How to save money on apartment renovation - tips for beginners and experienced craftsmen. How to cheaply make redecoration in an apartment The most economical do-it-yourself apartment renovation

Hello, my dear readers and blog guests! It often happens that the premises require repair, but there is no extra money for it. What to do? How to update your home so that it turns out beautifully and inexpensively. You should immediately warn that budget repairs will require a lot of time and labor. Here, as they say, we have to choose, either we spend money or our time.

If you are planning to make repairs in an apartment inexpensively, then the first thing to do is to plan well and think over the entire organization of work. It often happens that repairs begin to be done, and then, as it goes, hence various imperfections and errors arise.

Where to begin?

You should start with the internal living rooms, this is a living room, a nursery or a bedroom. Some take a floor plan and make clockwise repairs. Others choose a room that is in the worst condition and start from there. After that, the kitchen is renovated, and then the hallway and the bathroom. Such a sequence is necessary in order to save on finishing materials and not spoil the repair in the premises where it is completed.

High-quality and inexpensive home renovation is based on the following basic principles:

we replace only those things that cannot be recovered in several parts.

Make an approximate cost estimate based on the prices of building materials in your area. Something can be purchased in advance to win the price in the future.

Subtleties of budget repair

The best time for renovation is early or mid-autumn, it is still warm and you can open the windows. In addition, during this period, traditional autumn discounts and sales begin. Most building materials stores and supermarkets are trying to sell goods that obviously will not last until spring. For example, putty, putty or sealant that expires in a month or two. Large companies will not accept this, but it will suit you perfectly. The savings in this case can be up to 30,000 rubles, which is very noticeable.

Don't skimp on a good tool. Even with high-quality and expensive finishing material, you can ruin all the work using cheap and poorly working aids. You can borrow it from friends or acquaintances, or rent it for little money.

The old plumbing, which has lost any kind, needs to be restored. If it has finally become unusable, then you can get cheap plumbing, knowing one trick. In expensive new buildings, residents usually start repairs right away and pretty good bathroom items end up in a landfill. For little money, they can be easily purchased from scavengers.

Another problem can be the removal of construction waste, which is expensive.

Most likely, you are not the only one doing home repairs, so the problem with the removal of bulky waste can be solved by agreeing with your neighbors to jointly rent a car for them. Pour small debris such as dust, wallpaper and plaster into local waste containers.

Consumables such as plywood, beams and boards cost a lot of money, but you don't need to spend a lot of money on it. You can get a good and high-quality material for repairs by making it yourself.

Instead of slats, buy scraps from sawing wood, they are cheap, and the quality is not worse than edged boards. You just have to tinker a little with their processing. Thick and durable plywood can be easily obtained from ordinary packaging by gluing the sheets together with a regular PVA putty.

The timber can be obtained from old pallets for cargo, they are inexpensive, and if you try, you can get them for free.

On things like electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. it is not worth saving, since the elimination of imperfections and rapid wear due to low-quality materials will cost you a pretty penny.

Each person has at least a little artistic taste, this is not at all the prerogative of fashion designers and ministers of art. In addition, a person hired for these purposes will only reflect in the interior what you want to see, and this can be done on your own. By adhering to some simple rules, you can make a stylish and cozy interior inexpensively:

it is not worth buying finishing materials - fakes

So linoleum with a parquet pattern or tiles with stone patterns will look cheap. Wood should be wood, metal should be metal, and stone should be stone. If there is no money for parquet, then you can buy an engineered board. You can use cement tiles as an alternative to porcelain stoneware.

the ceiling should be as simple as possible

Vaulted and tiered ceilings will look comical in living spaces where they are not high. It is better to win at the height of the doorways and place the handles a little lower than usual. Make the ceiling as simple as possible, not attracting much attention.

try to use a harmonious combination of colors in the interior

Try to make repairs in such a way that the premises contrast. If the bedroom is made in light colors, then dark colors can be used in the decoration of the living room or hallway. Nowadays, a design and inexpensive solution, such as patchwork, is gaining popularity. Surely you and your friends have remnants of old wallpaper, from which you can make interesting ornaments for one or two walls.

