Whether you’ve been a tenant for 20 years or have recently built your own house, its normal to get the decorating itch. No matter how big your budget is, you never want to spend more than you have to when renovating or making any home improvements. It’s easy to fall into the trap of blindly buying and being too trusting with traders, so here’s some tips to make it as stress free and purse friendly as possible.
Try Your Hand At DIY
Renovations are some of the best times to develop your DIY skills. Many decorating tasks don’t require any specific talents, and they are simple enough for almost everyone to try. Outsourcing simple tradesmen like painters or gardeners during renovating is sometimes a huge waste of money, as there are many resources available to show you how to carry out these tasks yourself – this means you only have to buy the raw materials, making a huge saving. Don’t be afraid to ask friends or relatives to give you a helping hand if the job is too big to complete on your own.
Shop Around For The Best Deals
Although you might be tempted to go for the easy option and head to your local store, try visiting a few different places to get the best deal possible. Shopping online is a great way to compare products and find important statistics regarding the price of flooring installers and other useful services. Buying from the internet is also much more convenient, as shops are open 24/7 and you get the products delivered to your door, sometimes even the very next day. It’s also likely you can find reviews from other customers online, which will help you in not wasting any time choosing the perfect option.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Second Hand
It’s common for people to turn their nose up when being offered used furniture, but it can often save you a fortune. Although you can’t apply this method to everything, bigger investments like sofas are frequently sold for low prices purely due to the fact they were pre-loved. It’s important to clean items properly before use, but apart from this there’s no reason you shouldn’t buy second hand. Check out local newspapers for information about garage sales and flea markets and be sure to check Facebook Marketplace; dedicate the day to finding some real treasures.
Repurpose What You Already Have
Renovating doesn’t mean you have to throw everything out, it’s a great opportunity to upcycle a few pieces of your old furniture into something new and beautiful. Think outside the box and transform worn out cabinets into amazing new storage units, with a simple white wash or coat of paint. Sew some different materials onto seat cushions or make your own armrest covers to give it that kitsch and personal look, and widen your DIY skill set even further.
Always remember to plan everything far in advance to make sure you don’t encounter any nasty surprises, and keep you on track with spending. Its cheaper than you might think to breathe new life into your home, so follow these steps and create something amazing without breaking the bank.