Top Money Saving Tips for DIY Renovation

There are a number of considerations that will save you money when you are DIY renovating a room in your house, the largest contributing factor being the cost savings on labor.

Stay tuned for my upcoming One Room Challenge DIY Bathroom Renovation budget breakdown

I am not a purist DIY renovator. There are many scenarios out of my league that will ultimately save me money to NOT DIY, by removing the risk of burning down the house, flooding or many other forms of complete destruction. These types of tasks - complex plumbing, electrical, roofing, to name a few still fit solidly in the category of worth outsourcing for me.

However, as I gain confidence in time-intensive tasks like painting, tiling and restoration, I am always shocked at the cost-savings solely from this factor.

But there are a few more top tips that can help shave budget across your renovations worth sharing.

Tip #1: Shop Warehouse and Remnant Sales

Local and online retailers will hold annual, or semi-annual warehouse sales with deep discounts on materials.

Even more boutique brands with higher price points can become accessible by watching these sales and stocking up early.

In fact, I am currently tiling my bathroom renovation with Clay Imports tile that I bought for 50% through their online warehouse sale in 2022.

Especially if you are working on a smaller project, like a powder room you can also purchase remnants for items like countertops.

Because countertops are mostly sold as full slabs, there are quality pieces left over that you can search, arrange a viewing and purchase through sites like countertopsmart.com which aggregates shops in your local area.

Tip #2: Source Secondhand Materials & Decor

Many scenarios leave renovation jobs with surplus, you can save a lot of money by searching local online marketplaces like Craig’s List and Facebook Marketplace, checking thrift stores or in specific home improvement thrift shops like Habitat for Humanity ReStore for quality used, and often times new unused project materials.

When I shop Estate Sales, I don’t always start in or even ever end-up in the garage but this can be a goldmine for tools and materials you can use in your DIY renovation. Because these may be a harder item to sell, especially in larger quantities you can always make a polite offer and strive for even more cost savings.

Tip #3: Borrow or rent equipment and tools

Buying tools can be a significant investment. Ask friends, neighbors, check if you have a local lending library like Keep Austin Beautiful’s Tool Shed, or daily or weekly rate to rent tools from your hardware store for shorter term needs.

Planning in advance to reserve tools will help you save money on purchasing tools you didn’t anticipate and ensure you have them at the right inflection points for your project for the lowest cost possible.

Tip #4: Upcycle what you already have

Instead of replacing everything in your space, look for opportunities to save time and money by giving your existing fixtures a facelift. This could help maximize your budget by not purchasing entirely new items, help conserve resources by recycling and may impact surrounding renovation needs with less demolition.

There are many simple DIY hacks to give objects new life, from sanding and painting to adding trim or details, you may be able to leverage high-end details that would otherwise be unaffordable.

Watch these tips in action

These tips and more will come to life with my DIY bathroom renovation for the Spring 2022 One Room Challenge here on the blog and you can find me giving even more details on Instagram.