Of all types of wall decoration, wallpaper is the most acceptable and inexpensive. It is better to use non-woven ones for which you only need to coat the wall with glue. Choose a plain wallpaper, if there is a pattern on it, then it will have to be adjusted, which will lead to scraps and unnecessary waste of material.

buy furniture in dark shades

Light-colored furniture always looks cheaper, so try to choose a dark one that is as simple as possible in design and do not need to save on handles.

you should carefully consider the choice of curtains

Curtains play a huge role in creating coziness and emphasize the sophistication and simplicity of the interior, so you need to pay special attention to their choice. It is better to refuse fabrics with a large pattern, they will forgive the general interior of the room and are difficult to cut. Make sure that the cutter allows for natural folds in the curtains. They look better than those gathered with a ribbon tape.

avoid buying furniture sets and kits

This makes the interior dull and boring. Paired items are possible to complement the composition, but nothing more. You can include in the design of a living space a couple of things that will take emphasis on themselves, for example, paintings, prints, any objects of art.

the bathroom should be decorated as simply as possible

It is better to buy ordinary high-quality plumbing without artistic delights. Everything should be as simple and functional as possible.

it is necessary to think over the location and color scheme of interior items

It is better to use a combination of calm tones and shades. For example, beige, white, blue are well suited for a bedroom. Do not use colorful colors and synthetic materials. The latest trend in fashion is the use of collages and mat. Any ordinary photographs and drawings can be turned into works of art.

Decorating the main rooms

Before you start destroying everything in a residential building, you need to think about how much money and time you will have enough time and money to repair. You can break everything very quickly, but it often happens that they planned to do a lot of things, but there is not enough money.

If you have started a major overhaul, then you need to start with windows, they should be chosen from plastic or wood. The retention of heat in the apartment depends on the design of the frame and the correct installation. It often happens that a number of mistakes were made during the installation, which is why the windows constantly breathe cold. This is due to poorly sealed slopes or insufficiently foamed areas. Deficiencies can be identified using a special device - a thermal imager.

Then you can start leveling the walls. The easiest and cheapest way to do this, saving time and materials, is to sheathe it with drywall. True, in this case, the total living space will be slightly reduced, and mold or rodents may start in the openings between the wall and the sheet. Another inexpensive and optimal option is clapboard wall cladding. You can cover it with varnish or paint and not spend money on wallpaper.

Currently, the real trend is the loft style, this is when one of the walls is left brick, simply covered with paint or whitewash. It will also look stylish if you leave it just concrete, covered with a primer.

Floor plays a big role in home design. There are many options for its finishing - linoleum, laminate, parquet, boards. An option that is called "cheap and cheerful" is linoleum. It is practical, easy to clean and, if properly installed, can last for years. The option cheaper than linoleum is laminate, but it is scratched, warped from exposure to moisture and quickly begins to "walk" underfoot.

Carpeting is unhygienic, especially if there are small children and animals in the house. In a couple of years, it will lose its appearance, calling a dry cleaning service at home is expensive.

The best and most inexpensive option would be to purchase wooden canvases, from which you can make an interesting author's door, than it is expensive to buy uninteresting stampings in a store. You can try to abandon the use of doors to some rooms. Try to live without them for about a month, if everything suits you, then you don't have to put the doors. And in summer, to protect against insects, hang mosquito nets in doorways.

Kitchen renovation

This is one of the most frequently visited places in the dwelling. Therefore, it is important that interior items are resistant to moisture, grease and odor. Instead of ceramic tiles in your kitchen, you can try glass. Place near the hob and sink, where the active cooking process most often takes place, paste over with beautiful wallpaper and put glass on top.

A budget option is to leave bare concrete, covering it only with a primer. For a kitchen made of flooring, linoleum or tiles are best suited. Since these materials are the most resistant to grease, dirt and frequent mechanical stress. Only with tiles you should be a little more careful, as it can break off if you hit hard.

Bathroom renovation

It is not necessary to use foreign plumbing, domestic is no worse. A reasonable solution would be to lay out the room with inexpensive tiles. To save money on it, you can buy a large sheet of mirror and close one of the walls with it. This will save time and money, but it will take longer to clean the bathroom later on.

The shower cabin, of course, saves a lot of space, but it will take a lot of time and money to install it. The best option in this case would be a bathroom. Better to purchase cast iron or acrylic. You should not buy a product made of thin enamelled stainless steel. Such baths quickly lose their attachment to the wall and begin to "walk". They also have a good location and respond to every drop that falls.

