Depending on your home decoration, makeover or complete renovation project, there are a variety of ways that you can save money, such as:
Creating a budget, taking advantage of DIY projects, locating inexpensive furniture and learning how to repurpose the items that you already own.
Home makeover projects can quickly become expensive if you are underprepared or if you are attempting to take on too many projects at once. Therefore, it is recommended that you work on one project at a time and potentially start with the smallest project on your list. Additionally, there are a variety of ways that you can keep your project on budget by taking measures like acquiring furniture for a cheaper price at garage sales, online sales and local thrift stores.
You can stand to save even more by repurposing the items that you already own! To learn more about all the ways that you can save on your next home decoration project, review the information below.
If you are interested in taking on a renovation or redecorating your home, it is important to avoid spending more money on your makeover than you intend to. No matter the project, you should always begin by creating a budget and performing research on the advantages and costs of a renovation, as well as on the costs of any redecorating that you intend to perform. This can help provide you with an accurate budget and make it easier to take on one project at a time.
If your project is a renovation, it is important to consider the value of your home before you begin any work. Small projects such as a new deck or a remodeled bathroom should generally only cost between 12 to 15 percent of your home’s current value, while larger projects, such as the remodeling of a kitchen, should cost no more than 25 percent of your home’s value.
If you intend to undergo one project at a time, it is recommended that you start with the smallest project first and work your way up to the larger one, unless the renovation is to resolve an ongoing issue, safety hazard or provide disability access.
For smaller projects that do not involve digging, plumbing or electrical wiring, consider a DIY project in order to cut back on the costs of a remodel. Not only will a DIY project allow you to ensure the end result is what you are envisioning, but you can save a lot of money on contractor costs. If you do choose to go with a contractor, it is important to research the cost of materials in order to be knowledgeable about the materials that you would like used in your project, as well as their expected costs.
The cost of new furniture and decor items can quickly add up if shopping at a local furniture store, but not all furniture and decor pieces need cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, there are opportunities for you to find and purchase discounted furniture and decor through local garage sales, thrift stores and online.
Garage sales are often held in abundance during the warmer months on weekends that have good weather forecasts. You can often find signs that advertise garage sales in advance along the road or review the garage sales in your area online through community or classifieds sites. Garage sale items are generally far cheaper, and owners are often willing to negotiate a price down further. Most of the time, the seller of the furniture or decor in question simply wants the items gone.
Thrift stores are another great place to find inexpensive furniture and decor items, as these stores will generally sell items well below their value. You may also find items that can be repurposed or wooden furniture that simply needs a fresh coat of paint. You will often find couches, dressers, desks and tables at thrift stores.
In today’s age of technology, you may be able to find some of the best deals on furniture online due to heavy competition. Many of these websites will even offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount, allowing you to save more on the cost of getting items to your home. Online warehouses have a variety of styles and colors so you are sure to find a variety of items that you are sure to love.
Small apartments are common, especially in densely populated towns and cities. Having a small place can seem restrictive and even claustrophobic, but it does not have to. By maximizing the space that you have, you can make your apartment seem bigger than it is, especially if you put good organization skills to use.
In order to make your apartment seem bigger and more open, it is important not to place furniture directly in front of windows. Windows allow natural light into the room and can make an apartment seem brighter and more open. It is recommended that you instead position furniture in a way that compliments your apartment’s windows.
The drapes that you use for your windows will also have a great effect on the lighting of each room, as darker colors tend to drown out light. Sheer drapes are recommended as they give your home an airy feel. You can also try sneaking in furniture that doubles as a storage unit such as raised beds and ottomans with storage space.
The color scheme of your walls, furniture and rugs can also play a large role in the appearance of your living space. For example, bright colors can often make your room appear to be smaller while cool colors such as blues and purples can make a room appear larger.
Repurposing items you already own is one of the cheapest and most simple ways to give your home a new look, downsize or redecorate on a budget. Furniture is something that can be easily repurposed. Setting up a new office space? Consider removing the drawers from a small dresser or a nightstand and using it an extra side table with space for your printer. Repurpose a garden bench or potting table as a kitchen hutch or consider adding a cushion to the top of a small table to transform the table into a footstool, bench or ottoman.
With a little bit of paint, older furniture such as desks, dressers, vanities and coffee tables can look as good as new. With a bit of work, you can even add extra shelving spaces to these sort of items. Smaller items are even easier to repurpose, as vases, buckets and jars can easily be utilized to hold coin collections, marbles and keyrings. Wine and spice racks come in various sizes and shapes, providing a versatile piece for your home that can display yawn, knitting or packaging materials. You can use hanging shoe racks to store items like as cords, toiletries, toys, etc.
To get started in repurposing items, review the items that are already in your household. Make a list of products and items that you would to have and decide whether or not an item can be repurposed for the new use. There is no right or wrong way to repurpose your stuff, and the possibilities are endless.
