Do you have Champagne taste on a beer budget? We hear you! Sometimes when we’re renovating it seems like there’s a constant battle against the budget, but after 14+ projects of our own, we know that it’s possible to achieve the home of your dreams without totally busting your budget.
We’re always asked for our best cost-saving tips & tricks so, here are 10 we think you’ll love to give your home an update on a budget:
1. SPRAY YOUR BRICKS, BABY!
This is one of our absolute favourite reno hacks which will transform the look of your home, without pinching your pennies. We stumbled across this idea when our budget was tight and we couldn’t afford to render the properties we were flipping. The next best thing was to spray the existing bricks to modernise their look and wow did it make an amazing transformation. You can give it a go yourself or get the professionals to do it for you.
2. REJUVENATE YOUR ROOF
Curb appeal, the first impression of a home, is so important and the roof can account for about 30% of what people see from the street. An exterior transformation never looks complete without updating the roof and spraying your roof tiles can cost a fraction of laying a new roof. There are painters who specialise in doing this. They’ll give it a good clean first and then transform it with the power of paint.
3. FORGO CUSTOM CABINETRY
Who doesn’t love a custom-made cabinet? People on a tight budget, that’s who! If that’s you, flat-pack can be your best friend. We love the look and flexibility of custom cabinetry but if it’s going to break your budget, there are some great flat-pack alternatives out there. We’ve installed some amazing flat-pack kitchens and laundries and saved big bucks in the process. Give it a go – your budget will love you.
4. STEP AWAY FROM THE PLUMBING
Moving plumbing within a bathroom, kitchen or laundry will increase your budget so when we’re updating a room on a shoestring we leave it where it is, if at all possible, to cut out this cost. Feel free to upgrade your toilet and shower by all means, but don’t move their location. If you must move them, the smaller the move, the cheaper the price. So, before deciding to shift your toilet from one end of the room to the other, consult your plumber and then consult your budget.
5. SWAP OUT YOUR STONE
When renovating on a budget, chances are marble surfaces won’t be on your ‘must-have’ list. If you love the look of marble in a bathroom, there are loads of porcelain tiles out there that look just like Carrara marble. You’ll get the same luxe look without the same price tag (or maintenance!).
6. TRIM DOWN YOUR TILE ORDER
Aside from aesthetics, there’s no reason to fully tile your bathroom. A great way to save on materials and labour in bathrooms is by tiling only 1.2 metres up from the floor (except for the shower recess) and then painting the rest of the walls. This will cut your tiling bill in half and give the bathroom a softer feel, with fewer hard surfaces.
7. WHITEWASH YOUR TIMBER FLOORING
Do you have a decent timber floor hiding under daggy old carpet? Bingo! Original floorboards can be whitewashed for a coastal chic look on a teeny budget. You can do this job yourself OR you can pay someone to do it. Either way, you could save some serious coin.
8. UPCYCLE YOUR POTS
Before buying new pots for your plants look for any old terracotta pots lying around your garden and check out the local freecycle sites for some goodies too. We just use a couple of coats of our left-over house paint to spruce them up and give them a new life.
9. SKIP THE BEDHEAD
If you’re updating a bedroom, a bed frame or fancy bedhead can set you back some big bucks. To save some cash, you can do without a bedhead and use an ensemble of Euro pillows and affordable wall art to create a feature at the head of your bed.
10. START HUMMING
If you’ve cut your budget back to basics but there’s still a thing or two you really need (or want!) check out humm. humm is the only ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ service that’s perfect to help you purchase both the little things and BIG things (up to $30,000!) for your home makeover.
Perhaps you just need some linen to finish off your bedroom or perhaps a bigger chunk to pay for your new kitchen install. It’s fast, easy to use and there’s a wide and ever-increasing range of places to shop.
So, if you’re thinking of updating your home, try out some of these tips for a fabulous makeover with your budget intact.
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