So the time has come to rip up the old carpet and refresh your tired-looking kitchen. Only one problem: you have a limited budget, and that bathroom of your dreams sits just outside of it. Did you know that last year, Australians spent billions of dollars on home renovations? In Victoria alone, home owners spent upwards of $2.5 billion to give their homes a much needed refresh.

If it’s time to renovate your home, but you need to do so with a strict renovation budget in mind, we’ve got great tips to get the best results from your limited cash.

The kitchen

The kitchen can be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate. Most people opt for a complete gutting and re-fit for all of their kitchen cabinets and appliances to give it that new-room feel. The good news is that kitchen renovation costs don't need to be that high! If you’re happy with the general layout of the room, try these budgeting tips:

• Paint the cabinet doors. Rather than ripping out old cabinets (which will cost a pretty penny), simply coat your existing doors in a fresh coat of paint. If the doors are looking a little worse for wear, they can also be replaced without having to gut the room.


• Change the cabinet handles. One of the most effective ways to change the look of your kitchen is to change your cabinet handles. Swap out those outdated wooden handles for a modern and sleek alternative.


• Change the tap fittings. Old tap fittings can start to look outdated and get a build-up of grime, rust and mould. Call in a plumber and grab some new, fresh fittings for your sinks!


• Check out stainless steel contact. Although your fridge might not be staying with the next owners of your house, the appliances in your kitchen can make a big difference to the sale price. Fake it ‘til you make it and check out the new stainless steel contact paper that’s making waves, and can be easily applied to your fridge and dishwasher for a quick and cheap refresh.

The bathroom

After the kitchen, the bathroom is going to be the next room in the house to break your bank when renovating. Here are some useful hacks for bathroom renovations on a budget:

• Follow the same rules as the kitchen. Change the cabinet doors, handles and tap fittings for a cheap and easy update to the whole room.


• Clean the grout. When the grout around tiles starts to get old and dirty, you can watch the whole feel of the room plummet. Try a few handy cleaning techniques, call in a professional cleaner, or try sourcing some grout paint if the dirt is particularly stubborn.


• Change the shower curtains. Your shower curtain or screen is going to be a main focus of the room, so make sure to swap out the old for the new in your renovation. Even consider changing the curtain rod to make the whole shower area look fresh!


• Choose light colours. It might not be in your budget to expand your tiny bathroom, but if you choose to opt for light colours with your cabinets, shower screen and walls, it will give the illusion of a bigger room.

The bedrooms, living & dining areas

When renovating your home, you’ll be tempted to spend big dollars on the areas where your family spends the most time. Living and dining room renovations can be some of the easiest (and cheapest). Try these renovation ideas:

• Change the light fixtures. Swap out old, boring light fixtures for statement pieces to make a big impact to your room. Ditching that old, rusting chandelier for a big, bright fixture will make the room feel modern in an instant!


• Hang your curtains high. High ceilings make any room feel glamorous, but without extremely extensive renovations or building a new house altogether, it’s not always possible. By hanging your curtains close to the ceiling, you’ll really open up the room.


• Clean the carpets. Your old carpet might be one of the first things you’re tempted to throw out, but having new carpet installed could push you over your budget. Call in a professional carpet cleaner to give them a refresh, and then pick out a suitable rug for the room. A rug will help to distract from slightly sad looking carpet, and add a design element to the room.

The exterior

To add some serious curb-side appeal, you’ll want to focus your attention on the exterior of your home. Luckily, you can add massive value to your home without a huge budget with these simple home improvements:

• Hire a landscaper. It will save you time and costly landscaping mistakes if you call in a landscaping expert. Focus on tidying up the front yard, adding a tiled footpath to the front door and healthy looking plants to make your home look more welcoming.


• Paint your front door. Coloured front doors are a popular decorating tip at the moment, and they can add some pizazz to the front of your home. If you’re not keen on painting your door, make sure to give it a thorough wash and re-varnish (if it’s a wooden door) to keep it looking new.


• Update your mailbox. It may seem unnecessary, but sometimes the mailbox will be the first thing people see when they enter your house! Swap out an old, broken mailbox for a new one to complete the look.