Creating a heavenly haven at home is more important than ever, especially when we’re in lockdown. But when it comes to renovations, the cost can quickly blow out to eye-watering proportions. Learning to renovate on a budget can alleviate some of the stress around cost while still giving your home the much-needed facelift it deserves.
Winter is also the perfect time to update your home. There’s not much to do, it’s cold outside, and, if you’re selling your home, you can prep it just in time for spring! The best part? You don’t need to spend a fortune; sometimes even by making the smallest changes you can reap the largest rewards.
But whether you’re preparing to sell your home, increase its value, or you simply want to level up your living room, we’ve got some tips that you (and your wallet) will love!
The secret to a low-budget renovation all starts with proper planning and understanding what will make a real difference to your home – and what won’t! Read on to discover how to renovate on a budget.
1. Create the illusion of space
A small space can feel cramped, especially in the long winter months. The answer is to use a few clever styling tricks to create the look of a larger space. If you’ve got a small room, or a small apartment, the key to enlarging your space visually is to try the following:
- Add a large mirror, or even a whole mirrored wardrobe. If possible, angle it towards the window or even opposite it, to reflect light
- Painting your spaces in light shades like white, grey, or cream tones can trick the eye into thinking the space is larger
- Remove heavy blinds or curtains and replace them with long sheer curtains to lengthen walls and create the illusion of higher ceilings
2. Revive old fireplaces or doors
Ancient fireplaces in your home can take up valuable space and can start to look like an eyesore. But this doesn’t need to be the case! Why not modernise your fireplaces?
Make old fireplaces the standout feature of each room by painting them in solid colours like black or white. You can even add gold accents to give them a glamourous, Art Deco feel.
3. Freshen up your countertops
Nothing ages a room like tired-looking countertops. Whether they’re chipped, faded, or just downright daggy, a fresh countertop in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry can completely lift your spaces.
Are you adding up the cost in your head already? Before you tune out, you can absolutely create a new countertop without spending an arm and a leg! Simply use Laminex coating or marble-look contact paper to cover up your existing surfaces. This is the perfect option for owners looking to sell a home or delay a more extensive kitchen or bathroom renovation for another few years.
4. Hang fresh curtains
If you want to renovate on a budget you have to make small by clever styling choices. The key to creating fresh, elevated spaces is making use of light. Start by changing up your curtains or blinds to help with letting in the light. Replace old, dusty blinds with breezy curtains in light fabrics and light colours. The ideal curtains should provide you with some privacy without shutting out all the light in the room.
You can even add cheap and compact roller blinds underneath your curtains, and then pop a sheer curtain over the top. This will work wonders in opening up your spaces. It will also open up the air flow within your home.
5. Level up your lighting
Another way to brighten up your home is through artificial lighting. Of course, you can always go with the safe option, and install practical down lights that will last a long time. But if you’re looking to make a statement, why not add a feature light in one (or all) of your rooms?
Add a statement chandelier with wooden beads for a classic or coastal look, or a sleek lightshade in silver, pewter, or black for a more modern look.
On the other hand, if the lighting in your room is too stark, switch out your light bulbs for something a little softer or add lampshades to filter the light.
If you want to renovate your home on a budget, start planning before you get excited and start hammering nails into the walls or buy elaborate chandeliers! Think about the changes you can make that will have the most value aesthetically or help you the most practically, and create a plan to update your home piece by piece.
For instance, you’re suffering with cold floorboards in winter and you want to update your home by adding carpet or blinds to keep it warm and cosy, do that first! Or start with a few bright cushions and wall art pieces and then leave larger updates for later. To learn more about how you can update your home, click here.
Want to know which rooms add the most value to your home? Discover which room update will help you getting buyers bidding!
Ready to sell? Contact us today for a valuation or to discuss the tried-and-tested strategies we use to sell homes just like yours.
