10 steps to - Cutting the cost of your renovation

Revamping a living room, dining space or bedroom? Find out how to do it for less and get the most from your budget

1 Maximise space

Putting up shelves is a good place to start if you are keen to do more DIY. It has the potential to optimise space in a living or dining area, and tackling it yourself can save the cost of getting someone in or of buying new storage furniture. Look for suitable places to fit your shelving – in an alcove or above existing pieces, like a radiator. And don’t let it fade into the background as a supporting feature for books or artwork – finish in a bright paint shade to make it pop.

2 Cover star

For a fresh, contemporary look, say goodbye to matching furniture and team a statement chair with your sofa. But it doesn’t need to be a brand new buy. To cut costs, welcome a family hand-me-down or go shopping for a secondhand chair – often these pieces were beautifully constructed and made to last. Then swap the old upholstery for a different fabric and let a pro cover your seating, turning it into a focal point piece. Or you could save more, and gain a skill, by having a go at reupholstering it yourself.

Top tip
Lighting makes up 11 per cent of UK household electricity consumption, according to the Energy Saving Trust, so fit cheap-to-run LED lights.

3 Floor show

Carpet is an economical way to add a whole new level of luxury to a living space or bedroom lacking softness and comfort. Let yourself fall for a patterned version that draws the eye as well as being warm and yielding underfoot. Today's carpet patterns are a world away from the 1970s swirls that might spring to mind, and achieve maximum style points. Choose between sophisticated stripes and geometrics, or pick gentle curvaceous lines to create a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere.