Many people dream of renovating, but few choose to move ahead with plans due to the cost. It might seem like a long shot, but you’d be surprised what you can achieve from renovating on a budget. Allow us to give you five budget home renovation ideas that are sure to give your house the refreshing makeover you desire.
Researching your home renovations
Before you jump straight into renovating, it’s a good idea to take a step back first and establish a plan – it’s the key to maintaining your budget and seeing it stretch as far as possible.
Researching home improvements doesn’t have to be boring, not when there are great tools in the form of social media to help. Using inspiration from interior designers and other keen renovators is a good place to start3. While you might be worried about coming away with grand ideas you can’t execute, keep in mind that there are simpler ways to pull off the “fancy” renos you’re seeing. All it takes is a little more research and just like that, you’ll have a budget-friendly renovation idea on your hands3.
It can feel timely doing all this research beforehand but once you start formulating solid renovation plans and ideas, it could have the long-term benefits you’re looking for. Plus, your budget will reap the benefits of your prior planning.
Small home renovation ideas
You’ve probably heard the saying “start small and work your way up”; the same methodology can apply to renovating, especially when you’re on a budget. So, start off by thinking about the small home renovations you could tackle right now.
What first? A simple repaint could be just the home makeover you’re looking for1. Perhaps you might even consider taking this small home renovation idea to the next level by choosing a completely new and different colour to the current colour of your walls. You could also consider adding a splash of fresh paint to the exterior of your house.
If painting isn’t quite the idea you had in mind, there are a few other simple renovation ideas you may like to try. For example, revamping your flooring is one of the more cost-friendly options that could make a major difference. Simply consider laying floorboards over your tiles or polishing your current floorboards1. Perhaps your house is on the older side, in which case, you may like to upgrade your architraves or skirting boards1. The benefit of small home renovations like these is that you are in complete control of how much or how little you choose to do in one go, making it easier to manage your budget.
Which rooms to renovate?
If you’re thinking about the long-term, the reality is you may not be planning to live in your home forever. That’s why picking the rooms to renovate can be about more than just a choice, and rather about giving your home more value.
Perhaps two of the most commonly renovated rooms in a home are the kitchen and the bathroom1. While you might be thinking these room renovations are going to cost you some big dollars, dial back your thinking and focus on small renovation ideas. Something as simple as upgrading the tap and light fixtures for a more modernised look allows for a budget-friendly way to renovate1. With this thought in mind, start brainstorming ideas and head to your local hardware store to keep the spending to a minimum.
DIY home renovation ideas
One big way you can cut costs on renovations is by doing it yourself! Now, we’re not talking about doing everything yourself – yes, there will still be times where you need to enlist the help of professionals (safety first, after all). But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few little tricks you can keep up your sleeve to save a bit here and there.
Pick a few small home improvement projects you can start with and keep it simple – something as minor as revarnishing a piece of furniture could freshen your home up in a matter of minutes1.
Everyone’s heard of upcycling – it’s another small way you can make a big difference with your home renovations. You may already have bits of unused furniture lying around that you could turn into something brand new for a completely different room of the house. Or, try heading to second-hand stores or shopping around online for cost-friendly bits and pieces others no longer want1. There are some amazing deals out there and the wonders of DIY can take you further than you think.
Outdoor home improvements
When renovating, it can be easy to focus so much on the interior that we neglect our backyards as well. There’s a lot you can do in the way of landscaping that still allows you to renovate on a budget.
Simply adding a bit of greenery to your garden can spruce it up that little bit more and transform the whole atmosphere of your yard. Sourcing from local nurseries is a great way to keep costs to a minimum. You may even like to add a few garden features – this is where DIY can come in handy, plus, it means you stick to your renovating budget2. If you have a deck or patio, you could also look into re-staining or repainting it to give your overall outdoor area a freshen up2.
Renovating on a budget
Just like that, you have a few ways to get you started giving your house the makeover you want without exhausting all your funds. If you stick to your budget, do your research and keep it simple, you’ll be well on your way to renovating in no time.
To help you with the financial side of renovating, Queensland Country Bank offers a Reno Loan.
Terms and conditions of Queensland Country Bank’s Reno Loan apply. View the relevant TMD available at queenslandcountry.bank. Normal lending criteria, terms, conditions and fees apply and are available on request.
General Advice Warning: This information is intended to be general in nature and is not personal financial advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information in this article, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice.
Sources
1Soho, 2021, 6 tips for renovating on a small budget, https://soho.com.au/articles/6-tips-for-renovating-on-a-small-budget
2Johanna Seton, 2023, Easy and cheap ways to renovate your property in 2023 for under $9000, OpenAgent, https://www.openagent.com.au/blog/easy-and-cheap-ways-to-renovate-your-property-for-under-9000
3Reece, 2023, Our top 5 tips on renovating on a budget with an Australian builder, https://www.reece.com.au/blueprint/article/our-top-5-tips-on-renovating-on-a-budget-with-an-australian-builder