Save or Splurge: Your Guide to Making Decisions When Designing Your Lancaster Remodel

Remodeling your home is an investment–in time, energy, and money. If it’s done well, with careful planning and thoughtful decision-making, it’s an investment that will serve you and your family for many years. But like any large project, it can be hard to know what to prioritize. As you consider your home renovation project and your budget, how do you know where to save money and where to spend it? Where is it okay to economize and where should you invest in quality? (For starters, check out our Cost Guide to see about what a remodel will cost. Then you can make design decisions based on your realistic budget.)

What Do We Mean by Save or Splurge?

In any remodeling project, design decisions must be made. Do you choose tile A, which is gorgeous but expensive, or tile B, which costs less but you don’t absolutely love? If you choose tile A, will you need to trim expenses elsewhere? The interconnectedness of the design and financial decisions you must make can be overwhelming. But we are here to help. 

Saving here means choosing good-quality but less expensive materials and fixtures, or making less expensive decisions regarding what work you will have done on your home. Splurging means choosing higher-quality materials or making specific building or design decisions, knowing it will cost more. Splurging means you’ve considered the options and decided to spend more anyway. A great rule of thumb is to spend where it will make the biggest difference and save where it doesn’t matter as much.

When to Save

You don’t need to choose the most expensive finishes and the most jaw-dropping building plans in order to take your home to the next level. While there are certain aspects of a remodel that it’s worth spending on, there are others where you can easily save. And when you save money on one part of your project, you can invest it into another part that really matters to you.

Saving in the Kitchen

A kitchen remodel can be one of the most expensive projects to take on. Consider cutting costs in the following ways.

Choose more basic appliances. While having a range or dishwasher with all the bells and whistles might be nice, if it’s not the most important thing to you, choose a more standard version. Kitchen appliances generally last 10-15 years, so no matter how much you spend now, you will eventually have to replace them anyway. As long as you choose a quality brand, mid-range appliances will perform just as well and save you money.

While smart kitchen technology is on the rise, investing in every type of built-in technology might not be the best move for you. Smart appliances do save money because they’re more energy-efficient (generally speaking), but they also cost more upfront, and repairs will be more costly. So think about which smart appliances you’ll use the most and then consider buying regular appliances for the rest.

While having gorgeous custom cabinets might be your dream, consider using semi-custom cabinets to save in the kitchen. Semi-custom cabinets come in ¼ inch increments, meaning they fit almost any space flawlessly. They come in a vast variety of finishes, and quality control is generally excellent, meaning they look great. You’ll save money but not sacrifice quality or design if you choose semi-custom over custom kitchen cabinets.

Speaking of cabinets, you can also plan your budget to accommodate less-expensive cabinet hardware. While you want something you love that captures the look you want, you can probably find relatively inexpensive options that fit the bill.

Saving in the Bathroom

Bathroom remodels are exciting: a chance to make the room where you start and end your day a relaxing respite. Saving money in a bathroom remodel doesn’t need to be painful! Try these ideas.

Save on bathroom flooring. Choose a tile that is non-slip, but don’t worry about making sure it’s the top of the line. Porcelain or ceramic tile can look just as classy as marble or granite and save you a bundle.

If the layout is working for you, don’t change it. Moving plumbing and electrical is the most expensive piece of a bathroom renovation. If you can leave it where it is and still make your bathroom the perfect space for you, you can use your saved money elsewhere in your home.

There are also ways you can incorporate finished you love and save money. If you love an expensive tile, say for your shower, consider using it as an accent instead of tiling the whole shower with it. Use it in a built-in shower niche, or as a border at the top or bottom of the shower walls, and then use a coordinating, less expensive tile for the rest.

Saving in Other Areas

Depending on what type of remodel you’re doing on your home, some of these other savings ideas might apply to you.

• Buy local! Here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we have the option of buying handmade Amish furniture and cabinetry that is often less expensive and of better quality than name brands. If you don’t live in Lancaster, see if there are other ways you can purchase furniture and finishes that are locally made. It’s better for the environment, your local economy, and often, your wallet!
• Save on interior finishes (lighting, cabinet hardware, wallpaper, etc). You may want to replace them eventually anyway, as kitchen and bathroom trends and your tastes change. Choose lovely and good-quality materials but steer clear of the most expensive options.
• On a related note, choose classic (not trendy) finishes where you can. They’re often less expensive, better made, and will stand the test of time.
• Choose lighting based on the size and design you want for your space, but don’t worry about brand names.
• Mix old and new elements: an heirloom or second-hand china cabinet in the kitchen next to your new sleek island, for example. Not only does this save you money, but it gives your home a curated feel. 

