How to make cheap home renovations. How to cheaply make cosmetic repairs in an apartment
wanted to do redecorating apartments, so we submitted an application to the site. They promptly selected a specialist for us, he went to the site and drew up an estimate. We were quite satisfied with the announced price and terms, and concluded an agreement with the master Sergio Afanasyevich. The work was done neatly and thoroughly...
agreed. Financial agreements based on the results of the work were also complied with. Regarding punctuality and politeness - everything is fine, the craftsmen have never let us down. Everyone is happy, thank you!
Grade 5+Osavchuk Vasily Grigorievich and his team carried out a major renovation of our apartment. I am very pleased with them and will gladly recommend them to my friends and acquaintances. The guys take their work seriously and cleaned up after themselves every time after work, which is good news. Always consulted...
and gave professional recommendations on how best to act in a given situation. We tried not to make noise so as not to disturb the neighbors, which is a big plus for them. In general, they did an excellent job, and if necessary, I will be ready to show my apartment as an example of their wonderful work. I am pleased with your work and, if necessary, I will contact you again.
Grade 5Great master! My team and I carried out a major renovation of the apartment, fixing all the walls, replacing electrical and plumbing, and screeding the floor. The quality of the repair is excellent, all joints are done well. High-quality electrics for modern technology. We chose among several teams and decided to work with...
Valery. Perfect hit. Valery is organized! With a proactive attitude and good taste. He loves his job and brings every question to perfection. Everything is done with taste - without ridiculous unnecessary thresholds, corners, etc. With a good, decent team. 5+++! The repair went smoothly and easily. Everything was spelled out in the contract, payment upon completion of the work. You can safely entrust Valery with a major overhaul! #repair #reliability #overhaul #goodrepair #Moscow
Grade 5+Marina, metro station Proletarskaya
Order services: Electrical. Renovation of apartments.
I want to note high level Yuri's professionalism and competence. Yuri did a major renovation of my apartment. As a result, all work was completed with 5+ grades, from dismantling to finishing. Any comments on my part were eliminated instantly, and my wishes were taken into account completely. Even...
nothing to complain about! During the renovation, cleanliness was maintained and there was no unnecessary debris. The material was used sparingly. Moreover, the calculation for ordering materials was made very accurately. (I did the purchasing of materials myself). All work was carried out without any procrastination or delay on his part. I would especially like to note the accuracy. Yuri during the work and demonstrated flexibility in estimating the cost of repairs. The repair was carried out even 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I will recommend him to my friends and acquaintances with full confidence!
Grade 5+A common everyday thing: the apartment clearly requires renovation, and there is little money. How to do inexpensive repair DIY apartments? It seems to be the simplest, most obvious way: superficial cosmetic repairs. That is, wallpapering, whitewashing the ceiling, painting, fixing the creaky floor; Possibly replacing windows.
However, if you calculate the labor costs and consumption of materials, it turns out that by increasing the labor costs by half and the money spent by a quarter, you can give the apartment a completely different look, and for a long time. How much you need to invest specifically depends on prices in the region, but general methods, which can be used to make an apartment cozy and elegant inexpensively, are the same.
Saving Money when renovating an apartment with your own hands, like the Earth in ancient legends, it stands on three whales and a slowly hurrying turtle under them:
- We are not afraid of work. Nothing comes from nothing. Either money or labor.
- Wherever possible, we don’t change old things that are capital but have lost their appearance, but renew them.
- We place maximum savings where it will not affect the quality of work and will not be visible.
- We spread the costs of labor and money over time: having planned a renovation in the summer or fall, we spend a year preparing, and then we rush in and do everything quickly. Spending 200-300 thousand rubles at once is a problem, but breaking it up in parts over a year is quite possible. In addition, there will be time for measure seven times and cut once.
Where is it difficult to save money?
