7 tips for budget-friendly and beautiful apartment renovation

Saving on a construction team

By inviting professionals only for spot and special work, it is easy to save a decent amount. Part of the repair (dismantling old coverings, removing wallpaper and tiles) can really be done by yourself. You can also remove construction waste yourself – many specialists charge an additional fee for this service. The process of leveling walls, laying floor coverings and finishing walls is studied from videos: if you have time, it is quite possible to master these skills.

Before inviting specialists to the site, it is best to use the recommendations of friends and be sure to draw up a contract where all terms and prices will be fixed. Workers from official firms will be more expensive than private ones, but in the second case it is difficult to get any guarantees.

Deciding on the style

Economy and the classic style are incompatible: to recreate it, you will need finishing from noble materials and expensive furniture. Imitation using plastic and linoleum will look unconvincing. Art Deco, hi-tech and neoclassicism also cannot be called budget.

To save on repairs, you should stick to simple, functional and outwardly attractive styles: Scandinavian, contemporary, eclecticism and loft. In the latter case, concrete ceilings covered with varnish and authentic brickwork will be appropriate, the use of which will have little impact on the final estimate. At the same time, bright spots and unexpected decorative solutions will distract attention from the modest decoration.

Which ceiling is cheaper?

The easiest and most economical way to save on ceiling decoration is to make a stretch ceiling. The canvas has many advantages: its installation takes only a few hours, the plastic material does not deform or crack, and most importantly, it covers yellow spots and peeling whitewash on the old ceiling. The height of the room will be slightly reduced, but thanks to the glossy coating, the oppressive effect will disappear. Installing a stretch ceiling is also an investment in the future, as the canvas can withstand several liters of water in the event of flooding of the apartment by neighbors from above.

An even cheaper way to finish the ceiling is to paste over it with thick non-woven wallpaper with a relief that will hide small irregularities.

Budget wall decoration

The most inexpensive option for wall decoration is plain textured wallpaper. Canvases with a small pattern can also be included in this category. The larger the prints, the more rolls you will have to buy to fit the images. Expensive but effective wallpaper can be found at a discount by choosing it in a store among the remnants: this will be enough to create an accent area or decorate a niche.

Connoisseurs of brickwork in the interior can also save a lot by not buying ready-made gypsum tiles, but by creating a relief with their own hands. To do this, you will need a primer, plaster and narrow masking tape. We prime the surface, mark the bricks with a construction pencil and a level (template size 25×7 cm) and stick the tape to the wall. Apply the plaster and, without waiting for it to dry, remove the tape. We form the relief in stages, if necessary, smooth out the corners with a wet sponge. The final stage is painting in any color.

Inexpensive floor coverings

The cheapest option for floor protection is linoleum. It is hygienic and easy to care for, has a wide range of colors, and is easy to lay. When choosing between cheap laminate and linoleum, you should prefer the latter. It is more wear-resistant, is not afraid of water and is not susceptible to scratches: therefore, in a few years, linoleum will look much more attractive than laminate.

The most important thing is to lay it according to the technology, securely gluing it to the floor. Also, you should not buy “commercial” linoleum: it costs more than “household” linoleum, which copes with the load no worse. As an alternative to synthetic flooring, designers offer inexpensive and natural floorboards. Unfortunately, the material is difficult to care for, and the floor must be perfectly flat before laying.

Saving on bathroom finishing

It is difficult to save money when renovating a bathroom, but by carefully studying the catalogs of construction stores, comparing prices and taking advantage of promotions, you can significantly reduce the amount of expenses.

The cheapest way to finish a bathroom is to paint the walls with latex paint. If you need to lay tiles, you should choose products from Russian manufacturers, which are almost as good in quality, but are cheaper than Italian products.

You can also choose cheap white tiles and make inserts from mosaics, glass or just original expensive tiles from leftovers. If the tiles have already been laid, look good, but do not fit in color or style, it is possible to repaint them. The process is described in detail in this video:

When updating a bathtub, you will have to choose between two methods: restoration and buying a new product. Steel bathtubs are the cheapest, but, unlike acrylic ones, they cool down faster and make more noise when filling with water.

A few more useful tips

It is more profitable to order windows from the manufacturer, and not from the installer: if you change all the windows at the same time, you can get an additional discount. You can also save on locking fittings: the less of them, the cheaper the finished window will be.

If you cannot buy good doors, pine panels for painting will do. They can be varnished or oiled, decorated with painting or aged. If you paint the canvas in the color of the walls, you will get an invisible door, which is especially important for a small room. Before applying paint, you need to brush it with a metal brush and cover it with tinted varnish. Then apply acrylic paint. For a noble aging effect, you should use the dry brush technique.

Various trading platforms will help you save money on buying furniture and textiles, where people sell things in good condition at low prices. Some furnishings can be taken for free and remade for yourself. Today, various hand-made decor is in fashion, which makes the decor unique.

There are many ways to create an inexpensive and stylish renovation. If you have taste, time and desire, you can create an original interior without losing quality or budget.