Seven Ways to Save More Money on a DIY Home Renovation Project

Posted on March 31, 2025 by resourcefulman

We all know that home repairs and renovations are expensive . The average kitchen renovation costs more than $27,000 , and a bathroom renovation will cost you more than $25,000, even if your plans are relatively modest . Most of these costs are labor, which costs anywhere from $20 to $150 per hour depending on the industry and the specific contractor. If you want to save money on a home project, doing it yourself is one of the most obvious ways.

But there are other, less obvious ways to reduce the cost of DIY repairs or renovations. Saving on a home project doesn’t always mean buying cheaper materials or cutting back on the design. Sometimes you can take indirect actions that will surprisingly reduce costs. Here are some surprising strategies for reducing the overall cost of your next DIY project.

Reuse demo

During the demolition phase of a remodeling project, everyone can take care of themselves, and this can save some money on labor. Plus, it’s cathartic to take a hammer to those outdated aspects of your home that you’ve hated since you moved in.

But if your goal is to save as much money as possible, hit pause before you swing the hammer and ask yourself if you can reuse any of the materials. Sanding and painting existing furniture instead of buying brand new replacements is an obvious way to reuse materials rather than trash them, but think deeper:

Tile. If your floor or backsplash tiles are in good shape and still fit your new design, carefully removing them and cleaning them rather than breaking them into pieces will be a great use of existing resources.
Decking. If you are removing an old composite deck, consider using some composite materials to frame the replacement. This works best with roof decks or ground level decks where you only need a little lift, but it can save you money on fresh wood and composite materials will last longer.
Removable items. All things that can be easily put away and not broken can be reused. Doors, cabinet hardware and light fixtures don’t need to be replaced unless they are critical to your design (or no longer work properly). If you don’t intend to reuse your doors, remember that they are made from high-quality wood that can be cut up and used elsewhere —as a headboard or furniture, for example—rather than buying new ones.
Walls. Taking a sledgehammer to walls is fun, but ask yourself if you really need to replace the walls. Drywall can be repaired and restored even if the paper has been peeled or damaged (using a special primer like this ), and after applying fresh paint, tile or wallpaper, no one will know that it is the same wall that was always there.
Domino effect. Consider whether you can save money on other projects by keeping what you have. Old kitchen cabinets can be moved to the garage or basement instead of purchasing new storage solutions for those areas, for example.

If your dream involves everything fresh, completely new, go for it. But spending a little time thinking about what you can salvage and reuse can add up to some serious savings.

Mixing Materials

Buying cheaper materials is one of the first things DIYers think of when trying to cut costs, and it works! But sometimes you have to pay for the final appearance and durability of the finish. One solution is to think about form and function separately. For example, cheap kitchen cabinets are usually not the most attractive, but the cabinet is essentially a wooden box. Cheap cabinets paired with high quality doors, drawer fronts, hardware and countertop materials will look luxurious but cost much less.

You can also use different materials in different parts of the room. For example, in a kitchen, you can use different materials for the countertops on the lower cabinets and island, making them high-end in one area and mid-range in another. Not only will this save you some money, but it will also add variety to your design.

Dry fit everything

You’ve heard the expression “Measure twice, cut once.” Planning and taking your time are some of the easiest ways to save some money on any home project. Before you start drilling, nailing, and screwing into cabinets, for example, make sure they meet your expectations and that no unexpected problems arise. Dry-fitting everything also allows you to make sure that your measurements for fillers and trim are correct, that all power cords reach outlets, and that you haven’t overlooked anything that will be expensive to fix.

This concept applies to your skill set as well. If you’re planning on learning how to do something in real time while you’re doing it, be prepared to spend a lot of time and expensive materials. Practicing something you’ve never done before will save you money in the long run. When I decided to remodel my bathroom, I bought small squares of drywall and practiced cutting and laying tile a few times before starting the actual work, and it paid off because I eliminated major mistakes before they could turn into mistakes that involved ripping out an entire wall of fresh tile.

Look for offers

Things are worth what people are willing to pay for them. If you can find high quality materials at discounted prices, they will still be high quality, so before you take out the credit card and buy new ones, check out some options for lightly used items, e.g.

What are your thoughts so far?

Recycling centers. Stores like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore accept donated materials and sell them at huge discounts. At these stores you can find everything from flooring to kitchen cabinets, from used but functional to brand new.
Floor models. You can often find high-quality appliances and furniture at deep discounts due to relatively light wear. It makes sense to call or visit in person to see what might be available. The best time to shop for floorstanding models is when new models come out: typically September/October for washers, dryers and dishwashers, January/February for ovens, and May for refrigerators.

Also, if you need framing material, you can look for low-quality lumber at your local lumber yard or big box store. These pieces may not be completely straight, but they can often be cut into usable pieces, which can save you a lot of money.
Leftovers. Search salvage stores to find leftover countertops, tiles, and other remodeling materials. For example, when slabs of stone are cut to make custom countertops, the leftovers are often oddly shaped or sized so they can be purchased cheaply.

Keep in mind that if you bought a full-size slab cut to your design, you can save the leftovers from that slab and use them as well. There is often enough material left over that it can be used, for example, as a small countertop in a bathroom.

Save Layout

One of the easiest ways to increase the cost of a kitchen or bathroom renovation is to move the fixtures. Relocating plumbing costs on average nearly $1,100 per pipe run, and can cost much more if you’re making a drastic change rather than moving something a few feet one way or the other. If you plan your design around your existing plumbing and electrical outlet layout, you can save a fair amount of money without losing any functionality.

Tool Libraries

DIY projects often require tools you’ve never heard of before and may never use again. Renting these tools instead of buying them can save you some money, but check first to see if your local library has a tool library . You might be able to use an expensive tool for a few days or weeks without incurring any costs and avoid trying to find a place to store something you’ll probably never need again.

Camp in

By simply choosing to live in your home while you renovate, you’ll save money without having to rent an apartment or hotel room. Yes, dust and clutter can be stressful, but the savings will be significant.

However, if you are remodeling a kitchen or just a bathroom, this could be a problem. Not having a working kitchen probably means a lot of money in your food delivery bills, and not having a working bathroom is just not a way to live. Setting up a temporary kitchen is relatively easy. With a few small appliances such as a deep fryer, microwave, toaster, stove, and mini-fridge, you can prepare basic meals. An outdoor dishwashing station, in the bathroom, or near the sink in the laundry room or basement may not be ideal, but it will get the job done.

It is also possible to set up a usable temporary bathroom, even without running water . How luxurious you want your bathrooms to be is up to you, but as you shower in your makeshift basement stall, remind yourself how much money you ‘re not spending on a hotel room.

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