Renovating your old place is very fun and rewarding, but also costly. In many cases, you will come across many challenges that are hard to overcome, especially when you don’t have a lot of money to rely on. If you don’t want to watch your home turn to ruin but also don’t want to break the bank while renovating, here are a few tips and ideas for a budget renovation:

Recycle and reuse as many materials as you can

Recycling is more and more popular all over the world. Many materials like plastic, wood, glass and metal can be recycled and turned into new products. Things made with recycled materials are usually cheaper, yet durable and beautiful. If necessary, you can reuse your old materials, but also sell things you don’t need anymore, instead of dumping them in the trash. Reusing also includes getting items from garage sales and thrift shops.

Try your hand at DIY

There are many renovation projects you can do by yourself with just a few tools and basic knowledge on how to use them. If you manage to find time to engage in DIY, you will cut costs and create a more personalized look for your home. If you don’t know how to tackle a project, you can look for online tutorials and guides. Just make sure not to overrate your skills, otherwise, you might need to spend more money than you would by hiring experts.

Grab some fresh paint

If you’re interested in trying your hand at DIY, a great place to start is painting. A fresh coat of paint can transform your rooms or items without spending too much time and money. Many things can be painted from walls to flooring, cabinets, tables and decoration, and be provided with a whole new life. And the good news is that many modern paints don’t require a primer, so you can just grab a can for $20-$50 and start painting!

Consider a small loan

There are some renovation projects you just can’t do with just a fast YouTube tutorial and a few hand tools. Bathroom and kitchen renovations, or anything that requires messing with electricity and plumbing, will require the help of a professional and some serious investment in appliances and fixtures. Since these things cost money, you might consider looking into personal loans that go from $2,100 to $25,000. When a loan, you can quickly cover kitchen and bathroom upgrades, installation of new flooring and garage conversion, as well as take care of any structural issues or breakages.

Pay attention to details

Things like bathroom or kitchen renovations will make a huge difference in your life, but details can also transform your space. For instance, if you only have money for one or two projects, start from your entrance. Paint your front door a modern color that will make your place pop in all the right ways and even boost your property’s value in case you decide to sell. Other details you might want to pay attention to are lighting fixtures, hardware and wall art—these all cost very little but provide great returns.

Consider a garden room

If you’re planning a bigger upgrade to your home and provide yourself and your family with some extra space, you can maximize your living space by investing in a garden room. These come in many different designs from garden room pods to larger garden sheds, but all of them provide you with more space. With a garden room, you can finally have space for a home office, home gym or a summer house without making any expansions to your main property. Garden rooms can still be very expensive, but if you choose the right design leaning to a summer house or garden shed, you’ll manage to save a lot of money.

Watch out for discounts

When renovating on a budget, you might be attracted to discounts and special deals. But before you rush into it, inspect the offer, and if you notice it’s too good to be true, ditch it. If you buy something that’s cheap but bad, you will spend a lot of money on repairs and replacement. It’s better to find the balance between cost and durability—this will be your cheapest option in the long run.

Ready for a quick, beautiful yet cost-effective renovation? If you still need to stay at home in 2022, make sure you’re at least staying in a beautiful home!

Guest Contributor: Diana Smith