7 Small Hacks That Will Save You Money on Your Next Remodel

There are a bevy of checklist items for any remodel, but costs can quickly add up. If you’re interested in updating your home without shelling out five or six figures, there are small fixes you can make to transform any room. For expert insights, I tapped Gerson Seise of Gerson Seise Realty in Laguna Beach, California, and Ashley Clark of sKout Interior Design in Costa Mesa, California. 

Before you make any decisions, Seise says to ask yourself the big question: Is this a “stepping stone home” or my forever home? “For a stepping stone home, the goal is smart, durable upgrades that appeal to a wide audience,” he explains. “Whether you’re planning to sell or rent it out, you want choices that last and look good without being overly trendy. For a forever home, it’s still about durability—but this is where you get to bring in joy. Go with materials you love—because if it’s too practical and not personal, you’ll end up remodeling again. And that’s the opposite of saving money.”

Clark and her team are the secret sauce for many remodels in Southern California, and they used several of these nifty hacks while constructing her own home last year. “Sticking with simple timeless selections is always a win,” she says. Below, hear their tips for breakthrough improvements that won’t break the bank.

Courtesy of Ashley Clark

1. Opt for Lower-Cost, High-Quality Flooring

“I’m personally not a fan of luxury vinyl, even though it’s popular,” Seise says. “Instead, I recommend engineered hardwood—it gives that warm, real-wood feel but holds up better and costs less than solid hardwood. Large-format porcelain tile is also a win—it’s super durable and gives a clean, upscale look, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.”

For her own home renovation, Clark painted the wood floors in her bonus room for a low-maintenance, low-cost floor design using unfinished oak and floor paint from Benjamin Moore.

2. Upholster Items Using Alternative Fabric Sources

Clark is known for breaking traditional interior design rules and injecting boldness and whimsy, and that extends to how she sources her fabric. 

“One of our favorite ways to find some amazing prints and patterns and fun fabrics is buying a great duvet cover, tablecloth, or even a shower curtain to recover furniture or make pillows,” she says. “It’s often much more affordable than ordering cut yardage.”

Ashley Clark

3. Request a Color Match

If you have designer taste without the budget to match, Clark says to bring your high-end inspo to your local paint store and request a color match. “They often can, and it’ll save you lots of money!” she says.

4. Ask About Remnants

Slabs typically aren’t cheap, but Clark says you could get lucky by talking to a fabricator about “remnants.” “They may have a beautiful piece of marble left over from another job that you could use in your bathroom or on a fireplace!” she says.

5. Rethink Your Cabinetry

You could go a couple of routes with your cabinets, according to our experts. Clark loves taking a table or chest from a flea market or garage sale and rebranding it as a unique vanity (“No need to have all-custom cabinetry!”), and Seise says even swapping out your hardware can give existing millwork a completely new personality.

Thomas J. Story

6. Subtly Refresh on Your Outdoor Space

An outdoor reno sounds like a massive undertaking, but Seise has a workaround: “A gravel patio or stained concrete can add instant charm and function for not a lot of money—and outdoor space always adds perceived value,” he says. For a forever home, Seise suggests more customizations like built-in seating or a custom fire pit to add coziness and make your home feel like a retreat.

7. Scour and Sell on Secondhand Online Marketplaces.

“Some of our very favorite finds have been found on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and classified sections,” Clark says. “I found a huge vintage cement sink for $400 in the classifieds!”

Pro tip: Clark says to sell your own furniture items on these sites to score more cash, which you can use to spend on finishes for your home.

Ashley Clark

The takeaway? With a little creativity and thoughtful prioritization, you can easily remodel your home for a reasonable amount of money.

“Don’t chase the cheapest option, and don’t assume the most expensive choice is the best,” Seise says. “Do the research, find materials that will last, appeal to others and make you happy. That’s how you save money—and your sanity—long term.”