Revamping your home is often a costly process, but by no means does it have to be every single time. Interior designers know all of the right hacks that will help you save money during your next home makeover.
Here, they’re letting us in on a few of their secrets that will come in handy the next time you’re looking to revamp your space without breaking the bank (so, always).
Shopping Secondhand
Many designers turn to secondhand shopping platforms and brick-and-mortar stores in order to save money while working on home renovation projects and room makeovers alike.
Meredith Still, the founder of The Meredith Project, will often look at online resources, including Chairish and Facebook Marketplace, and visit her local consignment shops in search of discounted home goods. Keep in mind that these resources offer so much more than just furniture and accent pieces—you can also source secondhand appliances, light fixtures, wallpaper, and beyond.
“These pieces often have more character and durability than new, mass-produced items,” Still says of secondhand finds, “Plus, it’s good for the environment.”
Don’t forget to keep your eyes open for secondhand artwork and frames, too, whether you’re constructing a gallery wall or just need one piece to fill a large, open space.
“Swapping in custom or even printable modern art into vintage or thrifted frames can create a curated, high-end look without the gallery price tag,” Still says. “We do this a lot and are constantly grabbing great, small and medium-sized frames at Goodwill!
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Reupholstering Furniture
Erin Williamson Design
Rather than buying brand new furniture for a room makeover, take a look around your home and see if you can give an existing sofa or armchair a bit of a refresh. Additionally, perhaps you have inherited a furniture piece from a relative that has great bones and is begging for contemporary fabric. This is where the magic of reupholstery, something that Still relies on often in her work.
“Reupholstering a perfectly well-made sofa or chair can not only save money but also allow for customization with high-quality fabrics that suit the new design,” she says.
If you’re worried that your heirloom sofa is too lumpy to ever be practical, keep in mind that this can be changed, too—upholsterers can also swap out its filling, Still explains.
Rethinking the Kitchen Backsplash
Kami Gray Interiors
Kami Gray, the founder of Kami Gray Interiors, has saved major cash in her kitchen by opting to use a large-format porcelain tile as her backsplash. Gray explains that using a slab as a kitchen backsplash can look beautiful, but is quite costly, given that it needs to be fabricated. A large format porcelain tile, on the other hand, is something a regular tile installer can handle.
“What I like about porcelain is that it looks so much more like natural stone than quartz slabs do,” she says, adding that it would also look excellent in a bathroom.
Refinishing Versus Replacing
When possible, it’s always smart to try to refinish something that needs a bit of an upgrade versus replacing it entirely in order to save some major cash, Rachel Blindauer, the founder of Rachel Blindauer Studio, says.
“Re-staining floors, painting cabinetry, or updating hardware can breathe new life into what you already own,” she says.
Choosing a Few Luxe Textiles
When it comes to weaving textiles into your home, the phrase “the more, the merrier” does not apply, according to Blindauer. Instead, she is all about purchasing a few high-quality textiles, such as statement-making pillows in designer fabric, and letting those do the talking, pairing them alongside solid or neutral accents.
“This gives clients that layered, custom look—without the custom invoice,” the designer says.
Not Underestimating the Power of Lighting
Louis Duncan-He Designs
The right lighting can work wonders in making a room appear so much more elevated, Blindauer explains.
“Lighting is an often-overlooked upgrade that can transform a room without overhauling its bones,” she says, noting that it can definitely be budget-friendly.
You might be surprised at what rejiggering your lighting scheme can do for your space in terms of making it appear more open and airy.
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