You could be looking to make a budget-friendly flooring update for many reasons. Perhaps you live in an older home with a considerable amount of wear and tear. Or maybe you want to try a different type of flooring that requires less upkeep. Your floors may even need a refresh before you list your house for sale.
Making any sort of update to your home, especially to something as extensive as your floors, could feel daunting on a limited income, but there are solutions available.
If you need help affording your new floors, you could look into a home improvement loan. You could get the money you need and pay it back in fixed monthly installments that make it easy to budget for every month.
Simple Budget-Friendly Flooring Updates That Make a Big Impact
1. Try a little TLC
Sometimes, floors simply need to be given some extra attention and care. If you have carpeting, you may be able to rent a carpet cleaner from your local hardware store. Otherwise, consider hiring a professional to clean your carpets and rugs, or take them to a dry cleaner.
If you have hardwood floors or another surface that could benefit from a refresh, make sure you are sweeping, vacuuming and mopping regularly. If you have hardwood floors, you could try sanding and refinishing them to make them look new again, or to give them a more modern look.
Or, for the least amount of effort, you could invest in some large area rugs to cover up the scuffs and stains until you’re ready for a bigger project.
2. Do the Work Yourself
Updating your floors doesn’t necessarily mean you have to call in a professional right away. If you have the time and aren’t afraid of a little DIY, consider doing some of the work yourself. Of course, it depends on the type of flooring you have and the kind of shape it’s in.
Do some research online about what kind of improvements you might be able to make and ask friends who may have knowledge in this area. You could also hire someone with expert knowledge to advise you and then do the work yourself. Another option is to shop for materials at your local hardware or big box store and ask them for tips, like what sanding and staining options they might recommend.
If you don’t feel comfortable tackling all the work yourself, doing some of it may cut down on the cost. For example, if you’re replacing an old carpet, sometimes ripping up the old carpet yourself before the new carpet is installed can save you money.
3. Look for Deals on Flooring
Check places like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone near you is selling leftover materials. People often overestimate how much they’ll need for a project and try to offload the rest.
If you’re buying material directly from a supplier, see if they’re willing to negotiate the cost. Sometimes, the more you buy, the cheaper the price per unit. You could also ask if they have discounted remnants that would be suitable for a smaller job.
If you can wait, you could also try to take advantage of holiday sales online or at big box stores, which may have good deals on materials and installation costs.
4. Seek Out More Affordable Materials
There are a range of lower-cost flooring options available for a limited budget. Typically, laminate and vinyl are two more cost-effective options that could be easier to install on your own.
Some other affordable options are also more eco-friendly, such as recycled tiles, sustainable wood, bamboo and linoleum. While you may not get the exact hardwood look you want with bamboo, for example, it’s a much more budget-friendly option that is also easier on the planet.
5. Consider Your Lifestyle
Besides making sure the materials you choose fit into your budget, a budget-friendly flooring update should also suit your lifestyle. For example, if you have young kids or pets, choose materials that can be cleaned easily and are durable enough to withstand a lot of foot traffic. You don’t want to choose a floor material that you’re going to worry about damaging or end up replacing sooner than later. If you need to buy large rugs to protect your flooring, for example, that could be a significant extra cost, never mind the ongoing maintenance and cleaning bills.
Save Money by Planning Ahead
If you’re planning a budget-friendly flooring update on a limited income, start by researching which materials best suit your budget and lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to look for deals or negotiate costs down. Figure out if you can realistically install the new flooring yourself or if you’ll need additional support from a professional.
As with most home improvements, a budget-friendly flooring update comes down to planning ahead, doing your research and choosing the option that checks all your boxes without breaking the bank.
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