So you’re planning a DIY room renovation and you’re taking time to create a budget. To make sure you don’t miss any expenses, here’s a list of things to consider adding to your DIY room makeover budget!
We love a DIY Room Makeover… save money and get the space of your dreams? Heck yes!
But I’m sure you’ve been cautioned (or experienced!) a renovation budget can go off track incredibly quickly. I shared how I create a DIY room makeover budget with a free editable spreadsheet for you to create your own.
But what do you add to that DIY renovation budget spreadsheet?
There are certain things that are very easy to forget when you’re planning your next room makeover. It’s easy to remember all the fun costs and additions, but some of the nuts and bolts of the operation can get overlooked.
I’m not just talking about the renovation items in this post. I love to make over a room start to finish. That means furnishing and decorating as well. So often these details that help you enjoy your upgrades get overlooked but they make the room feel so much more finished and enjoyable!
Here are some reminders to make sure your DIY renovation budget is complete.
Budgeting will allow you to see where money can be saved and it will help you create a to-do list as you go through and make sure you’ve accounted for all the pieces of the puzzle.
Line Items for Your Budget in your DIY renovation budget
This is my list of things you want to make sure you remember when creating your budget. I have been there done that, forgotten to include these in my budget planning, and then had to scramble to find the money for them at the end of the project. It’s just way less fun that way!
I break my home makeover budgets into four categories. If you download my free room makeover budget spreadsheet, it is broken down this way.
Budget for Room Upgrades
This is the renovation portion of the budget. Everything that stays with your home when you leave is an easy way to look at this.
- Paint and primer
- Playing with new paint colors is so much fun! But remember to factor this cost into your final tally. I like to go with the higher quality paint so it adds up.
- Don’t forget the paint supplies too if you need new rollers or brushes. It is especially easy to forget the primer, which is essential to furniture and cabinet painting projects.
- See my tips on selecting paint colors.
- Tools and equipment
- Account for any tools or equipment you need to purchase or rent for your projects. I like to work through the entire project in your mind instead of picturing the finished product!
- Need to sand down those hardwood floors to refinish them? You’ll want to rent a large sander.
- Planning to tile your shower surround yourself? How about a tile saw?
- Are you ready to invest in a miter saw for all your trim and that dreamy DIY moulding wall? Write it down!
- Flooring or wall tile
- If you’re not just doing a superficial update, make sure you budget in the bigger things like flooring and wall tile.
- This can include shower surround, tile full or half wraps of a room or just a backsplash in a kitchen, bathroom or laundry room.
- Don’t forget about fireplace surrounds!
- Get a quote or look a price per square footage and give yourself a healthy buffer when budgeting cost here.
- Make sure to include things like glue, underlay, mortar and grout in your budget if you’re planning to DIY!
- Trades + Installation
- If this is a bigger project, you might need to look at hiring out some things. Whether it’s tile setting or drywall finishing, you can definitely do it yourself but if you’re more comfortable hiring out, don’t forget to add that cost in to your budget.
- Electrical and plumbing? Gas fitting and cabinet installation? Add those line items in!
- Lighting + Plumbing fixtures
- Lighting:
- Don’t be caught off-guard by the cost of new lighting. New lights can cost a lot of money, so you want to decide if that’s how you spend your budget or if you look for more budget friendly options.
- You can find deals as well- you’ll just might be checking Amazon instead of Pottery Barn. Also, consider going bargain hunting on MarketPlace instead. Either way, this is not something to leave until the last second.
- Here’s some tips for choosing lighting for your space.
- Plumbing:
- Faucets, shower heads, bathtubs, laundry basins, hot water spigots and pot fillers… if your space will have water, make sure to factor in your plumbing fixtures. Maybe you want all black faucets or maybe you’re happy with a traditional chrome, price both out.
- Again, make sure you update your trades section to account for installation if this isn’t something you’re comfortable doing yourself. Moving plumbing also increases costs in material and trades so keep that in mind when floor planning.
- Lighting:
- Hardware
- Upgrading your door hardware or cabinet hardware? What about door hinges, vent covers and face plates? I like to add alll these things in here.
- Custom or Big Box Built in Cabinetry + Countertops
- If you’re making over a kitchen or bathroom, I’m sure these are top of your list. But what about closets? Laundry rooms?
- Include not just the cabinets and doors, but also any upgrades or inserts (drawers are more expensive than just cabinets with doors!
- Also include countertops and installation- unless you’re buying prefab countertop, most companies will prefer to install it.
- If you’re planning on reusing cabinets or vanities that you have and just upgrading them with paint or a fresh countertop, you can add those costs here!
- Appliances
- While these aren’t technically attached to the house, they’re most often sold with it. I like to include them in this section. Remember, if you’re reusing… you can mark them at zero in your DIY renovation budget!
- Kitchen appliances include fridge, freezer, oven, dishwasher, microwave, hood fan, and any additional upgraded appliances you might like.
- If you’d like any of these items built-in… factor that upgraded/custom cost in!
- You can choose to include smaller appliances if they’re important to your space. Either throw them here or under furnishings. For example, I included an upgraded espresso machine along with a hot water faucet (fixture) in our kitchen budget because it was important to us to have a coffee bar.
Budget for DIY Projects
I like to plan my DIY projects and budget for these in a separate section since they can often be started ahead of time. This is a DIY blog, after all ;)
This is one of the areas I hear people go over their DIY renovation budget. They plan to have a fun DIY element to save money but forget to account for some of the bits to make that happen. You can totally plan for that and skip over the stress of going over budget on something that’s meant to save you money by planning for it!
