Here are some tips for reducing the cost of cabinets, floors, tubs and more:

Look at What You Have

·          Keep any old furniture pieces, such as a hutch or built-in shelves, and design around them. Add new cabinets and floors in colors and finishes that compliment the hutch. Paint or stain the hutch to blend with the new materials.

·          Reglaze an old claw foot tub, add a new shower curtain and accessories.

·          Keep old cabinets and paint or stain them in a more modern color of finish.

·          Change cabinet hardware to update the look of a kitchen instead of doing a major overhaul of the room.

·          Refinish wood floors instead of buying new ones

Shop Wisely

·          Check out estate sales, yard sales and second hand stores for unique furniture pieces that can be refinishes, painted or repaired inexpensively

·          Organize a household furnishings swap with your neighbors. Everyone gathers items they no longer use, puts a dollar value on them, and the bartering begins.

·          Look for used light fixtures that just need new bulb coverings

·          Find antique chairs that need to be recovered or refinished

Expand Up

·          If your kitchen has a 9 or 10-foot ceiling, consider using 42-inch high cabinets to make full use of the higher ceiling. Add in storage bins, lazy Susan’s, and other products to make the space more efficient.

Finishing Touches

·          Add one piece of decorative rope molding on the cabinets to bring in texture and detail without adding too much to the budget.

·          Change door knobs for a quick update