Where You Can Safely Save Money During Renovation: Designer's Opinion

When money set aside for renovation is running low, what to buy cheaper so you can later replace it with better quality items and what not to buy at all, is explained by designer Mila Kolpakova.

Mila Kolpakova, Designer, Director and Lead Designer at Mila Kolpakova Interiors. On Things That Are Easy to Replace

All that is easy to remove, take off, assemble and disassemble, or does not require individual capital decisions (holes in walls, niches, special electrical outlets). Everything can either be left undone entirely for now or done simply for the time being, with better quality items swapped in as funds come in.

Remember the rule: if you can live without an item, do not buy it at all. We all remember that nothing is more permanent than temporary.

Wallpaper and repainting walls are the easiest materials to change. But keep in mind that a good base is essential, and this still involves moving everything out of the room and hiring professionals.
Cost-effective tiles can be chosen from Russian brands like Italon, Kerama Marazzi, Atlas Concorde and simple European ones such as Mainzu, Pamesa. There are also relatively affordable collections in quite expensive brands.

What can easily be replaced from furniture and decor?

Lightweight freestanding furniture (chairs, tables, small armchairs, sideboards, shelves, and display units). Remember to consider compatibility. It's better not to buy anything if there is no urgent need.

Rugs. For now, you can manage with AliExpress, especially if you're worried about vandalism. Later, when children grow up and cats calm down, you can buy something stylish and designer-oriented. A rug is very important; it cannot be any random design in the final result. 

Textiles. If you cannot live without curtains or if a neighbor lives next door with a large binocular, install the tracks early (good ones since they cause holes in walls and ceiling niches), then buy ready-made curtains for now. Later, you can sew the curtains of your dreams. A bed without a duvet won't collapse, and a sofa without pillows won't look squashed.  

Adjust these items according to your lifestyle. Prioritize and direct financial flows accordingly during the setup process.

What Can Be Purchased Cheaply Right Away

What else can be bought cheaply right away without compromising on quality and appearance?

Wallpaper. Swedish wallpapers, of course, are expensive, but for example, they are cheaper than some other brands.

Decorative Moldings. Good POU, LDF or DP cost less than plaster (both material and installation). Plaster is naturally better, but if money is tight, consider Ultrawood, Orac Decor or "Europeplast".

Paint – a somewhat controversial choice, but I’ll write about it anyway. By the way, if you calculate the consumption and all expenses, Little Greene is not much more expensive than Dulux or Tikkurila. If choosing between Tikkurila and Dulux, go for the latter.

Textiles. These refer to fabrics. If you can’t afford Sanderson, that’s not a reason to feel sad. There are many worthy brands that cost much less. Sewing costs less if done by a home seamstress rather than an expensive atelier or salon. You can save even more if you buy the fabric yourself. 

Beautiful Tracks are rarely cheap. If you don’t feel like doing the work, go for hidden tracks, which are cheaper since they are not decorative at all.

You can enhance the appearance of budget furniture (or that which visually looks worn out) by making new covers for it. This is cheaper than buying new items and more mobile – you can change the covers depending on interior style, season, and mood. 

Lights should be good, but lighting can be costly and is a serious expense item. You can save money by ordering lights directly from AliExpress (read reviews of the seller, plus understand that there are risks involved which the seller usually bears in your city). Also pay attention to similar models from more expensive collections. You can find options that are not exact copies (1:1), but close matches from more affordable manufacturers.

Small Tricks That May Come in Handy

Even simple furniture can be saved with handles. Change the factory handles for new ones and see how your plain sideboard becomes completely different.

Posters can be printed at home, as long as you find good quality images. Place the prints under glass. 

Mix budget materials with more expensive ones (in proportions where the more expensive items are fewer). 

If you don’t have money to cover the whole room with expensive wallpaper, stick good wallpaper on a base made from MDF and you’ll get a panel (just one roll is enough), giving you a large stylish panel.

If you paint basic clinker from "Leroy Merlin," it becomes not ugly at all. But remember that installing clinker is also quite an expensive endeavor.

In general, you can save well if you do some things yourself (captain obvious, right). Savings should be made with your brain and logic, taste and sense, so no one will even suspect it. Renovation is fun, interesting, and engaging if you don’t panic!