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Planning a home remodel is exciting the fantasy only lasts as long as your first major
purchase. The cost of materials and labor creeps up quickly, and the money that
seemed to be “free-flowing” slows way down as reality sets in.
There are ways to avoid this money drain, it just takes a little bit of planning on the front
end. Revisiting your design goals and sometimes altering them slightly can result in
major savings. Before you fall in love with that custom countertop on Pinterest, consider
a few money saving tips.

 

Leave your sink, tub, and toilet where they are
When planning a remodel especially one on a much larger scale, it’s easy to envision a
completely new floor plan. But failing to consider the cost of moving sinks, tubs, toilets,
and their associated plumbing could mean a real headache down the road.
If fixtures that utilize plumbing stay put, you’ll save a substantial amount of time and
money. If your plumbing is old and needs to be replaced anyway look for other ways to
switch up the look of your bathroom instead. Speak with your contractor, they’ll be able
to help assess the plumbing’s age.
Leave the plumbing where it is, but replace the tub with a new style. Add a decorative
mirror, or incorporate colorful shelving for toiletries. It’s much less expensive to add
decorative elements or reconfigure adjacent bedrooms and closets than it is to relocate
a bathroom.

 

Spruce up what you already have
It’s tempting to rip everything out and start fresh, but consider touching up the existing
fixtures. Chips or dings in tubs can be filled with a little fiberglass, and a refinishing kit
can make a worn bathtub look new again.
The same approach can be taken with bathroom or kitchen cabinets. If you like the style
of your cabinets, update the finish with a paint kit to de-gloss, paint, and glaze the
existing cabinet doors and frames.
Avoid purchasing big-ticket items, and spend your savings on higher-end fixtures and
hardware.

 

Reconsider recessed light fixtures
Recessed can lights or fixtures? That’s really up to individual taste. Some would argue
that recessed lighting makes rooms seem larger, because light cans are tucked into the
ceiling rather than suspended from it. They also say that can lights emit more light than
fixtures, requiring fewer of them.

 

If you’re looking to save money, mounted or hanging fixtures are a great way to go.
Recessed lighting typically costs more because of the labor involved in cutting the holes
and insulating around the cans.
Consider a single mounted fixture in a bedroom or family room, and add floor or table
lamps to create ambiance.

Just a few adjustments to the plans and you can save hundreds of dollars. Happy
Renovating!