Every home remodeler has been there. After rushing home with a brand new remodeling magazine and finding dozens of ideas that are just perfect, they add up the cost and wind up with a heavy case of sticker shock. The fact is that remodeling magazines are full of fantastic ideas put together by professionals on an unlimited budget. The average home remodeler has no such luck. So how can the average homeowner replicate the ideas found in her favorite remodeling magazine? It’s not so unattainable as you might think.
Rule number one is to work with what you’ve got. The major renovations required to replicate the dream bathroom you just found in your favorite remodeling magazine might be a little out of reach. Perhaps knocking out an entire wall to make room for a tub the size of your bed just isn’t feasible. However, that skylight above it just might not be. Choosing a few elements from a design that will work in your space without requiring major, difficult renovations can make a huge difference without sending you into debt.
Rule number two is to go bargain shopping. Its will come as no surprise to anyone who has picked up a magazine about remodeling that the featured products are usually reserved for a small fraction of the populations with millions of disposable dollars. Thousand dollar carpets, solid marble tubs, and complete layout restructuring may not cause remodeling magazine designers to bat an eye, but they’re out of the realm of possibility for the majority of readers. Fortunately, many affordable, similar products are out there for any buyer who is willing to do a little scouring of local stores and the internet. Wholesale retailers sell designer pieces for reduced prices, and home hardware and home decor stores often carry a wide variety of styles at a wide variety of prices. Even if you can’t find the same exact piece you saw in a remodeling magazine, you can probably find a similar product at a much more affordable price.
The third rule is to DIY what you can. While magazines about remodeling can afford to hire trained professionals for installations, the average homeowner can save a significant amount by putting in the labor themselves. That mosaic backsplash you saw in your magazine was probably designed and installed by a trained professional, but you might be able to create one on a budget with hardware store ceramic tiles and grout. Look for DIY blogs and television shows for ideas and tips that can help you recreate your favorite remodeling magazine looks with your own time and resources.
Though most remodeling magazine readers don’t have resources equivalent to those who create for the magazines, they can still use magazines about remodeling for inspiration. With a little creativity and determination, the looks in remodeling magazines can be created for less.
