What to spend and save on when renovating your house - tips to spend your budget wisely

No matter what your budget, whether it's big, modest or a shoestring, I bet one of your main concerns starting your renovation is how to spread your money wisely. It was the same for Neil and I throughout our 1930s semi detached renovation, and it’s the same for our clients and renovators on our How to Renovate a House Online Course too. When you have a lot to achieve with the money you've set aside, every penny counts.

Now, the tips I tend to share with clients differ for everyone. It can vary on what type of design and finishes they like, what's important to them, and how long they plan to live in the property.

Renovating or extending? Where to spend and save

After meeting our clients Nick & Amy to begin planning their forever-home kitchen extension this weekend, I wanted to share with you the advice I gave them to help their budgets stretch as far as possible.

If you’re taking on a new kitchen renovation or extension, then I hope these 5 tips help you.

5 tips to spend your budget wisely if you’re planning a kitchen renovation or extension:

1. Invest in good kitchen cabinetry.

Preferably paintable cabinets so that the colour can easily be updated over time. This is going to protect you if you aren’t overly confident with design.

The kitchen is the heart of any home, it's a 'permanent' element (i.e not easy to buy/replace it in a few years time!) so even if it means spending a touch more for better quality and upgrading to add features you know will improve your life (like built-in recycling bins, larger pan drawers, integrated appliances) it will be worth every penny. It won't just enhance your lifestyle, it will enhance the resale factor for future prospective buyers which is priceless.

2. Invest in your worktops.

Worktops will enhance the overall spec and design of your kitchen or extension. They'll be the difference between your extension looking well-considered, and finished to a fine quality, or looking a like a lower budget build. There are laminates out there that mimic the real deal materials, but nothing will give a quality finish like Quartz, Marble, Granite, a Solid Stone Surface or Solid Wood. Again, like the cabinets, a worktop isn't something you want to be replacing a few years down the line when the edges of laminate start to fray. So even if you have to pull back some budget on the areas I recommend below, it will be worth it in the long term.

3. Save on lighting.

Whether you're choosing ceiling lights, wall lights, pendant lights for above an island or spot lights, costs for lighting can quickly add up so watch what you're spending by finding lighting that gives a designer look without the hefty price tag. I don't mean give up on your lighting scheme, that's a disaster for design. Lighting is SO important to enhance every room and every task you do, at all hours of day so 100% consider very closely how your home will be lit. I mean, be savvy with where you're sourcing lights from. Compare prices, shop in outlets, shop second hand, and you'll still be able to get 'the look' without splashing. It won’t be a huge shaving off costs, but a saving is a saving, right?!

4. Save on ironmongery.

This is where I urge restraint, to be honest. Because a bulky white plug socket doesn't do much for atmosphere! Things like kitchen handles, knobs, switches, and sockets can become costly for heavy, intricate or quality designs – but they don't have to be. If money was no object I'd be telling you to splash out and get the best as they finish a room perfectly, but when money is tight, you can get away with more affordable options, and those white sockets can easily be replaced later down the line.

5. Spend on fixtures, save on furniture.

Imagine you pick your house up and shake it. Everything that moves is easily replaced/updated. Everything that doesn't move is trickier so you want to get it right. I always encourage clients to take their time buying items that are large and important for a good overall design, like sofas, tables, TV units and furniture, especially if budgets get tight. Is there a dining table you can make use of for now? Maybe paint and update it? Then order the dining table of dreams (i.e expensive as you like £££!) in a few years time when you're happy with the progress of your house renovation and you've perhaps been able to save more.

Similarly, joinery can be expensive (although absolutely beautiful and the best way to retain character in a home, whilst optimising storage). You can phase your joinery work so that you get the main bulk of your renovation complete, and save for things like built in wardrobes, alcove shelving later.

I hope this has given you some food for thought about how you could spread your budgets throughout your renovation.

Neil and I share budgeting guidance for renovators in our online course, so get access to that for a head start with your plans now, and learn more about how you can make cost savings.

We also have a free guide to download and get a taster of how to budget and hire trustworthy contractors – It’s our Survivor’s Guide to Renovating if you haven’t downloaded it already.

Thanks for reading – more about Amy & Nick’s project coming soon!!

Fi xoxo