How To Save Money On Your Home Decor
May 31, 2023
Designing a beautiful and functional home can be a pricey endeavour. Due to the cost of manual labour and the ever-rising price of materials, it is not uncommon for many of us to save up for long periods to justify much-needed changes to our living spaces. Fortunately, there are methods of saving money on your home renovation and redecoration projects without skipping on quality. Here are some tips for creating your dream home on a budget.
Set A Budget
When working on renovating your living space, going over budget can be all too easy, particularly if you haven't established one in the first place. Do some research and develop a rough budget for everything you’ll need during the process, including the cost of materials and manual labour fees - fortunately, you can browse comparison sites to find the best deals on services such as painting and decorating. Don’t forget to include a contingency plan in your budget, as home decoration can be fraught with unexpected expenses and costly setbacks.
Shop Second Hand
Shopping second-hand is one of the best ways to save money on home decoration projects. You can purchase pre-loved furniture and surplus decoration materials for a fraction of the original retail price from vintage emporiums, car boot sales, charity shops and online platforms such as eBay and Etsy. Ideal if you’re a self-confessed treasure hunter, you can discover plenty of second-hand treasures to breathe new life into your home. Plus, by purchasing from charity shops, you’ll limit the amount of waste sent to landfill sites by donating to a good cause - it’s a win-win situation.
Do It Yourself
You can save a significant amount of money on professional labour costs by adopting a DIY approach to home renovation. While you may not be an expert carpenter, plasterer, tiler or interior designer, the internet is an endless source of information where you can find user-friendly, step-by-step tutorials for almost anything. For particularly tricky or large-scale tasks, you could always enlist help from friends or family members with DIY experience, providing refreshments or returning a favour as payment.
Select Quality Materials
It may seem counterintuitive, but investing in quality materials will save you money. Simply put, high-quality materials offer better long-term value for money by lasting longer. Furthermore, high-quality home features such as hardwood floors and natural stone tiles will likely increase your property value. This also applies to the furniture you choose. While it may be tempting to grab a bargain from a budget furniture outlet, pieces made from durable, natural materials such as hardwood, leather, linen and organic cotton will provide you with years of high-quality comfort and luxury.
Scour The Sales
It is always worth scouring the sales in hopes of hopping on a good-quality bargain. For instance, you may not be able to afford a brand-new hardwood dining table, but you might be lucky enough to find one in an oak furniture sale. You can find all manner of home redecoration materials and components in the sales section of your local hardware store, some of which feature exclusive online deals, so be vigilant and keep your eyes peeled for price cuts.
Upcycle
Upcycling is a fantastic way to give old items new life. Ideal if you’ve acquired a second-hand or vintage find in need of a little TLC, there are numerous methods of changing and updating furniture items to make them pristine and unique. For instance, you could sand down a set of shabby second-hand dining chairs and paint them to match the aesthetic of your dining room. If you’re skilled with a sewing machine, you could reupholster your old sofa using hand-selected fabric to create a bespoke statement furniture item.
Seek Out Freebies
It’s astonishing how many free things you can acquire if you’re pragmatic and open-minded. For example, if you’re after a new bedside table or bookcase, consider asking for leads on social media. If you’re lucky, perhaps a friend or relative is currently selling or giving away the exact item you need. Additionally, it is not uncommon for free furniture items to be left on the street or listed online using resources like Facebook Marketplace. Often, people consider unwanted furniture items burdensome and want them gone.