We all love to refresh our homes be it our primary residence
or our holiday home rental property.
Giving them a new look each new year is always an ideal time to do this. If
your finances are still recovering after the added expense of the festive
season, however, it can be tricky to splash out on expensive decorating tools
and materials. Think outside the box though, and there are plenty of ways in
which you can update your home without spending too much. Check out our expert
advice for some great ways to save…
Only buy what you
need. Work out the exact quantities of materials needed for the job so you
don’t overspend. Measure rooms and use online calculators that let you know the
required amount of paint, wallpaper or tiles. When refurbishing a kitchen or
bedroom, don’t rip out cupboards or wardrobes without examining the carcasses
first, as if they’re in good condition, replace the doors rather than the
entire units, keeping expenses down. Investing in multi-purpose tools is more
cost-effective than buying ones with a single function, or, if you’re unlikely
to use a particular piece of kit again, hire it instead. Sell any left-over
materials on eBay, Gumtree or a specialist website.
Grab a discount. From
cashback sites and loyalty cards to money-off vouchers, there’s no reason why
you should ever have to pay full price again. Online shopping is usually
cheaper than buying in-store, and you always have the right to return goods for
a full refund. Megadiscount sites Amazon and eBay have huge home improvement
sections, and some big supermarkets have branched into DIY – for example Asda
has introduced George Home paints and wallpapers. Join Topcashback and Quidco
for money back every time you make a purchase from a participating retailer,
and sign up to Myvouchercodes for daily coupons and codes. B&Q’s Diamond
Card gives a discount to over 60s every Wednesday, and buy from your local
builder’s merchant to get trade prices.
Choose value paint.
With so many paint brands available, it’s sometimes difficult to know which to
choose, and, if you’re a keen decorator, even buying enough paint for just a
couple of rooms can end up costing a lot. Try using chalky flat matt emulsion –
an ultra-flat paint which absorbs light and helps to hide any imperfections for
a rich, luxurious finish. And the best news is, it’s only under $10 per 2.5 liter
tin, a huge saving when compared to some other paint brands.
Kitchen Ideas. In
the kitchen, use standard Ikea carcasses and design your own door fronts, which
can be made up by a joiner. This gives the impression of bespoke cupboards.
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Engineered floors are just as good as solid
floors. Don’t be afraid of using them as an alternative.
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Create canvas-covered wall panels: tightly glue
canvas onto MDF, lip the edges on the back and secure with staples. This is
inexpensive but brings incredible texture and interest to a room.
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Brighten up your kitchen with an eye-catching
splashback, created with squares of paint.
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