You might be expecting the typical renovation article, filled with wonderful ideas on how to decorate, what colors to choose, or what the latest fads are when making the various choices you need to make. However, instead I am going to focus on choosing which room makes sense for someone to tackle when they are on a budget.
Only you know what your budget is, as well as the reasons for the project. But, if your funds are limited…yet you need to spruce up the house to put it on the market, or want to renovate at least one room after purchasing what you hoped to be your first “dream” home…then read on to learn what you should consider when it comes to remodeling each room in the house.
The Kitchen
I am going to start with one of the most expensive rooms to take on, depending on the current condition of the room…the kitchen. In our home, this is the area that most people see first…or relatively close to first, where people gather when they visit, and where function and upgrade is extremely important.
What this means for me, when it comes to renovation, is that it’s hard to skimp on cost. Not only do you have to choose colors and décor style, but you have appliances to consider as well. However, you could save money on buying used cabinets, or those from a clearance center. I know, used? Yes. You could save a lotof money on cabinets that can be refurbished to look new…and only you would know the difference.
Other ways to cut corners in the kitchen would be second-hand table and chairs, décor, as well as flooring that are being discontinued.
So, while it might be one of the costliest rooms to renovate, there are ways to save money when doing it. Personally, I would shop for the appliances on clearance as well…or a showroom model. But, the appliances need to be functional and in safe working order.
Family Room
This is room that you might consider doing right away, because you will be spending most of your waking hours in this room when you are home and inside. Basically what you need to consider is the flooring, walls, window treatments, and possibly the furniture, which could be the most expensive cost for this particular room.
However, it’s amazing at what a new coat of paint on the walls and a throw rug can do for a room, leaving you with deciding on what furniture to put in there. Take a look around, and if you can get away with small reclining chairs, rather than large sofas and loveseats, you might be able to save some money. This could also give the appearance of more space in the room.
Window treatments can be expensive. But, the good news is that simple is “in” right now. But, just like everything else, look to clearance centers, or even Craigslist and eBay. These sites quite often will have new or “like new” items for sale. One word of advice though…find these items first, and then work around them for the paint color and remainder of the décor. If not, you run the risk of having to pay more for items that go well.
Master Bedroom
You will have similar items to the family room to consider when thinking of the master bedroom. So, your biggest expense here could be the flooring and furniture. And again, shop around for the best buy. In fact, I would even go to garage sales for the furniture, leaving you with the expense of the mattress being the highest.
Many times you can find used furniture and décor that might need a little creativity and elbow-grease, such as some sanding and stain, or a fresh coat of paint. If you are talented, you can even change the overall appearance by adding or removing a small ornamental piece.
Flooring can look new by adding a beautiful throw rug…and again, you can buy used.
Guest Room
This is a great room to renovate, in my opinion, because you can turn it into a multi-purpose room, at very little cost. And, because the traffic in it might be lighter, you can get away with using it as an office and guest room…think futon and corner desk. Or, a small den or playroom for the kids, with a small hide-a-bed for guests to use when staying over.
And, because it’s not used as heavily, you could get away with less expensive furniture. However, if this is first home and you are hoping for an immediate updated look to the house, you might want to choose a room you will be using more often.
Bathroom
Last, but not least…expensive, that is…is the bathroom. Everyone loves a nice updated bathroom, right? But, if I can give you any advice here, it would be to wait on this one, until you have sufficient money to do it. You can still buy secondhand for certain items, but not as easily. Clearance centers are still a good idea. But still, there is a lot of cost involved when remodeling a bathroom, such as:
- Tile
- Plumbing
- Vanity
- Lighting
- Flooring
- Tub/Shower
What I have also learned, through my own renovation projects and shows on renovating, is that you always have to be prepared for the unexpected, especially when you are dealing with electrical and plumbing…which is a big part of renovating a bathroom.
In Closing
Hopefully I gave some insight to which rooms are most costly, and which can be done for little cost. I didn’t go into detail to actual cost, because there are so many variances that could affect it such as your location, your specific needs…and your taste.
Benjamin Baker freely admits to being addicted to his craft of writing. He’s also a research hound, which is where he finds much of his inspiration, such as when visiting www.reclinerchairreviews.com, an article was drafted shortly after. On his free time, Benjamin finds himself camping, fishing, playing his guitar, touring junk yards with his sons, spending time with family in their hometown of Denver, Colorado.
