we begin the work. In my experience you do not want to be waiting for a vital set of tiles, or a piece for a kitchen to be delivered. This delay can completely halt work which, depending on the project, can have a serious “domino” effect. In some communities there are time restrictions on when you can and cannot do building work, if you miss the window because of missing parts then you can find your project stretching into the next building season. It’s frustrating for everyone, so I insist that we have everything we need from the beginning.
In addition if you only begin sourcing once building work starts in autumn, you may already be restricting your choices. Beginning the design process in spring allows time to research, specify and order pieces well in advance. It is also important to remember that many suppliers and manufacturers in Spain close or reduce activity during August. This is especially important if you want something made specifically for your property rather than simply choosing from whatever happens to be available.
You Need to Get Into Your Team’s Schedules
Good contractors, tradespeople, craftspeople and designers are busy, and many are booked several months or even a year ahead. If you want your work to begin once summer ends, you have to have the team in place well before then.
Starting the planning in spring gives you the opportunity to build the right team around your project rather than simply choosing whoever happens to be available.
Check Permissions and Community Rules
Planning is not only about design and sourcing. Depending on the scope of the project, you may need a building licence or other permission from the local town hall. Applications and approvals take time, so the requirements should be investigated early with the appropriate architect, technical professional or project manager.
If your property belongs to a community of owners, check its statutes and renovation rules too. Communities may restrict the months, days or hours when noisy work can take place, and may require advance notice or approval for certain changes. Confirming this before dates are agreed can prevent delays and disputes later.
Budgeting Is Easier When You Plan Early
Starting the design process in spring also gives you time to establish a realistic budget. It is much easier to decide where to invest and where to economise when you can look at the project as a whole.
You can prioritise the areas that will have the greatest impact, understand where bespoke work is worthwhile and avoid spending heavily in one area only to discover there is not enough budget left to complete another properly.
Autumn Is When the Property Becomes Available
Mallorca follows a very particular seasonal rhythm: during summer, properties are occupied, holidays take priority and most owners (and their neighbours) quite understandably do not want building work taking place. Once the season ends, there is much more opportunity to access the property and begin the physical renovation without disrupting family time or guests.
That is what makes autumn such a productive time for the work itself. By then, however, the design decisions should already have been made, the team should be ready, the budget should be understood and key materials should already be ordered.
Autumn is when the renovation moves on site, not when you first start thinking about it!
Winter Gives You Time for the Details
As an experienced interior designer in Mallorca, I know that renovations rarely proceed without a few surprises, especially in older Spanish properties. Allowing autumn and winter for the building work gives you more time to deal with anything unexpected sensibly rather than forcing rushed compromises because summer is approaching.
By the following spring, there is time for snagging, styling and those final details that make such a difference ready for you to enjoy your home for the new season.
Work Backwards From When You Want to Enjoy the House
Rather than asking, “When should the builders start?”, I think it is much more useful to ask:
When do you want your home finished?
If the answer is next summer, work backwards.
- You want the major work taking place through autumn and winter.
- You want design development and sourcing happening during spring and summer.
- And that means the first conversations need to start much earlier than many homeowners expect.
Starting early changes the entire experience. The question becomes not, “What can we get done before June?” but, “What would make this home genuinely better?” And that is a much stronger place from which to design.
Planning a Mallorca Renovation for Next Year?
If you are considering renovating or redesigning your Mallorca home once the summer season is over, do not wait until autumn to begin thinking about it.
As an interior designer in Mallorca, I work with homeowners from the earliest planning stages through to final installation, helping to create interiors that are thoughtful, practical and individual to the people who live in them.
If you want work to begin next autumn, spring is exactly the right time to start those conversations.
Get in touch with me and let’s start the process!
Want to see the full Pollensa renovation? click here
Interested to see more renovation projects? I have a YouTube series about the whole process. watch here
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start planning a renovation in Mallorca?
If you want building work to begin in autumn, ideally you should start the design and planning process in spring. This gives you time to develop the design, appoint the right professionals, establish the budget, obtain quotes and begin sourcing materials and furniture before work starts on site.
Why should I start planning so far in advance?
A renovation involves much more than the building work itself. Layouts, lighting, bathrooms, kitchens, joinery, furniture, fabrics and finishes all need to be considered, and many of those decisions affect one another. Starting early allows them to be resolved properly.
Is autumn still a good time to renovate a Mallorca home?
Yes. Autumn and winter are often excellent times for the physical renovation work because properties are generally less occupied. The important distinction is that the planning and design should already be well underway before autumn arrives.
How far in advance should I contact an interior designer in Mallorca?
As early as possible. If you are hoping to start building work in autumn, contacting your interior designer the previous spring (or before) gives everyone much more time to design the project properly and secure the permissions and licenses and the right contractors and suppliers.
Will I need permission from the town hall?
That depends on the nature and location of the work. Structural changes and many other renovations may require a building licence or other approval. Check the requirements early with the appropriate local professional so the likely timescale is clear.
What should I check if my property belongs to a community?
Read the community statutes and ask the administrator about renovation rules. There may be restrictions on noisy work, working hours, access, waste removal or changes affecting shared elements.
Why do Mallorca renovation projects need extra planning time?
Working on an island can mean longer lead times for furniture, lighting, fabrics, tiles and bespoke items, particularly when pieces need to be manufactured elsewhere and shipped to Mallorca. Starting early gives you more choice and reduces the need for last-minute compromises.
Can summer still be useful for planning a renovation?
Very much so. Summer gives you the chance to see how the home behaves when it is being used at full capacity. You can notice problems with layout, shade, storage, guest accommodation and circulation and use those observations to refine the plans already being developed.
Can an interior designer help with the renovation budget?
Yes. An experienced interior designer can help you prioritise spending, obtain quotations and consider the budget across the whole project. This makes it easier to decide where investment will have the greatest impact.
Can you manage an interior design project if I do not live in Mallorca full-time?
Yes. Many Mallorca property owners live elsewhere for much of the year. A local interior designer can coordinate design decisions, suppliers, sourcing and installation while keeping you informed throughout the process.
How long does a Mallorca renovation take?
That depends entirely on the scale and complexity of the project. A decorative refurbishment may be relatively quick, while a full renovation involving structural work, kitchens, bathrooms, joinery and new services can take considerably longer. The earlier you begin planning, the more realistic the programme can be.
What is the first step if I want to renovate my Mallorca home?
Start with a conversation about the property, how you use it, what is not working, what you would like to change, your budget and when you would ideally like the work completed. From there, the scope and timeline of the project can be developed properly.