The budget and maintaining it

It would be amazing to have unlimited resources for your designs, but for most of us, the budget drives everything from architectural changes.

It’s a balance between what you want, what you need, and the compromises required to stay within budget. What you’ll find as you gain experience in the wonderful world of design is that some of these compromises are incredibly enjoyable and end up giving you a unique look for a fraction of the cost.

Perhaps you looked at those Hollywood designs and thought you couldn’t replicate them on your budget, right?

Planning a budget for your interior design project is very important and will vary from one project to another based on the costs of materials, construction labor, and the nature of the project you’re undertaking. Do you have walls you want to remove? Or do you need a little handy help for your home improvements? All of this determines the specific budget for the size of your project.

Knowing exactly how much money you’ve allocated helps you plan your project and stay on track when you’re tempted to justify a more expensive purchase.

It’s easy to fall in love with an expensive piece of furniture or some elaborate architectural changes and move forward when you can’t actually afford them.

If you allow yourself to assume an unlimited budget at the start of the design, you could end up in a tight spot as you near the end.

Once you decide which rooms will fit within your budget, it’s time to start drafting your final plan.

The easiest way to do this is with a budget worksheet. Having a budget worksheet is an excellent way to refrain from spending more money than you have.

You can find many different budget worksheets online, or you can create your own.

Some elements to consider when creating your wishlist and needs are as follows:

• Home furniture
• What do you plan to use that you currently own?
• What can be repurposed? Cost?
• What do you need to buy?
• Fabrics
• Accessories
• Rugs
• Pillows
• Artwork
• Lighting
• Paint
• Wallpaper
• Window treatments
• Architectural features
• Cabinets
• Sinks / basins
• Appliances
• Flooring
• Closet / shelving updates
• Construction work
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Wall removal
• Ceiling fixtures
• Delivery / shipping fees
• And other supplies

Some suggested categories in the spreadsheet might look like this:

• Items
• Quantity
• Estimated cost
• Estimated shipping
• Labor (installation, etc.)
• Total

Keep at least one copy in your car or wallet because it’s important to have it with you when you go shopping for supplies. Now that you have your interior design budget, you can move on to the next steps in your design process.