Pipes can be used from polypropylene, only you need to buy domestic ones, and not quite cheap Chinese ones. It is important to look at what temperature they can withstand, and a welding machine can be rented.

Most cheap towel dryers are made from steel. It will rust over time. From above, they can be covered with stainless steel, but this does not save them from the destructive effects of water. Therefore, their use is possible only in private homes, where the water pressure is lower and it is cleaner.

In general, it is better not to save on a heated towel rail, this will save you time to repair it, and money for linen damaged by rust.

Renovation of the apartment is necessary not only in order to replace the outdated cladding with a new one, but also in order to create better comfort for living. New design and high-quality repairs can get out of any depression, but there are not always a lot of financial resources for repairs. Consider how to make cheap repairs in an apartment.

We plan the estimated costs

The acquisition of the necessary materials and tools for work is the main consumable item. In order to start purchasing, it is necessary that a repair plan has already been drawn up. It is important that you have a rough idea of the financial costs required to complete the repair, because the budget should be sufficient for all stages of work.

After calculating your budget, make sure that you have enough funds to purchase all the necessary materials, rent or purchase tools, as well as elements of the arrangement of utilities. If this item is calculated incorrectly, then the money may run out when the repair is still in progress.

When drawing up a repair plan, it is necessary to indicate the sequence of preparation of the premises, redevelopment, decoration, and so on. Follow your plan exactly, on the basis of which the estimate will be made. The estimate indicates the entire range of work required for each room, as well as the amount of materials, devices and tools. After the calculations, it is advisable to add 25% to the planned calculations for unforeseen expenses, this will help secure the process from force majeure situations, for example, from a price jump.

When purchasing materials and tools, be sure to visit several stores to compare prices and choose the best option, be interested in the availability of promotions that can greatly save your budget.

Preparatory work

There are two ways to make inexpensive repairs: the whole process is completely done with your own hands, or you can only do the preparation yourself, and invite specialists for the main work. The advantage of the first method is in the price, since doing everything with your own hands is cheaper than with the help of professionals. But in this case, you must have some experience and skills in construction work. For example, if you plan to decorate the walls with textured plaster, then this technology is not easy for a beginner, and repairing mistakes does not forgive.

What can everyone do on their own? Without the help of specialists, you can dismantle plumbing, remove old finishes and other coatings, remove sockets and switches, remove shelves, and so on. But for the main repair work that requires a professional approach, you can invite specialists.

The main ways to save money on repairs

Asking the question of how to make inexpensive repairs in an apartment, many believe that you can save only on the services of specialists and materials. But in fact, there are much more secrets of inexpensive repairs.

Start renovation during the "off" season - in winter. During this time, it is possible to hire skilled workers who have few orders in the winter, at a lower cost than they work in the height of summer. The discount can sometimes even reach 40%! But it is also worth considering the fact that winter climatic conditions are unfavorable for construction and repair work and that is why most people organize repairs in summer.
You can save money if, instead of imported materials, you choose not less high-quality, but cheaper domestic counterparts. Imported materials do not always meet expectations, but are much more expensive than the materials of our production.
Most of the repair costs are materials. If instead of vinyl wallpaper you take paper, which now can be no less beautiful, then you can save on wall decoration sometimes even 2-3 times. But instead of a plasterboard ceiling or a suspended ceiling, you can use special paint, which will cost you much less. Of course, in cases where it is necessary to level the ceiling, it is still better not to save money and make the ceiling out of plasterboard.
Sometimes the services of specialists are more expensive than the materials with which they work, therefore, before choosing a team for repair, look through several offers and do not rush to grab the first specialists that come across.
For an inexpensive kitchen renovation, you can use fiberglass wallpaper or vinyl wallpaper, best glued to the ceiling and tiled up the backsplash area. But with the aim of even greater savings, you can replace the tiles with plastic panels with a tiled pattern, the working area can be pasted over with self-adhesive film.
If there is no money for expensive tiles in the bathroom, then the walls in this room can be finished with acrylic paint or washable vinyl wallpaper. Also, plastic wall panels for the bathroom look very aesthetically pleasing, which, for all that, are inexpensive.

