We’ve all seen a home in a magazine or on a movie and thought “Wow, if only I could have a kitchen like that.” or “There’s no way I could ever afford a bathroom that classy!” While you may be working with a lower budget, it is still possible to get that dream remodel and stay within your budget. You may not have the same sized kitchen as the Beverly Hills mansion you saw on TV, but it can look just as good. To allow you to dedicate a larger amount of your budget towards the stuff that matters, here are some tips to help you save money where it counts:
Use laminate flooring instead of hardwood
While hardwood flooring is usually everyone’s first choice, is can be expensive. If you have a flooring project and a budget to work with, consider laminate wood flooring. Laminate wood will give you the look of hardwood flooring, but save you on both material and labor. Unlike solid wood, laminate flooring is normally relatively easy to install.
Laminate countertops
Countertops can eat up a huge part of your budget, but like laminate flooring, laminate countertops are cheaper than the alternative, and come in a wide variety of styles, many that mimic the look of natural stone or other solid surfacing.
Refinish
Thinking of replacing your cabinets? If they are in good enough condition, consider refinishing them instead of replacing them. Refinishing your cabinets could provide the same new look that a new cabinet could give you, but at a fraction of the cost. While refinishing your cabinets, think about replacing the hardware. If your knobs and handles are outdated or have seen better days, those can easily be swapped for something more modern at a low cost as well.
Pre-finished decorative trim
If you have a contractor working on a project for you, and you’re hoping to save anywhere possible, consider pre-finished decorative trim. Purchasing pre-finished decorative trim means a contractor will not need to paint or stain the trim, and will help you save any additional costs associated with the labor you’ve saved your contractor.
