8 Tips For Renovating Your Home On A Budget
1. Before you start.
Don’t just rush headlong into everything you want to do. A bit of planning will make sure you complete each of your projects and have them looking their best.
It’s important to first learn how to budget correctly- a realistic goal, budget or project needs to be SMART:
Specific- what exactly are you spending money on?
Measurable- how much do you need to spend on each item or stage?
Attainable- can you (really) afford it?
Realistic- does it fit into your budget without compromising other expenses
Timely- is it the right time? Do you need to prioritise other expenses? Will you be able to make payments on time?
2. Have the professionals do all the important jobs.
Although DIY is a great way of cutting costs and saving money, it’s important to know your limitations as a failed DIY can cost you dearly.
Get the professionals involved in all electrical, plumbing and structural work unless you’re qualified in trades yourself. Shop around and get at least three quotes and always remember to do your background research as cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better.
3. Update any room with a fresh coat of paint
One of the most tried and true budget home renovations is a fresh coat of paint. This is an easy way to help to transform the feeling and ambience of any room in the house without spending a fortune on extra furniture or add-ons. Paint is simple to apply instead of hiring someone, save the money and try doing it yourself!
4. Install some new lighting
Lighting is another factor that contributes a lot to the ambience of a room. Lucky for you, lighting is also a very affordable factor to change. You can opt for a brighter or dimmer setting depending on how you want the room to feel.
Colour is another option when it comes to changing the lighting in a room. Small colour accents can help give a room a cooler or warmer feel depending on the shade.
5. Refinish kitchen cabinets
The kitchen is a popular area in the house to renovate. However, new cabinets and appliances can be quite expensive. Fortunately, there is another, more affordable remodelling trick. By sanding down the cabinets and applying a new finish, homeowners can achieve the look and feel of a completely new set without the purchase.
6. Go faux for floors
Lookalike materials like vinyl, laminate and bamboo flooring boast natural timber appeal but at a far cheaper cost. Durable and hard-wearing, they can also be laid in one day.
7. Source products yourself
Don’t fall into the trap of getting builders or tradespeople to source products for you. With so many online suppliers these days you can make significant savings by shopping around for products you like and buying them yourself. This might be for fixtures and fittings (e.g. taps, showerheads etc.) or appliances or furniture. The biggest retailers don’t always have the cheapest prices and if you do a bit of online searching for products you love, you will be sure to find them online cheaper elsewhere.
8. You can achieve a lot with styling
This leads to styling. So much can be done on a budget with styling choices. If you are not that interested in current styling trends, an easy way to achieve a current look in your renovation is to copy trends you see in magazines and online (Pinterest and Instagram). Another great source of inspiration is looking through online house sale websites (e.g., Domain or RealEstate.com. This way you can get a feeling for what others are doing in their houses and no doubt find tips and tricks you can use in your own house.
It’s time now to set up your own Pinterest board and start saving all the images and ideas for your own home renovation!