Features of inexpensive wall renovation

Inexpensive repairs in an apartment do not mean poor-quality repairs. It is easiest to update walls at an inexpensive price in the corridor, because there are no plumbing and engineering systems. For uneven walls, putty and primer are required, so you can hide all the depressions and irregularities.

A more stylish decor for the corridor can be paper or vinyl wallpaper, which can be trimmed with contrasting inserts or other decor. It is not even necessary to buy branded wallpaper glue, because you can make it yourself from starch and wheat flour. Such glue must be boiled, and it is recommended to use it only if you are sure of the correct preparation of the adhesive composition, otherwise the wallpaper may fall off and the repair will have to be done again.

For renovations in a rented apartment, there is no desire to lay out a large budget, so the ideal option to refresh the walls in such an apartment is painting. These walls will be clean and tidy until the move. If the walls are well prepared, that is, primed, then using a spray gun and water-based or acrylic paint, you can make the perfect wall surface. For the bathroom and kitchen of a rented apartment, you can use oil or enamel paint, which at the same time can be used to paint the batteries, if there is such a need.

For inexpensive repairs in your own apartment, you can also fork out for wall panels, which are plastic, wood and cork. Sometimes high-quality plastic wall panels so successfully imitate various expensive materials (natural wood, marble, and so on) that an ordinary layman at first glance cannot distinguish such walls from walls from expensive finishes. Moreover, the plastic will serve you until the time when you can carry out the "renovation".

Inexpensive flooring

The cheapest way is to repair the floor, but if there is a need to replace the worn-out coating, then you can use linoleum. This is one of the most inexpensive and practical floor coverings, but it also has expensive cousins: linoleum with a warm backing or natural linoleum. But linoleum in its traditional version is inexpensive.

It is very easy to clean floors of this type, and if you want to insulate linoleum, then you can spread a rug on top.

Even cheap linoleum has a lot of advantages: it can be used in any type of premises, it is unpretentious in maintenance, wear-resistant, easy to install and clean. And if it loses its appearance over time, then few people know that it can be refreshed with oil or acrylic paint. But this is only if there is absolutely no money for a new floor covering, but you want to make repairs. PVC tiles are also a good alternative to linoleum, they are moisture resistant, look good and are inexpensive.

Floor preparation for marmolenum is almost never required (in 90% of cases). You will have to use tiles for the bathroom, since marmoleum is not suitable here. The good news is that the bathroom usually has a small square, so very few tiles are required here. For a bathroom as a floor finish, you can use laminated hardboard, which is a hygroscopic material that does not require preliminary surface preparation.

Cheap and beautiful ceiling

If you need to make cheap repairs, then you don't even have to think about a suspended or stretch ceiling. For an inexpensive ceiling, there is no better alternative than paint, just choose a special ceiling paint. Since the ceiling is sometimes called the "fifth wall", the finishing of this surface can be the same: leveling with putty, priming and painting.

You can also paste over the ceiling with wallpaper, but this is a rather complicated and time-consuming process. You can choose wallpaper for the ceiling with an interesting pattern, which will help to visually make the room higher. Wallpaper with an interesting design can be chosen even from among inexpensive ones. For finishing the ceiling, you can also use decorative panels made of plastic, chipboard or fiberboard. It is worth noting that such panels are finished with a decorative film that can imitate any of the most expensive finishing materials.

We make repairs ourselves

Inexpensive repairs can be like this only if you do it yourself, because the wrong decision would be to save on materials, but spend a lot of money on the work of specialists. Unfortunately, not everyone can do all the repair stages on their own without the help of professionals, because many types of finishing work require appropriate skills. In this case, you can use the services of home-grown builders who work for themselves, and not for a reputable construction company.

Most of these specialists have quite a lot of work experience, relevant skills and recommendations, so you can learn about such workers from your friends who have already used their services.

The main thing is to draw up a contract indicating the terms and types of work.

Where is it difficult to save money on repairs, and where is it possible

Any repair, regardless of whether it is expensive or not, must be carried out on a quality basis. It is necessary to have a flat floor, smooth walls and 90 degree angles. The unevenness of the walls will mean that, due to the loose abutment of the baseboards to the walls, a gap will be visible, which will ruin the appearance. If the angles of your walls differ from 90 degrees, then this problem will arise sharply when installing cabinet corner furniture. In turn, a curved floor will not be able to provide stability to cabinets and other furniture. Therefore, you cannot save time or money on creating a high-quality base for repairs.