The only area where you will have to invite a specialist is to redo and strengthen the electrical wiring, if it is old and weak. The only way to save money here is to negotiate with a DEZ electrician. He will do the work in pieces, in free time, but the likelihood of hackwork will be even less than that of “branded” specialists: after all, he will then have to service all this.
It’s better not to skimp on electricity and wiring, but you can do some things, like installing sockets, yourself.
Tool
A good specialized tool makes the job much easier and cheaper. But buying it is expensive. Therefore, it is better to rent a tool as needed. In terms of costs, it will not cost much if you decide on the design in advance and draw up an approximate work plan for yourself.
Season
Plumbing
A sore point when doing cheap DIY repairs is replacing plumbing fixtures. If it is still “alive”, just dirty, then you can clean and paint it. How to do this will be described below. But if there are chips and cracks, then whether you like it or not, you need to replace it.
For such a case, here’s some information for you: new residents, especially in houses above the budget category, often immediately begin major renovations upon moving in, and excellent, completely new earthenware and cast iron plumbing ends up in a landfill. Landfill operators (simply landfill workers) have long since turned this circumstance into a profitable business.
They do not make direct contact with strangers via their office phone, but it is quite possible to reach them using word of mouth methods. The rate is from a third to half of the factory price for a household item. And don’t think that they will take you to the landfill and show you where it lies. In the back room you will be offered a choice of clean, thoroughly washed products, which you can immediately sit on.
Construction garbage
The next sore point is the removal of construction waste. The operation is not cheap and requires paperwork. Exit: basement, barn, cottage or closet and several used bags made of plastic sackcloth, bought for pennies. Construction garbage it does not sour or rot; it can then be poured into a container in the house trash bin by the bucket. There is nothing illegal about this.
Renovating an apartment is now an expensive proposition. Some save for it for years, while others give away their last savings and end up in a debt hole. Regardless financial situation Everyone tries to save money, but in practice not everyone succeeds in doing this. Let’s look at which materials you can save on and which ones you shouldn’t, and we’ll learn to expose hired repairmen who are trying to profit from the owners’ ignorance.
Different types of repairs - how much to pay a technician and how to save?
The final estimate will depend on the type, size of the room and complexity of the renovation. There are three types of repairs: cosmetic, major and European-quality repairs. The cosmetic option is the most economical. This repair usually includes painting, wallpapering, and floor sanding. Such work can be easily done with your own hands, saving on calling a specialist. If you lack some specialized tool, it is not worth purchasing it for one-time purposes. Rent it. Make a preliminary estimate for repairs in order to adjust it in advance and select cheaper options. If you decide to hire a private specialist, redecorating your apartment will cost you, on average, 1,500 rubles per 1 m2, and through a construction company - 2–2.5 times more expensive.
Carrying out major repairs yourself is much more difficult, since many of the works require special skills and abilities. Stages of such repairs: floor screed, wall leveling, demolition and installation of partitions, dismantling of old coating and finishing, complete replacement water pipes, plumbing and electrical wiring, replacement of windows, doors, garbage removal. Price for calling a specialist during overhaul increases to 6000–15000 rubles per 1 m2. And this does not include the cost of consumables.
Here are four tips to help you save on major renovations:
- 1. Remove old wallpaper, tiles, dismantle flooring, clean up and take out the garbage yourself. Such work does not require special skills and tools, and the savings are significant - 5000–8000 per 1 m2.
- 2. Do not rush to spend money on finishing an expensive ceiling. Just level and paint it inexpensive chalk paint. When you have money, cover the ceiling with plasterboard or make a suspended ceiling.
- 3. Do not remove the plaster completely. Remove it only in those places where it peels off. However, take into account the peculiarities of the finish. If you plan to stick photo wallpaper, the surface must be perfectly flat. You may need to completely replace the plaster; in this case, you won’t be able to save money.
- 4. To avoid wasting time on paperwork and extra money on garbage disposal, collect waste in bags and send it for storage in the basement, barn, or leave it in staircase in a specially designated place, it is provided. Throw a bag into a general trash container every day; there is nothing illegal about this.
