Every home renovation has a cost. This is the price that one pays for the person to obtain a more beautiful, healthy, practical, and functional home.
And it’s okay that not everyone has money left in their wallets to make that general transformation in the environments. That’s because there are simple ways to change the face of rooms without having to spend a lot! Doubt? Check out some ideas!
# 1 Use the same coatings throughout the house
One way to spend less on home improvement is to buy more of the same material at once.
Explaining better, it is much more affordable to buy a gallon of eighteen-liter paint than to buy two gallons of 3.6 liters of different colors to paint the environments.
In fact, light and neutral colors, with less red pigmentation in their composition, also cost less – and the best is that they are fadeless.
The same idea can be replicated in the wall coverings, plus the floor. Small apartments are more beautiful and spacious with the same floor covering in every room.
Of course, in certain areas of the house, such as the laundry room and the bathroom, they need another type of protection, more waterproof, like a tile. However, even at these points, it is possible to reduce costs.
A solution widely used by interior architects is to study rigorously which wet areas really need protection.
Only the wall behind the sink needs to be tiled in a kitchen – and even then only up to a height of one meter to one meter and ten, plus the strip behind the stove as well. In the laundry room, the coating needs to be present at least behind the tank, and in the bathroom, the area inside the shower box.
And if you want to make your home look more charming, of course you can afford to buy small items for personalizing environments.
Today, there are several models of tosetas, lozenges and strips for decorating wet areas – which are expensive, but can be purchased in small quantities. Wallpapers of various textures and finishes are also valid, as well as imitations of hydraulic tiles in adhesive, which are beautiful.
# 2 Enhance structural imperfections by leaving materials on display
Environments without ceilings, uncoated floors – only on the subfloor -, exposed beams and pillars, wiring pipes, and other elements can be enhanced.
Instead of being seen as villains, you can turn them into the center of the proposals; creating, from that, a certain visual language. This strategy is widely used in “urban chic”, “industrial” decorations, and more.
The economy in this case is, precisely, in not having to buy so many materials and hire labor to renovate the house.
It turns out that it is possible to see, in what would be considered ugly and weird, beauty. Such a concept is defended by styles like ‘wabi sabi’ and many others. And the interesting thing is that the texture of these elements, which is more crude, ends up highlighting new and better finished items.
# 3 Build your own furniture or remodel old ones
When it comes to changing the rooms’ face in the house, it is worth renovating the structures and furnishing them. Planned pieces manufactured in series or with a unique design, customized by renowned artists, are quite expensive.
One can even settle for cheap items purchased at any store. But, perhaps they are not very beautiful, resistant, or even long-lasting.
An economical and fun way to furnish the house is to try to build your own furniture. Much can be done with MDF, MDP or varnished demolition wood.
Shelves with metallic French hands can form structures for closets or wardrobes – and be closed with simple curtains. And cement and brick slabs, bookshelves and kitchen cabinets.
# 4 Use white furniture, crockery, and appliances
After the person has already reformed the floor, the ceiling, and the property walls, it is time to turn the furniture and add the appliances in the environment.
Another way to save money on the house is to buy as many pieces in white. If the sides, bottoms, top and inner part of the cabinets are unprinted, the purchase price will be lower. In fact, equipment in this color also usually costs less.
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# 5 Add pots with plants in the decoration
Another inexpensive idea is to buy potted plants for the home. The green should be an ally of those who want to improve the decoration of the environment.
This is because flowers and foliage have the power to fill spaces, to heal harmful energies, to improve the thermo-acoustic condition of rooms, and more. They can also stay ahead and hide points for which they still have no money to reform.
Now it’s time to get your hands dirty! Use all the tips presented in your favor and find the best way to renovate, furnish, and change your home’s look.
The Viva Decora team created these tips for remodeling your home without spending a lot.
Want to renovate the house by spending less and with a faster work? Check out the tips!
- Make a project to renovate the house.
Before you hire a company or buy the materials, you need to know exactly what you want to renovate.
This care is essential not to spend more than necessary, as it is common for some works to start without detailed planning and, therefore, leave the impression that they will never end.