In addition, if your renovation involves installing a stretch ceiling, pouring floors or decorative plastering of walls, then this work should only be done by specialists. Having saved once, you risk losing a large amount on reworking repairs and correcting errors.
You should not save on laying pipes in the apartment or wires. Engineering communications should be of high quality and installed by specialists. As for finishing works, even the most expensive decorative finishing will look ugly if it is laid out crookedly or with gaps.

The only stage of repair, in which it will be very difficult to cope on your own, is the rework of the electrical wiring. For those who want to save money here, there is a way out - negotiate with an electrician who serves your house, but he will be able to do the work only in his free time. Such a master is unlikely to be a joke, since he will have to serve your apartment in the future. It is better not to save on the wiring itself, since your safety will depend on its quality. But sockets with the same purpose of saving can be installed independently.

Repair tools, if you do not have them, you will have to buy or rent. But a more economical option is to ask neighbors or acquaintances. A list of the necessary tools should be drawn up in advance so that in the midst of the repair itself you will not be left without tools at hand.

Windows and doors

It is possible to obtain high-quality heat and sound insulation of a room only with the installation of modern metal-plastic windows, therefore, it is not recommended to save in this regard. But to make the installation of windows more profitable at a price, you can ask about the availability of shares for window installation, which sometimes generously provide companies in the constant struggle with competitors. Sometimes you can save up to 20% on the cost of windows.

Also, you cannot save on entrance doors and locks, because your safety and the safety of your property largely depend on this. Only strong and reliable entrance doors can provide an atmosphere of comfort and safety for residents. Metal doors with several secure locks are the best option. Today, manufacturers allow you to choose a door with any sound or heat-insulating fillers, fire-resistant, heavy-duty doors, so you can choose the appropriate option.

Why go to construction sales?

Since the bulk of the cost of repairs falls on the materials, in order to maximize savings, you can visit construction sales. Since all finishing materials have a limited lifespan, construction companies that produce these materials sell products at a bargain price at the end of the season, so you should look at such ads in advance.

How to save money on plumbing?

With self-economical repairs, it is not always possible to allocate finances for expensive plumbing today, so if the plumbing fixtures just look bad, then they can be cleaned or even painted. But if the plumbing has already gone cracked, then only a replacement remains. You can also save money on the removal of construction waste if you organize it yourself.

Laminate sheathing is considered a very economical option for decorating the walls of residential premises. If the owners are a little richer, then you can use a more expensive MDF. Large labor and financial costs exclude the fact that when cladding on a wooden crate from a slab, it is not necessary to level the walls. To save even more, you can sheathe the walls up to the chest or even up to the waist, and cover the rest with non-woven wallpaper.

In the five to six years that have passed since the last renovation, the interior of the apartment has somehow faded, spots have appeared on the walls here and there, and bald spots on the floors, and the paint on the window and doorways cracked. No matter how much one would like, but it is necessary to make repairs. The required amount, as always, cannot be collected. So can't desire coincide with possibilities? Not at all.

For those who do not have the budget, you need to know a few tricks to make economical repair... Basically, they all mean that there are no expensive stages of work.

Do you can use high-quality, but not expensive building materials, and update the interior on your own, saving on wages for hired workers.

Where to begin?

First, determine what the style of the updated interior will be, because the amount of costs for the necessary materials depends on this. The emphasis should be on decorating walls, windows and doors, flooring.

Walls

If you want something unusual, then you can use clinker brick masonry, with which you can easily give the room the look of an ancient castle or a high-tech loft design.

It can become an interior accent that does not require finishing materials (you can even create an imitation of a brick wall, which you will learn in detail about). And walls can be made to match the brickwork if there is not enough money for wallpaper.

Economical repair you need to start by removing the old wallpaper to the ground. Roughness in concrete or unevenness in the seams of brickwork can be used as additional decorative elements. Prime them and cover with water-based paint. You can make some abstract drawing with the help of a primer, which will save water emulsion.

