Home renovating | where to splurge and where to save

Whether you’re renovating your home for a resale, looking to update a buy to let rental property, or you simply want to transform your home into space you’ll love, it can be tricky knowing how to budget your money.

Here are some tips on which parts of the home you should spend more cash on, and which parts you shouldn’t.

In the kitchen

 Splurge

 In the kitchen, the areas you should spend the most money on are the countertops and appliances. Countertops in a cheap material won’t last long due to wear, making them likely to need replacing more often.

Also, if you rush into buying cheaper models, you may encounter more issues down the line. Invest in high-quality countertops made from materials like granite which will not only look better than cheaper materials but will be more hard-wearing too.

Another area that you should splurge on in the kitchen is the appliances. Kitchen appliances like an oven, fridge, and freezer are important, and so you should focus on buying the best quality items.

Property company RW Invest pays attention to the importance of a good kitchen, offering modern and state of the art appliances and fixtures in their investment properties.

 Save

 While you want to splurge on the majority of your kitchen, there are some areas you can save on, too! Kitchen cabinets can be particularly affordable as they tend to last quite a long time, but can easily be renovated with a lick of paint or varnish, or even some wood veneer sheets.

 In the bathroom

 Splurge

 A beautiful bathroom is a key element of any home. Since the wall and floor tiles are often the first things you see when you enter a bathroom, it’s important that they’re of good quality. Seek out tiles in luxurious materials and with modern and stylish patterns, sticking to minimal colours that tend to work well.

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 Fixtures in the bathroom like a vanity cabinet and accessories like a mirror don’t need to cost a fortune to look good. Plenty of home stores like Ikea offer affordable options that will look great in the bathroom.

Just make sure that the style and colour of the items you choose compliment the rest of the decor well.

 In the bedroom

 Splurge

 The most important element of a bedroom is the bed itself, so shop for a quality bed and mattress to ensure you’ll get a good night’s sleep.

Cheap beds and mattresses not only last you less time and ruin your sleep quality, but they can even cause back shoulder and neck problems. For the sake of your health and your home decor, don’t scrimp and save on these items!

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 Side tables need not be expensive, as there are lots of great options out there with more affordable price tags. Look for styles in minimal designs and avoid plastic tables which can sometimes look cheap.

Instead, wooden styles tend to work best. Once you’ve put your lamp and any other necessary items on your side table, you’d never be able to tell how much it costs anyway.

In the living room

 Splurge

 The sofa is the focal point of the living room and should be looked at as an investment item. A good sofa can last you many years, so instead of settling for that discounted sofa, you saw online, treat yourself to your dream style. The best sofas will be made with quality materials and should hold your body’s shape.

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 Living room accessories like rugs, cushions, and artwork can be some of the most affordable items you buy for your home.

While there are a lot of pricier options out there, cheaper brands and stores offer some beautiful items at a fraction of the cost. Buying more affordable accessories also means you can change up the decor of the living room as and when you like, without feeling any guilt.

Cover Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

Simone Ribeiro

Hi! I'm Simone, a citizen of Britain, where I live for over a decade, and of Brazil, where I was born. Midlands Traveller is where I combine my passion for travelling, business and an Eco-friendly lifestyle.