The project does not have to be very complex, but it should detail all the steps. On a spreadsheet or sheet of paper, write the work’s start date, its duration, and the estimated costs. This material will be presented to professionals in the selection process. It will serve as a basis for the final budget.
- Set the budget
Just as the project must be prepared in advance, it is also necessary to establish the amount you have available to spend.
This will facilitate the search for professionals and materials since you will know what fits your reality and will be able to negotiate costs with suppliers.
It is important to follow the budget to the letter to avoid an increase in the work cost.
Remember that some bills, such as water and electricity, may be increased during service (due to increased usage). Therefore, these observations should be added to your spending limit and your monthly budget.
One option is to ask for quotes from different companies based on your renovation project. The values shown are indicative of what is the market average for the services you want. Many professionals do not charge to make a budget. With a greater number of alternatives, it is possible to negotiate discounts on labor.
- Plan financially
The work cost is undoubtedly one of the points that generate the most headache during the house’s renovation. Planning can reduce the number of problems and ensure more peaceful days while services are performed.
Planning is the first step to making your dreams come true! Check out the video below:
Save for a few months to have greater financial availability on the job. It is worth remembering that it will impact your monthly budget, so it is important to make sure that there is enough capital to complete it without interrupting it in half.
Be sure to maintain a security reserve, which should be part of your total assets. This amount is used in unforeseen circumstances, such as a car crash, or to pay bills for a few months in case of dismissal or to leave the job.
Some reforms can be an emergency, such as leaks’ correction, and this reserve works as a guarantee.
- Hire good professionals
Choosing professionals responsible for reform is one of the most important planning tasks. The value of labor has risen in recent years, making the service more expensive. Still, there is no point in hiring the cheapest ones, or reducing the number of employees, making a difference.
It is essential to research in advance to find the best cost-benefit ratio between price and quality.
Here, friends’ and acquaintances’ recommendations are very valid, as you will know the job before hiring you. Also, be sure to check if the company has evaluations on the internet and confirm your training.
- Buy quality materials
The idea of a renovation is to correct structural problems or adapt the house to its residents’ tastes.
To avoid headaches a few months after the work, choose quality and trustworthy brands – or make such a requirement of the hired employees if they are responsible for this part.
Buying good materials is also synonymous with safety since we talk about where you and your family live. Confirm that there is no fire hazard due to an electrical overload, for example. The cheap, after all, can be very expensive!
- Establish a schedule
After hiring the professionals, set a schedule for the renovation. The company will probably inform you of the time needed to complete the work. Still, it is important to put this on paper and set a deadline, as delays mean additional costs and budget changes.
With the schedule set, you can plan your routine better to keep track of jobs. Also, if the work is external, pay attention to the climatic conditions and avoid rain periods.
It is also interesting to escape the Christmas and New Year periods, as it can be more difficult to find available professionals.
- Don’t be in a hurry.
We come to an important tip, as the search for faster reform can blow the budget and compromise its result.
So, run away from the employees who do everything and look for specialized people. Some services, such as painting the wall and changing the floor, cannot be performed simultaneously.
It is essential to combine the deadlines and adapt them to your routine. You may have to change rooms during the renovation or even leave the house for a few days due to dust and dirt. Thus, the probability of delays becomes less, and the work will be completed more quickly.
- Remember the unforeseen
Even after setting up the schedule and setting all deadlines, the chances of unforeseen circumstances occurring during the renovation are great. It would help if you prepared for this, as they can be smaller (such as breaking a floor) or larger (in the case of a perforated pipe).
Some disorders are common and will be present in your work, especially if it happens on a large scale. There will be a greater circulation of people and a lot of dirt on the floor, which is an inconvenience. However, remember that the goal is to achieve a good result – and all of these factors are part of the package.
Planning is the most important tip for renovating the house and must be followed in all work stages.
Therefore, it is essential to leave everything combined with the responsible company, which avoids problems and headaches. The goal is to find the best value for money and, of course, leave the house the way you designed it.
