Smart material choices. Often people lose their minds in an effort to keep up with the Joneses. In our case, we felt strongly about wood flooring, but we couldn’t afford for the door trim and baseboards to be stained wood. The flooring came from a warehouse wholesaler for a very good price. The doors are solid, but paint grade.
You may have to opt for drywall over hard coat plaster, or…laminate counter tops instead of granite right now. Yes, when budget is that important, we must rein in our dollars. Make real and hard cuts – you’ll appreciate it when you write your mortgage check. Also think bold colors and durable materials. Color can bring the unexpected pop to the design; durable materials save money on future maintenance. Use simple details: this is somewhat related to style but it is critical to price. Simple details do not equate to lesser quality or impact, but can keep it affordable.