- Built in features
- I love a feature wall and a built in desk for kids bedrooms. TV room? I’m a big fan of built in shelving. If you’re looking at kitchens– think cabinets. Closet organizers? Heck yes. This could go under room upgrades or furnishings, I’ve put it here since it needs to be done before furnishing the room.
- Built in features have a cost to them and likely an installation cost as well. Doing it yourself? What tools will you need? What about materials?
- DIY Furniture
- Planning to save some dollars by DIYing furniture? It’s a really great place to save some budget! It can also be started way ahead of your room makeover. You don’t need to clear out a bedroom or start on kitchen demolition to start DIYing your furniture.
- Maybe you’ll DIY a dining table or a bathroom vanity. Maybe you’ll DIY a kids play table or a countertop for the space. Make a list of your supplies and budget the DIY. Even though DIY will likely save you some money, it will still cost you so account for that.
- Smaller DIY Projects
- Yes, we’ve covered some DIY projects already, but think about the even smaller ones. DIY wall art? What will you need cost wise? Making your own window coverings? How much do you expect to spend? Do you have the tools to make it happen?
If figuring out how many pieces of a material you need feels overwhelming, try using a cut optimizer to easily budget how much material you’ll need for a project! I prefer to draw it out, it helps my visual brain easily see how much I need but I do like to check my math once I’ve wrapped my head around the project. Here’s one I’ve used a handful of times.
Budget for Furnishings
I mentioned in my post about how to make a budget for a DIY renovation that you should prioritize the pieces of your makeover that will make it feel ‘finished’. The pieces you’ve been dreaming of or that will help you enjoy the function of your space. What prompted that room makeover? So often… it’s furniture of some kind. So make sure to account for that in your budget!
Price out a few options just to get a general idea of what you’ll be spending on these pieces.
- Furniture
- Before you roll your eyes at this, I have legit forgotten I need to purchase big furniture pieces for my makeovers… which is why I now plan every room makeover. What furniture pieces do you wish to have in this room?
- Search up a picture of a bedroom or living room and add each piece of furniture to your budget. Don’t forget any smaller accent fixtures. Is there pieces you’ll be reusing to save budget?
- Storage
- Storage and organization are so often afterthoughts to a space. For a room that works incredibly hard for your family, consider it as your planning you’re room makeover. I promise, you’ll be much happier in a room that works for you that isn’t just prettier with all the same issues (nowhere to put our stuff!).
- Is this built in pieces like a closet organizer (that can go in the built in section), wall shelves for books, or are you wanting to add sneaky hidden storage? Is it new laundry baskets and a tower for storing them? Add those line items in!
- Window Coverings
- Window coverings make such a big difference in a room. It cozies up a space instantly. I actually like to layer my window coverings so I factor in both the shades and the curtains, but whatever you’re dreaming of here- make sure to add it in.
- Area rugs
- I love what a new rug can do for a space! So depending on the room you have chosen, ask yourself if you will want a new rug too. If you’re doing a bedroom, living room, or dining room (anything but a bathroom!), I definitely suggest you consider a rug. I even love washable rugs for outdoor spaces.
- An area rug is usually a bigger ticket item than other decor, so make sure you budget it in.
- Wall Decor
- How do you plan to decorate the walls you’re painting? Wallpaper, a large mirror, canvases you’re painting yourself or prints you’ll be ordering and framing? Maybe a gallery wall or a big ol’ wall flag?
- The options are endless, but make sure you put a budget in for them. Big empty walls will make your room makeover feel unfinished.
- Here’s a list of some of my favourite DIY wall art tutorials.
- Accessories and accent pieces
- Make sure you budget for EVERYTHING! All that decor will go on this list.
- I like to make this a lump sum ($150, for example then buy little bits as I go and update the ‘spent’ column in my spreadsheet).
- What things might you want to consider here?
- Throw blankets
- Throw pillows
- Accent lighting (lamps)
- Plants
- Coffee table books
- Candles
- Vases
- Faux foliage
- Baskets
- Decorative objects
Incidentals + Contingency
- Every single budget in the world needs a line item like this. Unexpected costs and surprises are sure to come up no matter how well you have planned your makeover, so just accept it and plan for an extra 10% or so.
- If you don’t need it, great! If you do, you won’t panic.
- In the free DIY room makeover spreadsheet, this section will automatically calculate to 10% of your budgeted costs.
And that’s it! I hope this post has gotten your brain running through all of the pieces you might need for your room makeover and to include in your DIY renovation budget. I know it’s so easy to see the big pieces and not all the necessary (but unfun!) details. This will help you have a much clearer budget if you add these items into your DIY remodel spreadsheet!
Speaking of… You can see my introduction to how to make a budget for your renovation here. It includes a free DIY room makeover budget spreadsheet for you to use as you go through this project!
Wondering what else you should be planning beyond the budget? I have an overview of planning a room makeover right here!
I would love to see how the budget you create becomes the room of your dreams. Tag me @colleenpastoor with your before and after pictures, or leave your story in the comments.
Pin this for later!
Don’t have time to take on a budget right now? Planning to make over your space later this year? Pin this so you can come back to it! Plus, pinning or sharing on FB helps this post reach more people which helps me be able to keep sharing with you. Thank you!
Welcome to Our Wedding SVG Free Download
Oh, my stars! Your home makeover is downright impressive! It’s like a breath of fresh air seeing how you’ve revamped everything. Makes me itch to give our place a makeover too. It’s feeling a tad too vintage these days if you catch my drift. Been racking our brains for ideas and doing our homework, from figuring out dumpster rentals to finding the perfect pros to lend a hand. Can’t wait to see our humble abode get a chic update, just like yours!