Maybe it’s time you transformed your home because you feel like you’re not keeping up with the times. But you have a limited budget for renovations or remodeling. Cost is always a factor when it comes to remodeling or renovating your home. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the transformation you want. There are ways to transform your home on a budget.
1. Think of where you want to spend most of your money
If you’re remodeling your home on a budget, it’s important to know where to spend most of your money. When you try to make each room look new and fresh for less money, every bit counts in certain areas more than others. For example, if your kitchen is older, the cabinets are outdated, and you want to replace them, spend most of your money on new cabinetry.
2. Think creatively about what you can do with less money
If you have a small budget for remodeling, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box—like your attic or basement. Transforming these spaces is usually much easier than doing so in rooms such as your kitchen or dining room. Transform those less-important spaces first by accessing or even building upward to make the space look bigger and more open. You will feel better once this low-cost transformation has taken place. Then you can focus on transforming other areas that need it more.
3. Make a list of what you can do yourself versus what requires professionals
Many homeowners make the mistake of assuming that home renovations are challenging. This can cause you to spend more money hiring services. For example, replacing light fixtures or fixing your toilet yourself is less expensive than hiring a professional to do it. But other projects, such as installing a new asphalt roof, should always be serviced by professionals. It’s important to know what you’re good at and which tasks require professional help. That way, you’ll know exactly where your budget needs to go during renovations.
But don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. It’s okay if you don’t know how to do everything yourself. But frequently, it can be less expensive to take on specific tasks yourself rather than hiring someone else (which means more money for other needs). For example, you could save hundreds of dollars installing custom blinds instead of paying.
4. Figure out how much each project will cost and find ways to save money on that project
Not all projects within your budget will necessarily cost the same. You can cut certain corners to make other things fit into your budget better. For example, replace just one of those items with a cheaper alternative if you want to replace your roof and ceiling fans but don’t have enough money for both. You can even swap them out with each other.
5. Focus on the details
While you’re working within your budget, don’t cut out the little things that make your home look like it got an expensive transformation for free. Details are what can really make or break any project. For example, if you decide to paint your cabinets white but don’t want them to look boring, take the time to stencil onto the drawers to give them a pop of color.
You may even consider using wallpaper or decals to spice up those plain walls. The more attention you put into the details during renovations, the less it will appear as though you just used inexpensive options throughout.
6. Schedule the projects for when you’ll be able to afford them
Choose a house remodeling project that you can do all at once or over time. Sometimes the easiest way to save money is by breaking up what you want to be done into two or more phases. For example, if you want new cabinets but don’t have the budget to do them right away, consider replacing countertops with Formica or laminate and painting your cabinets white first before installing new ones several months after. This allows you to make small changes now while giving yourself some time to save more money for major projects down the line.
Furthermore, schedule the projects for when you’ll be able to afford them. For example, don’t schedule a renovation in December because that’s when holiday expenses are high. Consider scheduling it in January or February instead; your bank account may be flush after Christmas.
When you’re working within your budget during home renovations, keep these tricks in mind to get the most bang for your buck. You can do some home projects yourself, but you’ll need to know which ones those are. And there are certain tasks that only professionals should take care of or can do.
