Home renovation can leave a deep hole in your pocket. For those working on a tight budget, we have some great budget hacks that are guaranteed to lower your renovation costs and still achieve a home you will love to live in.
1. Flooring
With so many materials to pick from, we zoomed into the 3 most popular flooring in Singapore – parquet, laminate and vinyl.
It is a growing trend among Singaporeans to go for laminate and vinyl as opposed to hard wood flooring as it is value for money and it does not compromise on style.
Parquet is a costlier alternative to laminate and vinyl, but still ranks below hard wood.
Before you jump into picking the cheapest material, we sieved out the pros and cons to help you pick a flooring material that you would enjoy both cost savings and style benefits.
Editor’s Tip: Avoid laminate flooring in areas where water is in close proximity, for example bathroom. Instead consider vinyl flooring in these areas
2. Walls
No longer in trend, wallpaper rolls is now perceived as a more expensive option compared to paint, and is now used by homeowners who wants a luxe look at home. With an average cost of $300 per roll, covering your living room with wallpaper can easily cost you between $1500 – 2400, excluding installation costs. Unlike paint where a 1-litre tin would set you back at $25. Plus, you don’t have to worry about peeling wallpapers and messy touch ups since wallpaper is also infamous for being hard to remove.
Editor’s Tip: If you are still keen on using wallpaper, remember to avoid using it in high-moisture areas such as the kitchen or bathroom as these places cost peeling more easily.
3. Kitchen Countertop
Kitchen countertops are an integral part of your kitchen and you want to choose a material that best suits your needs and lifestyle. Are you looking for a surface that is easy to maintain or do you want something that is durable and looks good?
We have narrowed down to the three most popular materials amongst Singaporeans: Kompac top, solid surface and quartz.
4. Light
Homeowners have a seemingly endless array of options when choosing lightings for their home. Instead of spending additional money on lightings to brighten up dark corners, why not try out these inexpensive tips that will save you cost in the long run.
Mirrors and glass panels are a great way to amplify small space and brighten up dark corners. Position them in front of a light source or adjacent to windows.
A popular option for task lighting, recessed lighting however requires ceiling remodelling work, addition of electrical wiring as well as possible hidden costs in ceiling repair work which can add to expenses. Hence limit the use of recessed lighting if you are on a tight budget.
Go for light wall colours such as cream or icy blue. Light colours are more reflective and maximise the effect created by natural light.
Use decorative plants to add some colours in dim corners of your rooms, giving it a more bright and lively feel.
Interior Designer: DHOME STUDIO
Interior Designer: The 80's Studio
Interior Designer: Space Define
Editor's Tip: Consider track lights as an alternative to recessed lights when focusing on task lighting.
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