Practical Home Renovation Tips While Keeping Your Budget Low

It’s easy to fall for a home renovation that cost too much but deliver too little. Home renovation that focuses more on aesthetics rather than practicality, style trends instead of functional improvements and luxury makeovers over useful upgrades are not a great idea — especially if you are on a budget.

So instead of getting baited into costly renovations that won’t serve your needs in the long run, consider these practical remodelling tips to improve your home:

1. Prioritise repairs and restoration

Concentrate the efforts of your home renovation on maintenance and repair works before performing other upgrades or making décor improvements. Focus on leaky roofs, plumbing issues, structural movement or integrity concerns (i.e. if you notice cracks, etc.), and decaying wood. Know that if these problems are left untreated, it could lead to major, costly and potentially dangerous damage in the future.

2. Maximise functionality in frequently-used areas

Focus on enhancing utility spaces at home that is frequently used. Bathrooms and kitchens are generally frequently-used areas and should be given extra attention when renovating by adding extra functionality and safety improvements. You can consider improving and layering the lighting with task, accent and ambient lights; upgrade flooring to easy-clean, anti-slip materials, e.g. linoleum, water-resistant cork, vinyl, and rubber, and replace or restore any worn hardware and accessories in your kitchen or bathroom area.

3. Customise storage

A home with sufficient storage solutions is easier to maintain and will help to keep your home tidy from visual clutter. Consider converting dead spaces in your home by installing built-in shelves or cabinet for extra storage space. Besides the added practicality, homes with ample and attractive storage solutions tend to be valued higher than homes without, and will typically sell faster too!

4. Upgrade flooring

Most homeowners tend to stick with the original or developer’s choice of flooring, but it might not be suitable for everybody. For instance; tile, marble or granite flooring is slippery when wet which can be dangerous for homeowners living with elderly or young child. Thus, changing your flooring should be a serious consideration when renovating. Opt for materials that are durable, safe, and softer underfoot; such as, termite-resistant wood flooring.

Fun fact: Malaysian Merbau and teak — among other local species — are naturally termite-resistant.

Also, if there are cracks, dents or signs of decay on your flooring, check with your designer if repairs or restoration works can be done. If not, then it might be time to replace your home’s flooring with a more long-lasting option such as terracotta floors which can last a lifetime!

5. Make ‘green’ improvements

Upgrading your home with “greener” elements that save both money and mother earth should also be a consideration when renovating your home. Here are other top environmentally and pocket-friendly improvements to consider:

• Replace lighting and cooling systems with more energy-efficient ones.
• Opt for solar water heaters for the entire home, instead of standalone electric heaters that tend to consume a lot of electricity.
• Install window treatments that can deflect heat from the home to keep it naturally cool.
• Ask your contractor to survey your home’s insulation and seal breaches, if any. This will help to keep cool air in and hot air out, so you can minimise air-conditioner usage and enjoy less expensive electricity bills.

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