European-quality renovation is practically no different from major renovation. The cost increases due to the purchase of expensive and natural materials from famous manufacturers. The price of materials is automatically reflected in the cost of the master’s work, which starts from 25,000 rubles per 1 m 2. .
How to check the honesty of the estimate - common tricks
If you decide to involve an experienced team of repairmen in the repair, be prepared that you may be deceived. To check this for sure, pay attention to several important features. The information will be useful for both beginners and experienced homeowners who have decided to start a renovation.
To calculate the exact costs of repair work, the foreman measures the parameters of your room with his tape measure. It seems that everything is fine and there can be no catch. In this case, we recommend providing your own tape measure for measurements. Often, cunning repairmen cut the tape measure, for example, by 50 cm, and fasten it to another part of the tape, retreating 20–30 cm or more. WITH actual size, for example, at 2 m, your room increases to 2.3 m and, accordingly, the price increases, because the cost of work is calculated per 1 m 2.
When receiving an estimate, carefully review all items. Often repairmen duplicate the cost of services under the guise of other work. For example, leveling walls - preparing walls for wallpaper. Read each item carefully so as not to overpay.
Please note the price per 1 m2. Compare it with others first construction companies and private individuals. Prices below average should alert you. Usually, during the process of work, repairmen who initially offered you a low price raise it and ask you to pay extra for Additional services. The owner finds himself in a dead end, since the work is already in progress, and the estimate automatically increases by 2-3 times.
Saving materials and increasing the cost of work is another technique used by dishonest repairmen. For example, they can put a 1 cm layer of plaster on you at a cost of 3–4 cm, reducing the planned laying path electrical cables or plumbing pipes, and take the remaining material for yourself. In fact, you are overpaying for material that does not “work” for you. To avoid such mistakes when performing turnkey repairs, ask the repairmen to photograph the completed work process in detail step by step and send it to you by email.
If you decide to install heated flooring, remember that it is not placed around the entire perimeter of the room. An unscrupulous foreman will offer you to put a heated floor under furniture where it is absolutely not needed, which will also increase the cost of the project.
Complete replacement of wiring is another service that almost every foreman will offer you without making sure that you really need it. You can make good money on old copper and aluminum wiring.
AND last tip: purchase materials yourself, do not trust this matter to the repair team. As a rule, they buy building materials on the market, where the storage conditions for many goods do not meet the standards. In addition, repairmen there can ask for a blank receipt with a stamp and enter a list of goods and their cost with a markup.
In what season will repairs cost less - promotions and special offers
It is better to start repairs in the off-season - in early or mid-autumn. This period is suitable for both external and internal repair work. It's still warm outside, and prices are Construction Materials To winter season are gradually decreasing. Savings on summer goods reach 15–20% without loss of quality. Therefore, if you were planning to spend 250,000 rubles on renovating a room, know that in the fall and winter you can save about 30,000 rubles, which can be spent on renovating the hallway.
Promotions and special offers are a special type of service where you can save money. Pay attention to illiquid items. They have a limited shelf life and will not last until next season. Construction stores offer good discounts on such products. If you are going to do repairs right now, take a closer look at putty, plaster, glue, and sealant at a bargain price, below the market average.
Budget options for replacing plumbing fixtures
Replacing plumbing affects a significant part of the renovation budget. If she's in good condition, without chips, cracks and only the surface with an old coating makes you think about dismantling it, we advise you to clean and restore the plumbing. Expensive detergents replace with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, which is good at destroying stubborn plaque. Budget transformation option - . You can enamel the bathtub yourself, liquid acrylic or order an acrylic liner to fit the dimensions of your plumbing fixtures. Restoration will reduce purchase costs new bath approximately 4 times and, depending on the chosen option, will extend the service life old bath from 5 to 20 years.
