Decorating your home is such a fun experience, but sticking to a certain budget can make your design dreams fall flat on their face. Luckily, the high hopes and expectations that you have for your new and improved home interior needn’t cost you an arm and a leg, as it is more than possible to totally transform your house without the need for a never-ending bank account. Don’t let financial issues hold you back from creating the most perfect home environment for yourself and your family to enjoy for years to come – read on to uncover some of the best top tips and handy hacks that can see you through your redecoration to the highest possible standard and save you a pretty penny in the process!
Revamp Your Old Furniture
Instead of immediately flocking to the nearest store to buy a whole set of completely new furniture, take a look at the pieces you already have. Your sofa, for example, may be covered in an ugly looking fabric, but the shape and size fit the room well – in this case, you can easily reupholster the item in a more attractive material for much less than the price of investing in a completely new sofa. The same goes for wooden dining room tables and chairs, that can be sanded and buffed for a fresh smooth finish, and coated in a different tone of paint or stain that can offer a completely different aesthetic to its past life. Revamping your old furniture also means that you will appreciate the items much more, knowing that you were the one who put effort into crafting something new and beautiful, that suits all of your own specific standards (unlike the mass-produced store-bought alternative). Having truly unique and individual furniture can give your home so much character and personality, and you will have such joy explaining to your guests when they ask ‘where did you buy that from!?. ’
Add Features That Cut Utility Bills
Though many people do not consider the simple factor of installing features that can cut their utility bills, this long term solution can really save you money whilst improving the look and feel of your home at the same time. Products such as thermal curtains and draft excluders can block out the cold air trying to squirms its way into your home through windows and doors, and also keep in the heat that is released from your fire or radiators. This can instantly know your bills down dramatically, as heating is one of the most expensive utilities you must fork out for, and having to pay for much much less will really benefit your monthly budget.
Consider Buying Secondhand
Many people overlook secondhand furniture and decorations, failing to notice the true potential of each item and the money that can be saved. Just because something has been used before, it does not mean that it has no life left, as classic vintage pieces can outlive several sets of owners. From items like bed frames, curtains, pillows, and art – some of which you simply cannot identify has been used before! Of course, you should not invest in those that look particularly aged or weathered (or carry a strange odor) but it’s unlikely anyone would find it worth their own time to list such an item for sale. Even the most expensive technology can be purchased at a bargain price when you consider shopping secondhand, as within a year of purchase the product will lose more than half of its value yet still function perfectly!
Wait For The Best Season
Though you may never actually consider this factor, there are several different stages and seasons of the year which can provide the best deals and cheapest price for many items required during renovation work. For example, post-Christmas (Boxing Day) sales can help you to find some respectfully inexpensive yet high-quality goods, along with exclusively discounted times like Black Friday. Taking some time to wait until investing in everything you need to get the job done properly can save you so much money, and these should all come with some kind of receipt or warranty should they break or not meet your standards after buying. Sign up to newsletters from whatever stores you prefer to shop at, as they will send you emails or post identifying the dates during which you can nab a quick bargain, and potentially also some discounts or voucher codes that can save you even more!
The Value Of Your Old Furniture
Though you may be inclined to hire a skip and simply throw out all of your old furniture and belongings which no longer suit your style, by doing so you miss out on a potentially massive increase to the budget you have to spend on renovating. As mentioned before, just because you have used an item it does not mean it has no life left – it’s guaranteed that people might be interested in whichever bits and pieces you might otherwise have thrown in the trash! Take your initiative and stage something such as a car boot or garage sale, which you can arrange some space for larger items and layout some tables to showcase those that are smaller. Be realistic with the prices that you put on each product, but remember that this money will go towards your beautiful renovation, so do not simply give things away. Clearing this space (and removing the paint) will also give you a better chance of getting more inspiration for what you can achieve with each room, as the lack of furniture will give you more of a blank canvas for your ideas to truly flow.
Saving money whilst renovating your home does not mean that you have to lose quality and lower your standards – there are so many ways that you can identify items that are listed at bargain prices, from Christmas sales to secondhand! Inject new life into your old furniture through a lick of paint or fresh upholstery, and don’t forget that you might be able to make some money with what you don’t use.
