The rising cost of living is on our minds at the moment.
So anything we can do on a budget is welcome – whether it’s shopping, buying second hand clothes or reducing our monthly expenses.
The same goes for interior design and household updates.
And a skilled Birmingham mom shared how you can change the design of your home on a budget.
Roxanne Morris remodeled her kitchen for just £ 57 – giving it a new lease of life without breaking the bank.
She also focused her attention on the rest of her home, which she updated while keeping costs low.
The 32-year-old shared her top five tips on how to update your own home on a budget.
plan, plan, plan
Free
We all know that renovating your home can be very costly, so sticking to it without planning can cost you more than you expected.
Roxanne says an important way to avoid this is to plan carefully.
She explains: ‘Once you have an idea of what you want, start by writing a list of materials and items you will need.
‘From there, search around to find the best deals or prices for what’s needed. By doing this, you will have a good understanding of the budget you are working with and can make a call if you need to adjust your expectations if the costs are too high. ‘
Use paint instead of wallpaper
Cost – from £ 12
“While wallpaper can be great for delivering exciting patterns and textures in a room, the cost of covering multiple walls can add up quickly, with some popular DIY retailers charging up to £ 145 per roll,” explains Roxanne.
“Besides, if you are inexperienced in hanging wallpaper, you may either have to buy extra to offset mistakes or even hire a dealer to do it for you, all of which will increase your budget.”
She adds paint, on the other hand, is an easier route for beginner decorators – and can give you a lot more for your money.
“I always opt for a good quality paint that can provide good coverage in fewer coats, which makes it a more cost effective purchase,” the mom continues.
A heel I always use to make sure leftover paint lasts longer is to place an elastic band over the center of an open can and use it to wipe off any excess paint from my brush instead of around the edge to use.
‘When you use the edge, the paint dries around the edge, which means that the lid will no longer go on properly. This causes the paint to dry out and is no longer suitable for any repairs later in the line. ‘
Change things and change tired areas
Cost – from £ 6.70
Roxanne says if you do not want to spend money on a total room transformation, but want to get that fresh feeling is a great way to do it by playing around with your accessories.
She adds: ‘I have a bench of ScS with double-sided pillows that have different patterns on each side, so I tend to turn it around regularly to make the room look exciting.
‘You can also refurbish existing accessories, such as chandeliers, picture frames, vases and mirrors, with a little do-it-yourself. Things like spray paint and sticky back vinyl can be picked up for a great price and can totally change something you already bought.
‘My kitchen was a slightly larger job, and I could not afford brand new counter tops and cupboard doors, so I rather revived the space by using sticky vinyl and paint. A new work surface would have cost me over £ 95 to get the look I wanted, but by buying the vinyl and an applicator set, I spent a total of just £ 23.10 (three rolls at £ 6, 70 and an applicator set at £ 2.99).
‘For the cupboards, instead of buying new doors, I just refreshed them with some multi-surface paint, which only cost me £ 34. I then used leftover floors from my old house to cover the existing tiles. ‘
Do not be afraid to get stuck
Free
A great way you can save money on home updates is by doing the work yourself, Roxanne adds.
She continues: ‘From panel work on walls to recycling furniture, there are many opportunities in the home to try your hand at something new.
‘I renovated most of my house over lockdown, so I had to rely on myself to get things done. Not only did I save a lot of labor costs, but I also gained key skills to help me with future redevelopment projects. ‘
Swap your furniture layout for an instant refresh
Free
If you are a little bored for a certain room, simply change some of the furniture around for an immediate update.
Roxanne adds: ‘Playing around with furniture layouts can be great to freshen up a room, as it’s completely free. All you have to do is set aside a few hours a day and experiment with a new structure.
“It will help keep the look and feel of the room exciting and interesting for any visitors.”
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