If you decide to change your plumbing, consider a budget option purchases from so-called landfill entrepreneurs. Often when arriving in new house the owners replace earthenware and cast iron plumbing fixtures that are in good condition and throw them into a landfill. Resourceful businessmen came up with easy way quickly and easily make money on this. They take plumbing fixtures in good condition from the landfill, wash them and put them in order. They do not directly expose their contacts, working on the principle of word of mouth. In the back warehouse you can pick up such entrepreneurs suitable plumbing fixtures and save a third or even half of the factory cost.
Economical wall covering and flooring in dry and wet rooms
To save money when covering walls, we advise you to buy not edged (planed) lumber, but slab (wood sawing waste). Croaker is sold raw and does not match the quality of conventional materials. This can be easily corrected if you purchase it in advance in March-April and keep it in a dry room until autumn. In addition, slab cladding saves money on leveling the walls. In 80% of cases, it completely hides all irregularities. The option of covering the walls with waist-high slabs and covering the walls up to the ceiling with non-woven wallpaper will help not only save money, but also make wall decoration practical. The lower part is resistant to wear and contamination, and the upper part complements the overall picture.
The most budget-friendly option for laying floors in dry rooms is marmoleum. This material requires leveling the floor only in 10% of cases. However, for rooms with high humidity(bathrooms) marmoleum is not suitable, you will have to lay classic tiles. Alternative option marmoleum - laminate. This option is also inexpensive, looks beautiful and is suitable for installation under plank floors. True, the floor will have to be leveled.
To decorate the walls in the bathroom, choose laminated hardboard. This material is less familiar than tiles, but cheaper. It is better to cover the ceiling with plastic panels. Don't skimp on waterproofing. The money spent on it will pay off and extend the service life of even the cheapest finishing materials. Instead of gypsum plaster To level the walls, use a cement-plaster mixture. It is not inferior in quality and is cheaper. When deciding to lay tiles on the walls and floors, buy a plain finish. Such tiles do not need to be frequently adjusted and matched to the pattern; less material is required, which is automatically reflected in the purchase cost.
What is better not to save on, so as not to pay twice later?
When carrying out major and European-quality repairs, it is impossible to do without replacing the electrical wiring. It is better not to save money on this event and entrust the work to a professional. It is especially important to pay attention to Soviet wiring due to its high power modern devices, which sometimes the old cable cannot withstand. During the replacement, you will have to use a wall chaser to properly lay out the new wiring. Workers charge 100 rubles per 1 m2 for this service.
Complete replacement of wiring two-room apartment, on average, will cost 40,000 rubles. Private specialist He may charge less, but he does not provide a guarantee for installation, so if any malfunctions occur, you will have to pay the technician again for the work. To save money, we advise you to contact an electrician from DEZ. Such a specialist performs the work slowly depending on his workload, but the quality and guarantee of service are an undoubted advantage of choosing this particular specialist. But you can install sockets and switches yourself.
Another job for which you need to involve a specialist and not save money: replacing plumbing pipes. Consumables choose according to your budget. Hiring a plumber will cost, on average, 15,000–20,000 rubles. If you do not have experience in connecting plumbing, we also recommend that you seek help from a specialist.
“May the renovations in your apartment never end!” - the passer-by throws over his shoulder and goes home. And you stand there and think: “Why is he doing this? Did you wish for wealth or, on the contrary,... tax you?”
But really, the issue of repairs is an unpleasant matter for the average citizen. With today's prices for materials and services of construction Jedi, you will have to fork out seriously. And how much time and nerves you will have to spend, and even live in a ruined apartment! You wouldn't wish it on your enemy. But repairs are a vital necessity, and sooner or later you will still have to face them. Some craftsmen, even in times of crisis, still manage to renovate an apartment with their own hands quickly and inexpensively. But how do they manage to do this? Inexpensive - this is a cosmetic repair with your own hands and domestic materials. Such repairs will not require large financial investments, but you are guaranteed the cleanliness and freshness of your apartment. Cheap is not always bad.
Where to begin?
