Having reached the tail end of a home renovation last year, I’ve been humbled by the big bad world of building work, decoration, electricals, and plumbing. While undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and fun things I’ve ever done, it’s also been a learning curve of the finest variety.
It’s a minefield out there, with so much conflicting information and opportunities to waste your cash—so here I’m sharing some of the affordable renovation tips I’ve learned personally along the way, which might just help you too.
Do a vibe check
There is no handbook for what the hell one should do when you start a renovation. Where to begin? The kitchen was our priority, but I had no idea whether I was supposed to source the cabinets first, or get the builder in—does a builder even install a kitchen? Call me naive, but I didn’t know. My advice is to speak to friends, family, and colleagues—anyone you can!—and get their tips. Many of them will also be able to recommend good tradespeople to work with.
Finding a good builder, plumber, electrician, and carpenter is pretty key for the smooth running of a renovation, and I highly advise finding them through word of mouth, wherever possible. We found our builder, who brought in his own trusted tradespeople for different elements of the work, via a friend of a friend. We got quotes—and did an all-important vibe check—with a few builders, and chose ours because he was friendly, polite, and seemed trustworthy. Listen to your gut—they will be in your home for months, and if your instincts are telling you no, pay attention! It’s worth putting the time and effort into finding someone good.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
Many of us feel it’s rude to barter or haggle regarding a quote, but it’s pretty normal in the building world. As well as doing your research and getting lots of quotes to begin with—knowledge which gives you more leverage to propose a different price—it’s always worth asking. Don’t ask, don’t get!
Don’t listen to your builder’s aesthetic advice
This is a big one. When you’re new to renovating, chances are you feel overwhelmed with the amount of decisions that need to be made, and subsequently you can lose sight of what you want to achieve. Not to mention that when you don’t understand the process of building (which many of us don’t), it’s not always easy to know what is and isn’t possible. While usually well-meaning, your builder will often step in and advise you on what you should do. This is useful in some instances, but when it comes to the aesthetic side of things, dear reader, I would advise you not to listen to them. As emphatic as they may be, there are always ways around different issues that don’t result in something incredibly unsightly in your eyeline. They typically want to get the job done quickly, but you have to live in it for the rest of your days. They’ve also not been on Pinterest for hours like you have, so stick to your guns and insist on what you want.
Plan everything extensively at the beginning
Whether you’re doing one room or the whole house, it really pays to be rigorous in your planning at the beginning—and that is a sentiment felt by most interior designers I’ve spoken to, too. I didn’t do this quite specifically enough, so there are areas in my house that should have a plug socket, but don’t, and others where it feels my radiator layouts could be better. I highly recommend printing out a floor plan of your house and marking where you want all the lights, plug sockets, radiators, etc, to go, and think about how you want to use each room. Where will the bed go? Are you going to incorporate built-in wardrobes? How will the doors open, and where should the light switches be for ease of use? These things sound small but they change how you live in your house, so they’re really worth considering.
Decide where you want to save and spend
When it comes to the decoration of a property, there is a balance to be struck. Of course, it depends on the budget you have left after you’ve (horrifyingly) spent most of the budget on plumbing, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s best to invest in some things—taps, specifically—and save on others. This bit is really up to you, but for me a good quality kitchen was key, but when it came to seating we bought an old (but excellent quality) B&B Italia sofa off eBay and got it reupholstered, saving us thousands of pounds.
In the same vein, I got acquainted with my local reclamation yard, where there is always a steal to be had, as well as Facebook Marketplace, where I bought a sink, mirror, and more. I also became an insufferable antiques hunter and still spend much of my time following auctions and going to markets. It’s fun, there is money to be saved and you’ll get something that has stood the test of time. Plus, no one else will have it.
Be clever with paint, color, texture, and fabrics
You can make a room sing if you play with color, texture, and different materials, whether that be marble, wood, or a sheepskin rug. One of my big learnings was to contrast paint finishes, something I had no idea about before I started. There is nothing quite like a matte paint on the walls and another color in a gloss finish on the woodwork—it’s one of the techniques we have used the most in our house. Likewise, woodwork and ceilings do not have to be white, and you can clash all the fabrics you like if you’re clever enough about it.
Invest in decoration
This is the bit that everyone always thinks they can do themselves—I certainly did. All I will say is, on the whole, you can tell which rooms I’ve painted myself and which have been done by a professional. The paintwork is one thing, but the prep work beneath it makes all the difference. Trust me on this one.
Everything looks better when it’s been lived in
The piece of advice I’d give myself? Let go of perfection! Nothing ever looks totally perfect, especially if you’ve bought an old house, which can be naturally wonky. Instead of finding the imperfections stressful, lean into them. Every room will look better when it’s been lived in, there’s art on the walls and you feel comfortable in it. And if it doesn’t, fundamentally you can always change it.
