Design Pros Offer Cost-Saving Tips For Renovating Your Home

We all want to upgrade our home—but how do we do it on a budget? To help you get the most bang for your buck (and actually enjoy the results), we turned to real estate and home design pros for their top improvement picks and cost-saving tips.

Revamp your kitchen.

“Spending the money to create a kitchen that represents your aesthetic and supports your lifestyle increases both your quality of life and home’s value more than any other single renovation,” says Leslie Kramer of Westfield-based Lighthouse Home & Design.

“Nine times out of 10, kitchens see the most action. Whether it’s day-today life or entertaining, we gather in the kitchen, and an updated functional space makes such a difference for daily enjoyment of life’s necessities,” says designer Teresa Boyd, co-founder, along with Helena Finkelstein, of Verona-based Olive Hill Design.

Make sure updates reflect the home’s value.

Don’t over-invest in a total gut renovation for a starter home in a modest neighborhood. Instead of costly new cabinets, spruce up existing ones with paint and new hardware fixtures. Replace old appliances with new energy-efficient models.

“Open up a wall between a kitchen and dining or living room to totally change the space’s appeal and use,” says broker Carolee Chirico of Keller Williams Valley Realty in Woodcliff Lake.

“If the layout works but you want a new look, contact a local cabinetmaker or big box store. They’ll go to your house to measure and help you along the way,” Kramer says. Boyd and Finkelstein suggest checking out resale vendors like Aurora in Fairfield, which sell pre-owned kitchen cabinets and appliances at heavy discounts.

Beautify bathrooms.

“Whether it’s going for bold paint or wallpaper, or a luxurious shower and heated floors, bathrooms are great places to express yourself and are the second biggest ROI (return on investment) choice,” Kramer says.

“Budget-friendly updates could be as simple as swapping a vanity and mirror or new backsplash. Lighting can change a room’s vibe. And a fresh coat of paint will always be your best ROI,” says Allison Berkowitz, a Realtor with SEG at Keller Williams Town Life in Tenafly.

Reimagine existing spaces.

Instead of costly add-ons, why not repurpose rooms already within your home? For instance, turn a seldomused guest bedroom into a home office; an unfinished attic into a kids’ playroom; or an unfinished basement into multipurpose areas for exercise, hobbies, a game den, an entertainment bar, a home theater, etc.

Make a great first impression.

“Curb appeal is really important when selling your home and for everyday life. You want to feel happy when you pull up to your home, and a freshly painted front door, an inviting porch and appealing hardscaping/landscaping make a huge impact,” says Finkelstein.

Jodi Monro, Realtor/manager at Terrie O’Connor Realtors-Kinnelon Office, offers these curb appeal boosters: update and/or paint the front and garage doors, a new mailbox and house numbers, exterior lighting, well-maintained landscaping, flowers and a stone path. Berkowitz adds: “Spruce up your landscaping with boxwoods, which are low-maintenance, deer-resistant and do well under most weather conditions.”

Maximize outdoor living potential.

“Outdoor living spaces, whether that be outdoor kitchens or an outdoor lounge with a fire pit, have become desirable since the pandemic,” says Berkowitz, citing the continuing “staycation” popularity—and increasing resale value—of backyards transformed into relaxing havens and social gathering spaces.

Also big fans of bringing the indoors out, Chirico and Monro give a thumbs up to improvements such as a new deck or paver patio with a lounge area, an outdoor kitchen, bistro lighting and plantings. “Creating an appealing, relaxing space to enjoy time with family and friends can be as easy and inexpensive as adding comfortable seating around a fire pit and encircling the area with potted plants to delineate the space,” says Chirico.

Think energy-efficiency and home safety.

Features like upgraded windows, insulation, smart thermostats and security monitoring equipment can make your life more comfortable and secure, while also appealing to potential buyers. All our pros agree that while they can be costly in some cases, updated systems (central air, smart speakers/lighting, automatic sprinklers, etc.) make sense in terms of ROI and ease of living.

Pro Tips

Consult the experts. “Tap your local Realtor for recommendations on renovations to be sure you’re maximizing your ROI. Additionally, your Realtor can offer recommendations, whether that be an interior decorator or home improvement contractor,” Berkowitz says.

Consider location and timing. “If you’re hoping to start a spring renovation in coastal New Jersey, you’ll have a hard time finding contractors as this is their busiest time preparing for summer. Conversely, if you’re planning summer travel when the kids are out of school, pick this time to leave home and avoid having to live in a renovation zone,” Kramer counsels.

DIY whenever possible. A little creativity and hands-on work can add up to big savings. Instead of buying an expensive vanity, repurpose a piece of furniture by adding a vessel sink or stone remnant at top, Boyd and Finkelstein suggest. Rather than hire someone, hang your own wallpaper or lay a tile floor in a small powder room. Clean, seal and paint your old deck with tools rented from your local hardware store and tips from watching YouTube how-to videos.

Prioritize based on individual lifestyle needs and preferences. A busy family with kids may consider a mudroom as a must-have, according to Kramer, while Monro points out that empty nesters may feel they’ve finally earned that dream bedroom and spa-like bathroom.

—Nayda Rondon is a lifestyle writer based in New Jersey.

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