Keep a small notebook. In it you will write down all the ideas, prices and phone numbers of stores or specialists. But the main thing is that it will contain a plan for your repair and a cost estimate. The plan needs to reflect all your wishes: replacing windows with plastic, suspended ceiling or just whitewash, new tiles in the bathroom, wallpapering or a couple of new sockets in the kitchen. Write exactly what you want. We decided on wallpaper - that means wallpaper, whatever you want decorative plaster- so so be it. Pipes are humming - replace it, a cracked toilet - throw it away. You may think that, based on your desires, you won’t be able to do an apartment renovation with your own hands quickly and inexpensively. But you probably don’t know this, and you’re only forcing yourself into limits. If it works, you’ll do it; if not, it’s not a big loss, it’s just a note in a notebook. Next, start making an estimate: what exactly do you need and in what quantity. How many meters of tiles, grout, bags of putty, wallpaper, chipboard and other things. You can always correct these entries.
To find out exactly what materials, what quality and price you will need, go to online stores and construction forums for help. Carefully study the characteristics and pricing policy, approximately calculate the consumption. And at the same time, learn how to replace a faucet, hang wallpaper or install drywall yourself. Determine for yourself: I can do this myself, but here you need to look for an electrician or plumber. Write it down.
How can you save money?
There are many options. First, remember: it is better to buy materials for apartment renovation in the cold season - the price is much lower. But summer is construction season. In winter, you can come across a 50% discount in construction markets or a “Buy 2, get 3 for free” promotion! So you can buy the same wallpaper at a low price, but much more best view and quality. And if they lie for a couple of months in a dry pantry or closet, then nothing will happen to them. Explore local forums, especially if you live in big city. There you will probably find many people who have already done inexpensive apartment renovations with their own hands. You will probably find photos of finishing, tips, addresses and phone numbers of specialists there. And you will also come across the heading “repair” and “remaining materials”. Periodically look at who is selling or giving away interesting things. People often end up with materials after renovation that no one will buy at the sale price, and it’s a pity to throw them away. So, you can buy a couple of bags of putty or even Spanish tiles for a ridiculous price. A person has an extra 2-3 meters left, there is nowhere to put it, but it will do just fine for you in the toilet. There you can also find the remains of a cable or grout “for a chocolate bar.” More respectable people, when moving into new buildings, often exchange brand new plumbing fixtures or PVC windows for more expensive ones, and these are given away for next to nothing. Why? Because they want “Rehau” or “only France”, and such a window will do just fine for you. Anything is better than the old wooden one. When you get rich, buy yourself a Rehau.Tools for repair
Construction tools cost a lot of money, so it’s better not to spend money on them. Another option is to rent it for a while; it is rented everywhere. And it will be even better if you borrow it from acquaintances, friends or relatives. And be sure to thank the person for their help. How? You know better. Take this opportunity to ask if they can help you decorate your apartment. Especially if your friends are well acquainted with construction literacy. This will also help you do your own apartment renovation quickly and inexpensively, and also with high quality. And your friend will probably make a significant discount for old times sake.
You will need:
Step-by-step instruction
1. The concept of repair includes the following list:
4. Next stage- ceiling repair. Sew all the cracks with a spatula so that they become deeper. Prime with primer, putty and let dry. After the primer has dried, sand the ceiling and prime it again. Before painting the ceiling, make repairs to the walls. 5. After working on the ceiling, start removing the old wallpaper. To do this, wet the old wallpaper with water, let it soak for a while, and as soon as it gets wet, remove it with a spatula. The wall must be dry and clean before you begin repairing it. Sew all the cracks on the wall with a spatula, prime them with primer and seal them with putty. When the areas you putty have dried, sand them and then coat them with primer again. If you glue thick wallpaper, then finishing putty do not use. 6. The next stage is painting the ceiling or wallpapering the ceiling. Divorce water-based paint, as written on the can and paint the ceiling 2 times. If you decide to glue wallpaper for painting, then glue it and paint it 2 times as well. Domestic paints are cheaper, so your budget will not suffer. 7. Before covering the walls with wallpaper, you need to paint the doors and window frames. If you buy paint "P" Russian manufacturers, and not imported ones, it will cost you much less. After the paint has dried, proceed to wallpapering. To save money on purchasing wallpaper, choose a domestic manufacturer. In terms of quality and durability, wallpaper from Russian manufacturers is not inferior to imported ones. 8. The final stage is painting the floor. If the furniture was not taken out, then cover the legs and perimeter of the furniture with masking tape, and remove it after painting - the furniture will remain clean. Choose domestic paint - it will be cheaper, but will not affect the quality of the paint.