When to Splurge

If you’re remodeling your home, chances are you’ve spent some time dreaming about how this renovation will improve your space. It might make it more welcoming, easier to host friends and family, or more practical for your own family. You might be changing a builder-grade home into a work of art, perfectly designed for you and your loved ones. Deciding where to splurge in home design is hard: you probably won’t remodel again for a while, and you want it to be perfect. But you also know that you can’t do every single thing you may want. 

One place we firmly believe you should splurge in your home remodel is by hiring a great design-build team. While you could be the general contractor for your project (especially if it’s a smaller remodel), hiring a team that keeps all the aspects of the renovation in-house, works expertly together, and does all the planning upfront will probably actually save you money in the end. And it will definitely save you frustration. Designers can talk you through every aspect of your remodel, helping you decide where to cut corners and where to invest, and ensure that the end result is what you’ve been dreaming of. Design-build is the best way to get you from here (the home you currently have) to there (the home you’ve been dreaming of).

Splurging in the Kitchen

Your kitchen is a hard-working room, and in general, splurging on areas that are used the most is the way to go. You want your new kitchen to last a long time and look good too. Here are some areas you should consider spending more.

Kitchen countertops can make or break your kitchen–both functionally and aesthetically. Whatever type of countertop you choose (marble, quartz, quartzite, granite, solid surface, butcher block, etc), investing in higher-quality and gorgeous material will pay off.

While keeping plumbing and electrical where it is will save you money, if your kitchen’s layout isn’t working for you, it’s worth it to go ahead and move those elements. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did when the functionality of the space improves. If your kitchen would benefit from removing a wall, changing its orientation, or radically altering the layout, it’s money well spent. Professional designers can help you visualize these changes by using design concepts and 3D renderings to make your new kitchen come alive.

Splurging in the Bathroom

There are a variety of ways to make your renovated bathroom unique, relaxing, and beautiful. Think about how you will use the space and invest accordingly. For example, if you love taking long, relaxing baths, make sure you prioritize a gorgeous tub. If you and your partner want to be able to get ready quickly in the morning, make sure you have easy-to-access storage and a large enough vanity for both of you to use.

Make sure you invest in high-quality bathroom fixtures. If you buy the cheaper ones, they often have plastic materials on the inside, which will break and leak at some point. Choose sturdier metal instead. Because bathroom fixtures will be used and handled every day, they need to be resilient. And because they play a starring role in your bathroom design, they need to be beautiful.

Spending more money on the vanity and countertop is usually a good idea. Because this feature is one of the most visible aspects of your bathroom, choose one that fits with your aesthetic, will last a long time, is sturdy, and offers the appropriate amount of storage. You won’t regret investing in a gorgeous vanity.

Smart technology in the bathroom is worth considering. You may find that installing a Bluetooth-connected, humidity-sensing bathroom fan or a smart shower that turns on and heats the water to your desired temperature will elevate your bathroom from good to great.

Finally, consider the fact that installing water-saving toilets, sinks, and showers may cost more initially but will save you money in the long run. That’s a splurge we can easily get behind.

Splurging in Other Areas

Some things are just worth spending money on. Again, a designer can help you decide what is most important for your specific remodel. Consider these ideas:

• Install energy-efficient windows
• Invest in great flooring. Your floor is one of the largest design aspects of your home, and the hardest-working feature. 
• Upgrade millwork (baseboards, crown molding, etc) to elevate the look of your home instantly.
• Choose good exterior siding. Cement board is more expensive but will last so much longer than the less costly vinyl, and it will increase the value of your home!
• Don’t skimp on decking materials. Choose Ipe, cedar, or redwood, or use wood composite to make sure your deck will last.

The Rule of Thumb

The more you use it, the better quality it should be. The parts of your home that are permanent should get priority over the parts you can easily change or will want to update in a few years. Investing your money wisely can significantly enhance both the functionality of your home remodel and its aesthetics. 

But the bottom line is: it’s your home. Prioritize what is important to you. If you have your heart set on a particular light fixture–and it’s expensive–look for ways to trim the remodeling budget in other areas. If your family loves to cook together, a top-of-the-line oven might be exactly what your kitchen needs. Think about yourself, your loved ones, and what you want your home to be like, talk to your contractor and designer, and make the best plan for your specific space. You will be glad that you did.

Ready to get started? Contact us today and let’s talk. We can help you feel confident in what aspects of your remodel you save or splurge on, making great design decisions you will love for years to come.