There are smart ways to save when remodeling areas of your home that don’t involve you compromising your happiness just to appease your budget. Using these tips will allow you to cut back on behind the scenes expenses so that you can showcase your more visible purchases. Who doesn’t love saving money!

Here’s how you can stretch your budget:

1. Stick to the Plan

Remodeling projects are complex beyond your initial thought. Making changes once things are set in motion will result in wasted material costs, redesign costs and time charges. Sticking to the plan you and your contractor or designer have signed off on will help everyone involved. Less errors on the job will happen if everyone is on the same page, too.

2. Keep the Original Footprint

If your space is functional for your needs but just needs a little facelift then keep your layout as is and just update the materials. Moving plumbing, electrical and walls are huge budget eaters. If you don’t see yourself going through a remodel process without a new layout then go for it! Just remember you can also get a brand new feel without moving things around. 

3. Buy Look-Alike Materials

Man-made materials nowadays are becoming so high quality that they can almost pass for the real deal. If you see an all marble bathroom on Pinterest that you cannot live without, try switching the natural stone for a porcelain instead. Dying to have hardwood floors? Try LVT flooring as a substitute! You won’t just save on material costs but install costs as well. It takes more time and care to install natural elements.

4. Use Stock Sizes

For the most part, companies will offer stock sizes for and custom or special order sizes. Stock sizes will, more often than not, be cheaper and arrive faster. When designing aspects of your home that require doors, windows or cabinets find out what stock sizes your supplier will have and try to work those numbers in instead of the other way around. Sometimes it is impossible to stick to this plan in every scenario but even using this rule of thumb the majority of the time will help you greatly.

5. Think Long Term 

If you are renovating to sell then this will have little importance to you but if you are renovating to enjoy then tune in. Take advantage of a demo and replace outdated elements of your home while you have easy access to them. You can update the insulation, waterproofing, pipes, ducts and other variables that will cost way more to replace when they aren’t already exposed. Choosing your materials wisely will also save you headaches down the road. There is a reason why box stores can sell products so cheap – they’re often poor quality. Buying materials such as flooring, tile and plumbing supplies should take extra consideration because when those fail you will have a big mess on your hands. The last thing you want to do is create problems for the future you.

Go easy on yourself. Plan and buy smart. Give yourself time cushions. Consider design elements as a whole. Research who you hire. Remember to soak it all up when you’re finished!