Walls
Walls are the first thing that always catches your eye. Certainly, smooth walls and beautiful stylish wallpaper everyone will like it, but if for leveling and expensive materials there is no money, you can limit yourself to simply replacing old wallpaper. Just by re-pasting the wallpaper you will already transform the apartment. Find inexpensive ones thick wallpaper on a paper or non-woven basis is quite possible, and they can be glued even to not very smooth walls. Non-woven wallpaper hides minor irregularities especially well.
There is another option. The previous owners left a couple of rolls of wallpaper in the apartment, which were of no use to them during the renovation. For example, I simply replaced a few particularly dirty and torn areas of wallpaper. It was enough to replace the wallpaper strips where they were most noticeably damaged. These are protruding corners, places near door jambs, in the hallway at the entrance, in the kitchen not far from the stove - all this will cost much less complete replacement, and the housing will look much better.
Ceiling
If we are dealing with whitewash or layers of lime, it is best to clean them first. Numerous lime deposits that peel and crumble are not only aesthetically unsightly, but also harmful to health. It is not difficult to wash away lime; you must first soften the layers by wetting small areas ceiling with water from a spray bottle, and then clean off the plaque with a hard spatula or scraper. If there is old peeling wallpaper on the ceiling, it needs to be removed.
After cleaning, the ceiling can be additionally sanded with ordinary sanding paper, that is, sandpaper, and primed. If the surface is smooth, without pits or cracks, it will be cheaper to paint the ceiling acrylic paint, it's better to use matte paint light pure tones. If there are small defects, the wallpaper will hide them. Wallpaper for the ceiling should be chosen white or very light, without a pronounced pattern and with very fine corrugation. Another economical option transform the ceiling - glue foam boards.
Floors
If these are concrete floors, as a rule, nothing additional needs to be done with them in terms of preparation; they are quite smooth and durable. Creaking wooden floors- that's much more serious problem, and their repair, at least over time, cannot be avoided here, but the squeaking problem can be temporarily solved. Creak in wooden floors occurs when adjacent boards rub against each other. In particularly “loud” areas of the floor, you can drill several holes a regular drill and pour a little polyurethane foam. The foam will fill and seal the voids between the boards and the floor will stop creaking. This must be done carefully, without fanaticism, so that the floor does not swell.
Level out strong “waves” and unevenness wooden floors it is possible by nailing hardboard, plywood or OSB sheets. For the required strength, the thickness of plywood or OSB should be about 1 centimeter. As a finishing floor covering, linoleum is still the most economical and durable. Fortunately, the choice of linoleum in stores is extensive.
Tile
If we have already figured out the wallpaper on the walls, then what to do with the tiled flooring? Replacing the tiles, of course, may be a solution if the tiles do not stick to the wall, because there is no other way out. In rare cases, when the tile easily comes away from the mortar, and the mortar itself adheres well to the wall, the tile can be easily restored by spreading it thin layer PVA glue and pressing it firmly into place onto the solution. The main thing here is to get it right reverse side tiles into their imprint on the mortar, and PVA glue will very firmly glue the ceramics to the mortar - checked! But if the tiles are holding strong, and buying new ones is expensive, you can work a little on what you have. Firstly, the tiles can and should be washed thoroughly. Since it's tile, it will withstand much more aggressive cleaning agents than dish gel, but it will also look much better when it's cleaned off. limescale, rust and other traces of use. It is also necessary to clean the seams between the tiles. There is no need to be afraid of damaging the grout; on the contrary, you need to clean off as much grout as possible. Mold often settles between the tiles in the bathroom and it is very difficult to remove it from there.
