Page 46 - July 2023

INTERIORS INSIDER

If you’re working towards indoor and outdoor
How to renovate on furnishings, accessories and art, start doing some
research. Jump online and have a look at how much
a budget Lastly, work out what the most important aspect of
things cost.

your project is. If your kitchen is in dire straits, spend
the money there, not on that artwork you’ve been
eyeing up.

Use a designer
Employing a designer may seem counterintuitive
when you have a smaller budget but sometimes it
can be an excellent financial investment, particularly
Renovating your home can seem like a
if you find a designer who is willing to work hard to
hugely expensive project to undertake but ensure the budget is met.
here are a few ways to save money and still
achieve a result you love. Interiors expert Colleen Johnston says: “The wonderful
things about designers, particularly ones who ‘get’
your project budget, is they have their fingers on the
pulse and know the industry and wholesalers.
ith the phrase ‘how to save money’ receiving
over 12,000 monthly Google searches, and
Wsearches for information about ‘energy bills’ “Doing something right and doing it once is far more
having increased over 1000% since last year, it’s clear cost effective than making mistakes and having to
that many of us are trying to reduce our spending as a redo it all a year down the track.”
result of the cost-of-living crisis.

It can feel like everyone is designing or decorating
their homes on huge budgets, especially when social
media and TV show beautiful and luxurious homes
but it is possible to keep costs down when renovating
by following our top tips below.
Prioritise
Sometimes it’s best to be realistic about what’s
possible with the budget you have. Do you know
what your budget is, or is it a vague amount you
would like to stick to? Start a spreadsheet to track
your costs, even placing estimates in as you get them
to create a realistic budget. Some things will be more
expensive than you were expecting, while others may
be a pleasant surprise. If you’re completing structural
renovations or building, get your quotes happening
so you can gain insight into how much things will
cost. Remember to always allow for a buffer, things
rarely go to plan!

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