If you believe that all home improvement projects must be expensive, complicated, and reserved for the hosts of HGTV….than you’re in for a pleasant surprise! Read-on to discover how exactly you can do home improvement projects on a budget. Get ready to spend less money improving the home you love…so you’ll love it even more.
What is Home Improvement?
A home improvement project is just that – a do-it-yourself project that increases the value and visual appeal of your home. I’m not talking about major renovations here.
Renovations are expensive and you will probably need to hire one or two of those HGTV host-types to do the job. Although they probably won’t be as handy with the witty-banter.
The budget-friendly DIY home improvement projects I’m talking about can be done by you – and will improve your home-sweet-home in the process.
So, if your kitchen is in need of a facelift, or your living room is as drab as a rainy day, or your kids’ rooms are always a messy disaster – we can fix that.
How To Make A Budget For Home Improvement Projects
Before you dive into sprucing-up your family room or kitchen, it’s good to know which projects give the best return on investment. This helps you to make better choices that will increase your home’s value.
A beautiful kitchen, a finished basement, or a bonus attic space account for as much as 10% to 15% of the total value of your home, according to CNN Money. Fixing-up bathrooms is a great idea too since they contribute 5% to 15% of your property value.
Use these percentages as guidelines when prioritizing home improvement projects. However, if your master bedroom is so scary that you are afraid to close your eyes at night, it’s okay to place personal satisfaction over money sometimes.
Best Tips For Doing Home Improvement Projects On A Budget
Tip 1: Do The Work Yourself
There are places you can splurge, and places you can cut back, on DIY projects – while still getting a great result. One big way to save money is to perform much of the labor yourself.
These days, learning how to paint and hang wallpaper like the pros is just a YouTube video away. If you’re up for a challenge, you can DIY bathroom tile installation or minor electrical and plumbing jobs. Even laying new hardwood or laminate flooring has become user-friendly with DIY Quick Step packages for beginners. My brother taught himself to install hardwood in his basement over one weekend!
However, unless you’ve taken a course or two, you’ll want to hire professional labor for any major plumbing and electrical jobs, structural changes, window replacement, cabinet installation, or to replace your roof.
Related Article: 50 Inexpensive (or Free) Home Improvement Ideas
Tip 2: Bounce Your Ideas Off A Professional
Getting a professional opinion from someone with experience doesn’t have to mean hiring an interior designer – after all, we’re trying to keep you on budget here! You can get great design advice from the staff at the paint or hardware store where you purchase your supplies. These people have loads of experience helping customers make decor and home improvement decisions.
Asking for advice before you start a project can save money since you’ll make the best choices the first time.
Even picking the wrong colour of paint can be costly if you have to paint a room twice – just ask my colour-blind husband who chose the grossest green hue to paint our daughter’s room…and then spent a 2nd weekend fixing it with my paint choice.
Tip 3: Tackle One Project At A Time
If you live in an older home, like I do, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed by all the projects you want to tackle and repairs that need doing. Even if your house is new, you may still have a lengthy to-do list stuck to your fridge.
But in terms of doing home improvement on a budget, the wisest move is to take on one job at a time. This approach is also the best bet for your mental health!
Here are a few ways to choose the home improvement project to cross-off your list first:
Pick the ugliest – choose one thing in your home that is desperate for a home-improvement facelift, and makes you cringe every time you look at it.
Choose the most visible – there may be one potential project that is front and center in your house. Your home will benefit more from having that area beautified first, plus you’ll be motivated to keep going on your DIY adventure.
Pick the easiest – decide which home improvement project will take the least amount of time and effort. Successfully completing a simple DIY job will boost your self-esteem and set you on course to tackle the more time-consuming projects.
Choose the cheapest – If fixing-up your home on a tight budget is the most important part of your plan, than start doing projects that you can easily afford. As you save more money, you can branch out to the more expensive jobs.
Read: How To Save Money On A Low Income
Tip 4: Shop Second Hand
Shopping in thrift stores or online marketplaces probably won’t help you much if you’re looking for a certain paint colour but you can find great discounts on many other home improvement supplies.
One of my favourite ways to decorate our house is shop garage sales or kijiji.ca for old furniture and then paint it myself. Look for solid wood items that will last for a long time and can be transformed into beautiful new pieces for your home.
Also, ask at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s if they have any clearance or discount supplies they are selling. If you aren’t too picky about what tile pattern or cabinet hardware you want, you can often find left-over or overstock items that these stores will sell for cheap. It never hurts to ask!
Tip 5: Support Habitat For Humanity
Habitat for Humanity ReStores are home and building supply stores that resell good-quality, new and used building materials. They also accept donations. You can find excellent deals at these stores – such as the lovely glass and wood door we got for our sunroom last summer for $50.
The profits are used to fund Habitat for Humanity building projects in your community.
It’s also a smart decision for the environment since much of what is sold is new, gently used or customer returns that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Bonus Frugal Tips For DIY Home Improvement
If you really want to be frugal, consider a few of these options:
- Shop for clearance-item floor and wall tile, carpeting, or wood
- Replace cabinet hardware, and paint cabinet doors, instead of buying new cabinets
- Consider vinyl flooring instead of tile
- Choose neutral paint colours that will be in style for longer, and then add colour with throw pillows and other decor choices
- Paint old furniture to give pieces new life, instead of buying new
Home Improvement On A Budget Planning
Now that you have your first budget-friendly home improvement project in mind, it’s important to plan how you are going pay for it.
If you don’t have the cash you need available now, start a savings account to avoid putting anything on credit. A high-interest savings account is a great tool to help you save money quickly. This way you’ll avoid costly interest payments and you will have time to shop for the best bargains.
The bigger your next home improvement project, the more time you’ll need to save for it. Start making budget adjustments now, and you’ll be swinging that hammer before you know it.
Here is help making a realistic family budget that works – How to Make A Family Budget.
Your home is probably the biggest investment you have, and you owe it to yourself to make improvements that will increase its value. Take your time and start with the small projects. Eventually your motivation and confidence will grow, and you will be enjoying the rewards of a beautiful home.
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