After removing as much grout as possible along with unwanted flora and fauna, the seams can be treated with a special antiseptic. After this, they can be filled with fresh grout. It is better to choose a grout color that is neutral or close to the color of the tile.
Plumbing
Carefully inspect your plumbing fixtures. Are there any cracks or chips? There is no need to change plumbing. Plumbing cleaning products will help make all sanitary surfaces look more presentable, and a bright shower curtain will complete the job. By the way, you can refresh it with paint cast iron bath. Not from the inside, of course, but from the outside. But, shining with freshly painted sides, the bathtub will immediately take on a more elegant look. But if the inner surface of the bathtub is damaged and worn out, it makes sense to contact bathtub restoration specialists who will cover the surface of the bathtub with new enamel right at home.
As a rule, such a service is cheaper than purchasing and installing a new bathtub. Here's another option: make a bath curtain not only for the top, but also for the bottom (use glue and Velcro).
Electrics
Inspect all outlets. If you see melted plastic around the plug holes or even just dark spots, such sockets should be replaced without hesitation! Lamps are changed as needed. If they are intact, not obsolete and all the lights are on, you can simply remove them, wash them and hang them back. Do not forget to turn off the voltage in the apartment when working with electricians!10 ways to spend less on decorating an apartment and get a real masterpiece
Designer tips: 1. 100% polyester silk. Stone-like tiles, parquet-like linoleum, onyx-like laminate, Trekhgorka like Ralph Lauren. Python-like porcelain tiles. “Artificially aged” something... It’s embarrassing to even think about. Alas, the number will not work. Look through good interior design magazines. Everywhere there, stone is stone, tile is nothing more than tile, and wood is just that, wood. If you don’t have the money for parquet, and simple laminate is beneath you, look for a good engineered board. The result is a floor that looks worth much more than the money you spent on it. A good alternative to porcelain tiles for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways - cement tiles. The result will look a hundred times more expensive. 2. Adjacent rooms should contrast. If you have a bright living room, let the hallway be painted in a deep, relatively dark color. The cost of paint will be the same in any case, and the result can look really expensive. 3. If on good carpet no money, look for carpet made from viscose or blended fibers that imitate a silk or wool pile carpet.
4. Place the curtains on a thick lining. Even inexpensive curtain fabric will greatly benefit from this. Look for fabrics that are three meters wide. This results in significant savings. If you are not willing to spend a lot, avoid printed textiles (fabrics with a pattern). When cutting patterned fabrics, due to the need to properly join the fabrics, a lot of scraps remain. The more rapport, the more waste. Do not use curtain tape for curtains. Let the seamstress lay down the “hand” folds. It's not that expensive, and the pleats, gathered with braid, look very cheap. 5. Set-set-set. Identical things in the interior are permissible only in one case: if they are paired items that form a symmetrical composition. Chandeliers, desk lamp and leave the sconces from one set to those to whom God has not given imagination. They are the kits upholstered furniture“a sofa or two armchairs” and similar tender sadness. For more details, see the next paragraph. 6. Ready-made solutions. Bad news: there isn't any. At least for us. The shower room is built using construction methods because it is a room. Unless you run a student hostel or an underground massage parlor with striptease, a shower stall (that sad structure of yellow acrylic and lopsided doors) will not suit you. Don't spend money on “designer” plumbing fixtures. Let appearance The plumbing equipment of the bathroom (kitchen, toilet) will be dictated by function. Buy washbasins and faucets simple shapes, without inappropriate decor. The toilet should be inconspicuous and do its job. No one will admire him, right? 