The walls look great after decorating with textured plaster - a coating that imitates the Mediterranean style. She creates an effect smooth color transitions due to various small stones, granite or marble chips, cotton, linen or wood fibers added to its composition. These inclusions give the impression of being covered with natural stone or wet silk.

You can paste over the walls with new wallpaper. But when buying, it should be remembered that they must hide wall defects and therefore must be sufficiently dense. For thin wallpaper, it is necessary to level the wall to perfect smoothness.

Vinyl-based embossed wallpaper can be used to hide the unevenness of the unplastered surface.

Wallpaper should be

without a large pattern, which will then have to be carefully adjusted.
without rapport (pattern repetition), you will have to cut a lot when sticking,
the best option is plain colors or vertical stripes on the canvas.

Do you want to save money on changing the wallpaper? Then cover the places where they have torn, rubbed and shine with decorative stickers. The oracle film can be used to decorate not only wallpaper, but also painted walls. It combines perfectly with any type of coating, even with simple plaster.

Oracal self-adhesive films. Multi-layer, self-adhesive vinyl with a carbon fiber weave texture. The film stretches excellently and adheres to curved surfaces.

Windows and doorways

If there is not enough paint and varnish for something, you can decorate doors and openings with platbands with stencil patterns. Turn the space above the doors into a showcase for various trinkets, books, and artificial flower arrangements. Expenses for economical repair will decrease significantly.

Flooring

You can find inexpensive parquet or laminate flooring, but is it necessary? When planning an economical renovation, it is better to opt for linoleum with a herringbone pattern or parquet board, deck flooring or marble.

Natural linoleum consists of natural components, which is why it is called an environmentally friendly material. And its laying does not require significant costs.
Covering the dilapidated floor surface with carpet can also become cheaper than traditional parquet.

Repair has never been considered an easy undertaking and has always required significant material investments. In the conditions of the economic crisis, it has become even more difficult to save money for repairs, so apartment owners are trying to be content with what they have. We decided to devote this article to the question of how, after all, make repairs inexpensively and beautifully in the apartment.

How to save money on repairing an apartment with your own hands

To save on buying materials, call hardware stores and compare prices. A good option is to search for materials on the ad, because someone did not calculate the materials, bought too much and now sells it cheap. Also, with the help of ads, they sell material that was saved during construction or renovation.

Not always repairs can be planned, sometimes doors start to creak on their own, paint peels off, and plaster falls from the ceiling. Unforeseen repairs can confuse apartment owners, but there is always a way to carry out repairs inexpensively.

How can you use the leftover wallpaper when renovating an apartment

If your family members do not have allergies, then instead of tiles, lay carpet or linoleum on the floor, which are several times cheaper. Keep in mind that paintable wallpapers, although they cost several times more than paper ones, are more practical. If over time you want to make repairs, then such wallpaper will just need to be painted.

How to make an inexpensive renovation in an apartment

For a cheap DIY repair, you will need the following materials:

dye;
brushes;
primer;
putty;
wallpaper;
glue;
linoleum;
putty;
putty knife.

Where to start renovating a room?

After the surface is cleaned, you can proceed to plastering. To save money, only cover cracks and gaps with plaster. Use a wide spatula as a tool. After that, prime the entire surface of the walls and ceiling for you to increase the adhesion of subsequent materials to the wall. Then you need to level the walls with putty and sand to get a flat surface.

Ceiling painting and wall decoration

Use a medium nap roller and ceiling paint. You need to completely paint the ceiling, and this will have to be done in several stages. Apply each layer in different directions, and the last one towards the window. Do not forget that a new layer of paint is applied after the previous one has dried. In order to whitewash the ceiling with lime, you can use a brush or spray.

If traces of lime or paint appear on the walls, they will need to be washed. Before finishing, the walls must be primed. Dilute the wallpaper glue according to the instructions and mix well so that there are no lumps. Cut the wallpaper to a suitable length and apply the glue using a roller. The prepared wallpaper is applied neatly to the wall and smoothed so that the bubbles disappear.

Some modern types of wallpaper are better to overlap, and then cut. The fact is that after drying, the wallpaper shrinks, therefore, when gluing the joint to the joint, gaps are formed.

Look photo of inexpensive repair with your own hands:

Minimalism is the best way to save money on repairs

Harmonious combination of colors in the interior