Everywhere you turn, people are looking to spend their money wisely especially when it comes to home improvement projects that can quickly spin out of control when it comes to selecting finishes. Here are some guides on where to invest wisely and where you can get away with less for an end result that gives you the biggest bang for your buck.
1. Go Basic for the Background
Ceramic tile is the perfect example of where I tend to suggest more inexpensive tile especially when it will be white and simply blend into the background when all is said and done. Sure, hand made imported tiles are beautiful but at $40 a square foot it can break the bank when it all adds up – and don’t forget that extra 10% you’ll be buying just for waste. A bright white porcelain tile can be a wonderful, crisp backdrop to just about any bathroom and at an average price of $3.00 per square foot, a perfect place to save.
2. Paint is Cheap
Think of it as clothing for the room. Easily changed for less than $100, use it to highlight and turn the focus up on more expensive, permanent features of the space. So, if you have a room that has beautifully trimmed doors and windows, lots of custom built-ins or a vaulted ceiling, choose a wall color that creates more contrast between the two and the special feature will really shine.
3. Put Your Money Where Your Hands Are
How things feel: knobs, faucet handles, the weight of a door as it’s pulled open, all send a tactile sensory input message to your brain that will register somewhere between “cheap-o” and “Mmmm” depending on what you choose. When it comes to these items I have found that, almost without exception, you get what you pay for in terms of feel, function and the lifespan of the product.
4. The Internet is Good
Time consuming, yes but a great way to find deals on certain items. I recommend this particularly for things you’ve already seen and felt first hand in a store and that you’re certain you want. (Tip: shop with a little camera to easily record items you like). Here’s an example from my own house. We wanted a zero radius, stainless steel single bowl kitchen sink that was 10” deep. Now, there are lots of companies out there that make a sink like this but we kept running up against prices in the $1500 to $2000 range everywhere we looked. Armed with the specifications (including the weight of the steel) we were able to find an identical one on the internet for $399. with free shipping to boot!
5. It Can’t Hurt to Ask
It’s true that because I am “in the trade” I did get the benefit of some discounts on things such as tile and counters. When it wasn’t automatic though, I asked. In fact, I asked everyone, everywhere if they would take something off the price and in most cases, they did. A ten percent savings here and waived delivery charges there can add up to a significant savings over a whole project.
Happy Shopping!