7. Paintings, prints, engravings, photographs and posters frame in simple but deep frames with glass and always with a mat. Even a picture printed at home inkjet printer(or naive children's drawing), in such a frame looks very significant. Play with the size of the mat. A small work in a very wide mat looks very “designer-like”. And, by the way, cardboard for mats can be of almost any color. 8. Cosiness. Another collective fetish. According to my observations, what in our Palestinians is called “comfort”, in 99 percent of cases, is poetic closeness. In many ways, this is a physical memory of a bygone childhood, of the warm and affectionate meager Soviet life with carpets teeming with saprophytes, a kind grandmother, Czechoslovak crystal and the unread Dreiser in the polished Polish wall of “Hanka”. Moreover, expensive devilry like round bed with music and a minibar, a bar counter with a built-in aquarium, etc. The same is true for such rich things as lambrequin, garland and swag. Don't worry: in a good, well-thought-out interior, comfort inevitably comes naturally. Therefore... 9. ...Goodbye, gypsy Sera! Duvet covers made of calico in fine Nefertiti, towels in scarlet roses, pillowcases in eye-catching shades, nylon blankets with Shanghai leopards. All these are attributes of collective farm chic, forgive me for being blunt. They will not add comfort. Variegated coloring is often necessary for these things solely to hide their exceptionally lousy quality. Keep bed linen and bath towels simply white (options: ivory, ecru). But made from excellent Egyptian cotton. 10. However, with ivory It’s also important not to overdo it. Peach, beige, sand... The average nuanced range is good for chain hotels. Because their stenciled interiors are bound to please everyone. You should like your interior. After all, he is a manifestation of your essence, right? Pick up a fan palette from any paint manufacturer. Do you feel pleasant heaviness? These are your possibilities. Don't miss them!
Instructions
The cost of repairs consists of two components: the cost of materials and the cost of labor. Moreover, the services of professional repairmen can cost much more than all the materials. Therefore, the first commandment of cheap repairs is to do everything you can. Actually, only two jobs need to be entrusted to specialists: plumbing (if the pipes require replacement) and electrical wiring; professionals cannot do the rest. And secondly, choose inexpensive materials and do without what you can do without.
The simplest thing is to make it inexpensive living rooms and the corridor. To tidy up the ceiling you will need ceiling paint(preferably matte - this allows you to hide surface unevenness) and a special paint roller - foam rubber or fleecy. Of course, you can do without a roller by painting the ceilings with a brush, but, firstly, it is much more tedious, and secondly, stripes may remain on the painted surface - and you will have to repaint it a second time. The roller allows you to apply only one layer of paint.
Stick paper wallpaper on the wall - they are not as durable as vinyl, but they are very cheap. By the way, special glue for paper wallpaper You don’t have to buy it – you can make a paste from flour or starch. The worn linoleum on the floor can not be changed, but simply painted with oil or acrylic floor paint - the color will easily last 3-4 years.
The choice of materials for bathroom and kitchen renovations must be approached more carefully - after all, these are rooms with high humidity. Therefore, for ceilings in these rooms, it is better to purchase special moisture-resistant paint marked “for baths and kitchens” or “for wet rooms” - especially since it does not cost much more.
Bathroom walls do not have to be tiled. If the walls are in good condition, you can paint them with acrylic paint or stick on moisture-resistant washable ones. vinyl wallpapers(marked “three drops”). You can also use paintable fiberglass wallpaper to decorate bathrooms. They are good because they are very undemanding to the quality of the surface - they can be glued even to an uneven, crumbling wall and this allows you to reduce not only the cost of repairs, but also labor costs. Slightly more expensive, but at the same time very economical option– plastic wall panels. They look great and are very easy to clean.
To decorate the kitchen, you can also use fiberglass wallpaper or washable vinyl wallpaper, sticking it to the ceiling or to the middle of the wall. If kitchen apron not tiled – can be used plastic panel simulating tiles, or stick oilcloth or self-adhesive film on the wall above the work areas.