I received a question in response to Megan’s office makeover and I thought it would make a great post. So, here we are.
The question came from Christie…
“I would love to see a post on how you make your initial budget. Did you prioritize curtains and storage ? How do you know what things to go cheap on ?”
Great question!
Working on Megan’s office was a totally new experience for me, because I was working on a space for someone else with a set budget as well as a set time-frame we had in mind for completion. There wasn’t anything it had to be finished for, but Megan wanted to be able to use her office again and I have other design clients waiting! Both the timeline and the budget made me nervous. My rooms have developed over years with lots of trying things out and swapping what doesn’t work.
Can I put together a room on a budget in just a few weeks?
There is a reason I called Megan my “guinea pig”.
I was getting nervous when I talked her out of built-ins in favor a great storage cabinet and I wasn’t finding one that fit the eclectic farmhouse style she wanted and one that wouldn’t eat up 3/4 of her $1000 budget. I ended up finding one that was perfect on craigslist for $225. It delayed the project a bit, but I’m glad we didn’t try to rush things along too much or the results might have been different.
The rug was another issue. I bought one that I thought would work, but it was the wrong size…too big for the space. I had used some of my own Joss & Main credits, so it wouldn’t hit the budget too hard, but I had to return it and start over.
I set out shopping one day to hit the usual local spots I look for rugs…TJ Maxx, Target and finally Pier One. I actually bumped into a reader while I was out and she asked what I shopping for. I was holding a couple of shirts in my hand. “A rug. Clearly.” and I motioned to the shirts in my hand. We both laughed. I came up empty on the rug there, but I found the beautiful braided one at Pier One on clearance. It was even better than the first one.
Maybe things won’t work out as well another time, but I tend to be a cat-like designer. I can land on my feet when dropped. Usually. We had a cat that used to fall asleep on the cable box and she had some epics falls off the TV.
Anyway, when I approached Megan’s room, I started with the wardrobe. I knew that would be a a large, important piece. I was hoping to spend no more than $250, so I was very happy with the $225 we did spend.
The curtains were the next expense. I saw them as being an important design aspect to add softness, color and pattern to the room. Also privacy. They are functioning curtains, so they can be pulled closed.
Those two elements together took up half of our budget and I think they were worth it. I didn’t plan for those to be the splurges for the space specifically, but those were the first two things I shopped for, because I knew they would make the biggest impact.
To make this post practical and applicable, here are a few guidelines I have followed when I’ve worked on rooms in my home and now Megan’s office…
balance splurges with bargains
For example, our bed frame is one of my favorite pieces of furniture and we bought it new, on sale, from Restoration Hardware. At $1100, it was a huge splurge for us and the most I had ever spent on a piece of furniture. But I love it.
The rest of the room is filled with things from craigslist, thrift stores, yard sales and projects I was paid to do for freelance articles.
I have told Jeff that one day I would love a big, beefy, beautiful range in my kitchen. When I showed him pictures and he saw the prices, he blew out his cheeks, rolled his eyes and I quickly jumped in. “If we set a budget and I want to spend 90% of my budget on a range, that’s fine as long as I’m in budget, right?”
Yes, I was right.
So, don’t worry if you blow a good chunk of your budget on one very special thing. Just make sure you plan, so that everything else you need to do will fit into the rest of the budget.
work with what you already have
In Megan’s office, she already had a great desk that we could reuse. I also asked to see her stash, so I knew what we could work with before I started buying things she might already have. She had the frames, the desk chair, the arm chair, the foot stool, baskets for the wardrobe, etc. And we used the curtains that were in the space to slipcover the chairs she had. Using what she had gave us a lot more money to spend on the things she didn’t have.
do it yourself (DIY)
We DIYed (Do it yourself-ed. It’s a word.) almost everything in our kitchen and it saved us a ton of money. This room got a head-to-toe makeover for around $6,000 (and that’s actual cost, not taking into account that I got a lot of it for free and in trade for services.) We painted the walls, ceiling and cabinets, changed out the hardware, installed new window trim, installed the marble backsplash, built and installed the counters and made the custom range hood. The only thing we paid to have done were the floors.
be resourceful
When you’re out shopping, look at things with an open mind. You might be surprised. That “artwork” behind the rocking horse is actually an antique screen door that’s turned upside down. The metal grate was to keep pets from scratching the screen, I’m sure, but it adds great visual texture to the space.
The checked fabric that was used for a lot of the upholstery in the living and dining room was offered to me for $1.50/yard. I didn’t know what I was going to use it for when I bought it, but I liked it and it turned out to be a great purchase. Five chairs in my house are now wearing it!
buy used
Other than doing thing yourself, I think buying used will save you more money than anything else. I like buying used, so it’s my default. I could have all of the money in the world and I would still hit an antique market to spend it. Everything in my dining room was used when I got it, except the rug. The chandelier is one of my best yard sale finds ever…$4.00. The pair of French wing-backs were $50.
So, hit eBay, your local thrift store, antique mall, used furniture store and see what will work with your style.
As I said, I have a few more room makeover clients lined up and I’m sure I’m going to be working with a variety of budgets and I’m looking forward to that challenge!
11 Responses
So much great advice! We used to move every 2-4 years for my husband’s job which meant a new house every time. Fun, right? No, because every location had a certain house asthetic and our furniture/style didn’t always fit. Last year, he finally landed in a corporate position at his companiy’s HQ, so we are finally in our forever(?) house. Even though he makes a good salary and I still work, I hate spending a ton on furniture and home improvements. A lot of what I’ve done is DIY or thrifting. It’s refreshing to see that even though the pictures you have posted look like a million bucks, it is possible to have this look on a budget. Thanks again!
Yeah – fat fingers. Not Tracu- it’s Tracy. LOL!
I thought the desk chair slip cover had green checked ribbon and now it is the same color as the slipcover. I loved the checkered bow. Or did I just dream that?
Jan, it’s on the armchair not the desk chair 🙂
Great advice. A budget is so hard to stick to. But with some planning great things can be accomplished.
Would like be to know how you made slip cover for the office chair. The room looks so good without that generic office look
I love the room makeovers!!!
I would add that many times having someone like you in the budget can save a lot of money, stress and time down the road. Initially a designer can seem extravagant but when you aren’t sure of how to bring your ideas to reality a person like you can make all the difference. Megan would have spent far more on built ins and other pieces if she didn’t have your experienced eye giving her a different slant. I hired a designer for my kitchen remodel who understood my “cottage” taste and love of old furniture so she I corporated pieces into the design instead of having me buy everything new. It’s coming along really well because I know the finished product will be exactly as I wanted.
Many people discount the idea of shopping at consignment and thrift stores but that’s where you can really make some great finds especially on a budget. Yesterday, I went into a local consignment store that specializes in vintage pieces and found a mid-century glass top Hollywood Regency coffee table for $75.00. There was several on Ebay identical to mine from $199.00-$450.00 so I think I got a great deal!
Last week, my Mom found a mid-century pencil leg desk with built-in lamp in excellent condition for $10.00 at the local Goodwill. She sold it a week later for quite a profit.
Great insights into how to budget for what you want. I really love that you are so resourceful and frugal, yet recognize when “the one” shows up and it is a must buy. Otherwise, one forever suffers from “the one that got away!” And we all know that that feeling stinks!!
Learning that you considered the wardrobe and curtains as essential to the finished look was really interesting to me. And I think that answers your reader’s question!