Big Design Dreams with a Tiny Budget? 5 Tips to Get Things Rolling

If you turn on any home improvement channel, it can be hard to imagine that you aren’t the only one without a limitless budget for redesigning your home. It can be difficult to watch the amazing transformations and not come up with a few lofty goals of your own. Take heart in knowing that you are in the majority: most people have a limited amount of funds to work with when it comes to designing the room of their dreams.
Here are five tips to help you get things rolling, even if your design dreams far surpass your design budget:

Make a Plan

Walk through your home with a pen and pad and write down all of the things you want to do. Do you need more space in the kitchen? Do you want to completely gut and remodel your bathroom? Perhaps your bedroom can use a makeover. Write all of these things down, being as general or as detailed as you wish.

Prioritize

Figure out what items that you can live without until you are able to complete the design transition. Once you have your plan which can include a colour scheme or an overall theme, begin to make a purchasing plan starting with the least expensive items. Just buying a few pillows or some new curtains can make a big difference on a little budget.

Set a Budget

Now that you’ve gotten your priorities figured out, create a design budget. Don’t create a budget for your entire list, but for each project. Will you need $5,000 to redo your bathroom? Figure out how much money you will need for each project. While it may seem like you’re taking the whimsy out of the process, by having a budget you can still creatively choose items but now you will know which ones you can afford.

Rethink Your Ideas

If the budget you set seems to be a tad high for what you can truly afford, rethink some of your plans. Does your bathroom really need to be gutted or would a fresh coat of paint and some new fixtures give it new life? Do you need an entire living room of new furniture or could you rearrange some of the furniture that you already own? There are dozens of ways to change the look of a room: a new coat of paint, new flooring, new bedding or even a few new accessories can brighten up any space!

Know Where to Shop

Chances are that you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to visit an interior design showroom. Knowing where to shop can save you a great deal of money. Do you need a new dining table? Hit the local flea market on a weekend morning and see what you can find. A refinished piece of furniture can look just as lovely as something off of the showroom floor. Gently used furniture can be the perfect choice when you’re designing on a budget. Almost anything can be made to look new again with a bit of creativity! Think outside of the box: flea markets, Craigslist and even tag sales can all be great sources of home furnishings and décor.
You don’t have to put off giving your home a new look simply because you’re on a budget. If you’ve got truly lofty goals, create a savings account and put away as much money as you can each month. Make a deal with yourself that the money won’t be touched until you’ve saved a certain amount. In the mean time, concentrate on the smaller, weekend projects on your list. Your home will be “new” before you know it!

Author’s Bio

Christine Lukes is an interior design guru and freelance finance blogger. She often recommends looking into cd rates for a great way to earn some interest on any cash you aren’t planning to spend immediately.