We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you ... you're just helping re-supply our family's travel fund.
The world has gone renovation crazy. Or so it seems! It can be hard to avoid renovation journeys on social media, as everyone seeks to make old properties ‘new’ again.
There are a lot of good reasons to renovate a property. The purchase price is usually lower than a property in better condition. It can help you create your dream home, and it can be a very rewarding project – especially once complete. But even with all the benefits of a renovation, there are still some downsides, including the cost. There’s also the environmental impact to consider – a renovation can be more sustainable than a complete new build, but a renovation can also create a lot of waste.
But are there ways you can carry out a greener renovation, and save some money too? Take a look at the following ideas to carry out a more sustainable renovation.
Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons
Make old things new again
One of the biggest draws of a renovation is the many hidden treasures a project home can contain, allowing you to work with what you’ve got and do something new and creative. Renovating doesn’t have to mean tearing everything out and replacing it – if you’re on a budget, there is a lot you can do to give things a new lease of life, like this incredible $200 kitchen transformation:
<blockquote class=”tiktok-embed” cite=”https://www.tiktok.com/@antieem07/video/7282168256989891882″ data-video-id=”7282168256989891882″ style=”max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;” > <section> <a target=”_blank” title=”@antieem07″ href=”https://www.tiktok.com/@antieem07?refer=embed”>@antieem07</a> Kitchen remodel under $200. I think it turned out pretty well! This is NOT the final. This will be changed in the future but for now i love it! <a title=”remodel” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/remodel?refer=embed”>#remodel</a> <a title=”mobilehomemakeover” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mobilehomemakeover?refer=embed”>#mobilehomemakeover</a> <a title=”diyersoftiktok” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/diyersoftiktok?refer=embed”>#diyersoftiktok</a> <a title=”husbandwife” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/husbandwife?refer=embed”>#husbandwife</a> <a title=”cheapkitchenmakeover” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cheapkitchenmakeover?refer=embed”>#cheapkitchenmakeover</a> <a title=”paint” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/paint?refer=embed”>#paint</a> <a target=”_blank” title=”♬ Beast Mode – ROKKA” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/music/Beast-Mode-7245492762144753666?refer=embed”>♬ Beast Mode – ROKKA</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src=”https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js”></script>
Work with your home’s existing features
Your home can come with some incredible existing features that would cost a lot of money to install today. From beams and solid wood doors to ornate ceiling features, some elements add character to your home that you can embrace as part of your transformation. Floors have a lot of potential for renovation, especially if there are vintage tiles or hardwood floors present. Get some help from professional hardwood floor refinishers or tile restorers to help bring your home’s existing features back to life. Restoring your existing features could work out as a much more affordable option than installing new features.
Scour marketplace for bargains
Sourcing materials, furniture and even paint from online marketplaces can be a great way of saving money on your renovation work, while preventing waste. Buying online requires some patience, and you may not always find a good deal, but now and then you’ll come across something spectacular that will leave you feeling pretty satisfied.
Learn how to DIY
One of the biggest ways to save money on your house renovation is by learning how to DIY. You can save on significant costs like labor simply by taking on some of the work yourself. There are a lot of useful DIY skills you can learn, including how to paint, how to caulk and others, before you move on to more advanced works.
Learning to DIY many aspects of your renovation will save you money, and also give you a great sense of accomplishment as you complete each task. Sure, things might go wrong from time to time, but it’s all part of the journey!
Consider repairs before you throw things away
It can be very easy to get rid of something the second it shows signs of faults or damage, but is everything always beyond repair? Attempting to repair your items can be a good way of trying to save them before they end up in a landfill. Even if there’s something that can’t be repaired, consider giving your items to someone who could use the spare parts before you throw them away.
Give your unwanted items to others
Inevitably, there will be elements of your home you don’t want to keep. And that’s completely fine – it’s your home, after all. But your trash could easily become someone else’s treasure, helping them with their own renovation project. It’s a great way to ensure a circular economy and extend the lifecycle of things as much as possible before they need to be thrown away.
The good news is that there are ways to get rid of practically anything, so explore your options to either sell or give away your unwanted home items. You could even make some money to put towards your renovation costs!
Take your time
When it comes to renovations, there can be a lot of pressure to get things done as quickly as possible. This is fine if you have the budget to move your renovation work along, but for a lot of people, renovations take a long time due to a lack of funds. Renovations, however, are a process, and it’s fine to take your time so that you can do things affordably and not rush any decisions. Moving too fast could leave you making some choices you might regret, leading to wasted time, materials and money.
Remember that the TikTok and Instagram renovators didn’t transform their homes overnight – a lot of the time and energy that goes into renovations (as well as the mishaps) are missed out for the sake of making some good content!
Prioritize work that will add value to your home
Being thrifty throughout your renovations can save you a lot of money on your overall project, but occasionally, there will be some jobs that require some investment to complete. The good news is that renovations can boost your home’s value, so if you plan to sell your home in the future, you should recoup these costs many times over. When planning your renovation, consider the work that will help you add the most value to your home and make it a priority.
Making your renovation as sustainable as possible is a fantastic approach to take to transforming your home. It can help you cut down on renovation waste, as well as help you save some money. Getting your renovation off to a sustainable start can set the path for life in your new home, helping you make it greener, so that you can keep your ongoing costs to a minimum. Renovating a home is an exciting journey, and by adding a more eco-friendly approach to things, it will feel even better once your home is complete.
Leave a Reply