How To Renovate Your Home On a Budget

Ideas on how to make stylish updates to your home on a budget

Say home renovation, and many people think – too expensive. But transforming your home doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. 

Cost is always the biggest obstacle when it comes to renovating a home, which is why spending time going through your finances to document how and where you will spend your money is so vital. But what if you could save some money and still get great results?

If you are looking for the best ways to renovate on a budget, here is a guide to ensure your old home doesn’t become a money pit.

Start by stripping out all the old carpets, curtains and as much junk and rubbish as possible. Remove any outdated or damaged fitted furniture. Repair the walls to prepare for painting, stripping old wallpaper and sanding and filling to get a smooth finish.

Be prepared to pounce on the best bargains and deals as and when they arise by organising storage space that gives you the option to store the things you will buy. Buying a bargain when you see it can result in huge savings.

Kitchen

Giving your old kitchen units a new look can be easily achieved without tearing it all out and for a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen.

Add new countertops. If your kitchen cabinets are in decent shape, you can indulge in new countertops and upgrade one of the most complex working surfaces in your home. The smaller the square footage you have to cover, the lower your cost.

Change the backsplash. Adding a punch of pattern or colour is a great way to freshen up a kitchen and add visual interest. With options for tile, stone, glass, ceramic, and beaded board, there are so many opportunities to find a material that’s right for your budget. 

Add an island. Stand-alone tables or cabinets can be a cost-friendly feature for an island-less kitchen. The more extras you add (for example, a cabinet with drawers), the more it will cost, so if a super-low budget is your goal, start with a simple table. 

Paint, wallpaper, peel-and-stick wood products are great options to give a new face to your cabinets. Removing doors on some upper cabinets offers you easy-to-access open storage without having to add new shelving. Look for ways to refresh your home that fit your budget and how you use the space daily.

Living Room

Update Windows: Don’t panic, we’re not suggesting you replace them!

By adding new fabric, new shades, or a combination of the two can give a pretty facelift to a living room. To save a little extra money, aim to reuse the existing curtain rods and rings.

Add a Featured Wall: No matter the size of your living room, there are a plethora of feature wall ideas to suit. From modern artwork and intricate wallpaper to decorative decals and treasured plate collections, it’s clear that you should let your walls do the talking. When done right, a featured wall give give a tremendous wow factor to anyone seeing it for the first time. 

Update You Soda: Update a vintage sofa or sofa bed with a funky new fabric covering. Or give a sentimental furniture piece a new lease of life with neat new upholstery. It won’t cost much and can completely transform your living room.

Bathroom

With the bathroom updates, you don’t always need the ceiling to floor tiles. Instead, consider using waterproof paint on walls other than the shower side.

You can add both style and storage to your bathroom with a medicine cabinet. Replace a plain wall-mount mirror to gain storage and a new look. 

You can add pattern and colour with wallpaper in a snap, and it’s totally fine to limit it to one stand-out wall. But if you’re not ready to tackle proper wallpapering quite yet, try the peel and stick kind.

Open shelves and bathroom cabinets can get a modern-day wake-up. Pick different styles from the same family or mix and match different finishes for a more eclectic look.

Bedroom

Add interest to the wall or ceiling. Even if you don’t have a stash of power tools, you can easily add wainscoting or trim to dull bedroom walls or ceilings. A guaranteed way to update your bedroom is to add a headboard, whether it’s small and stately or oversize and dramatic. 

Having an en suite to the master bedroom is a must-have for many – it improves privacy and solves the ‘morning queue for the bathroom scenario’ in larger households. Providing the layout is carefully thought through, an en suite shower room need not be very large

You can get the space by subdividing one end of a large bedroom using a timber or metal framed stud wall.  An old airing cupboard or storage area may be large enough to form a small shower room. 

Dining room

A few hundred pounds and a little bit of electrical DIY can give your ceiling space (and your room) a game-changing focal point. Choose several pendants instead of the traditional chandelier for a more contemporary approach.

Add pops of colour with paint or wallpaper. You can even swap out the door inserts for glass or apply coloured film to existing glass. These little touches can go a long way to making a room feel renewed.

Curb Appeal

A fresh coat of paint can work wonders for transforming the front door. Not only does it revive the door, but it also adds a new look to the whole exterior of your home. If your front door has had its day, invest in a new one to make a great first impression or install a smart new knocker or handle. You can even design your own.

Potted plants can make your entryway and porch appealing. Not to mention they are affordable. If you want to invest a little bit more, add some young shrubs on your lawn or choose flowering plants to make your home noticeable. 

Concrete pavers can be a great addition to your lawn, but you may be on the fence about upgrading to stone tiles because of the cost. There are surprisingly affordable slate tile options that you can install to cover up the concrete.

It’s the DIY and decorating project that can transform any room in an instant. A fresh coat of paint can give a bedroom, hallway or living room idea a whole new decorating scheme. Whether you choose to add colour or refresh in white, painted floorboards are transformative yet highly affordable. These are just some of the ways you can renovate your house on a budget. Hopefully, you can get pick some ideas of what to do for your next home renovation project. Always have a clear plan in mind, especially if you have a limited budget, and consider what project can give you the most significant value for your investment. 

We hope this helps!

Foundation are a group of local property experts, offering our services in Canterbury, Faversham, Sandwich, Whitstable, Deal and the surrounding areas.

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