We’re all trying to clamp down on our spending, and the purse strings are tighter than ever. It’s always a great idea to save money where you can, particularly when it comes to redecorating or renovating rooms in your home; the costs can easily mount up. There’s plenty of ways you can save including choosing ornaments and artwork from charity shops and car boots, and utilising old or bought fabric to make curtains and matching cushions rather than buying new.
But there are a number of areas which you should still be prepared to spend on – not out of snobbery or out of showing off brand-name products, but out for quality, longevity and a room you’ll be happy with for years. Here’s our top five;
1. Solid Wood Furniture
The allure of cheap flat-pack furniture or factory-made fittings can sometimes be too much to resist, but you have to ask yourself – when you last bought some, how long did it stand the test of time? The answer is usually that they don’t last very long; they’re not particularly sturdy and are easy to damage but difficult to repair. Buying quality made (usually to order) solid wood furniture may cost you quite a bit more compared with the cheaper counterparts, but you’re more likely to get a nicer looking product that’s sturdy enough and will last for decades. The last thing you want is a flimsy MDF wardrobe falling apart while it holds some of your precious belongings.
2. Rugs and Carpets
The same can be said for rugs, and even carpets – cheap usually means an inferior quality. Investing in a quality rug, for example, means it’s going to be a much better made product that’s likely to last for years ahead of its cheaper counterpart. Both rugs and carpets deal with a lot of heavy footfall, so while a handmade or designer rug might cost two or three times as much it’ll last you a lot longer – a cheaper option looks attractive, but the cost can rack up as you replace it every year. The more you spend on a rug the more scope you have for design, size, colour and quality; while opting for cheaper rugs can seem like an attractive way to cut down on your budget, it can end up costing you more money in the long run and throw off the room with a design that perhaps doesn’t look quite right.
3. Home Appliances
This applies to everything from cookers in the kitchen to televisions in the living room and it’s not brand snobbery to suggest that spending that bit extra and sticking to well-known makes and models is the better option. A 40” TV for £200 from a supermarket might look like a stunningly good deal, but it’s usually too good to be true – you get something that doesn’t perform as well, has a much cheaper look and feel, and won’t last as long either. There’s also a safety point of view – skimping on things like cookers, stereos and fires means you run the risk of a poor quality product causing damage to your home, or harm to yourself and your family. Getting a good deal is important, of course, but buying as cheap as possible could end in disaster.
4. Electrical Fittings (e.g. lights)
This kind of follows on from the safety aspect of choosing a good home appliance, but is just as important (if not more so) when it comes to wiring and electrical fittings. It can be quite tempting to choose cheaper light fittings, for example, but these have the potential to break easily, be unsafe and be unreliable, tripping your fuse box. Go for well-known makes or buy from reputable department or home improvement stores – you don’t have to spend a lot for the sake of it, but choosing cheap for cheap’s sake is going to cause a problem at some point.
via Interiors Porn
5. Contracting Work
Never has the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ been truer than when it comes to contractors and professionals working on your home. Whether you’re hiring someone to fit your kitchen or re-do the wiring in your living room if you choose someone based on a cheap price, then you’re letting yourself in for a disaster as it’s often too good to be true. You could be left with a room that’s poorly fitted or designed and is potentially unsafe, too. Always use accredited contractors where possible (such as the NICEIC for electrical work) and always get references, ask about past work and check reviews online. There’s nothing worse than spending thousands on redecorating or renovating a room, only to have a sub-par contractor leave you with something you’re unhappy with. Never skimp on contracting work!
This guest post was written by Tom McShane – lover of interior design, home renovations and professional blogger for Rug Centre Online. While he can’t help but grab a bargain, Tom prefers to strike the perfect balance between getting stuff cheap and getting quality.
this post sponsored by Rug Center Online
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