You have got the dream home, now to make it picture perfect. Decorating and jazzing up your space is the fun part, but it can come at a cost. Painting those walls in your favourite colours should not break the bank though. With some savvy shopping and clever tricks, you can paint each room just how you imagined for less. Get ready to pick up that paintbrush without picking your pocket. In this guide, we will show you how to plan, purchase, and paint on a budget. You will get insider tips to maximise your spending, from choosing the right paints to prepping properly. Follow our advice, and you will soon be living in technicolour without paying a premium. Let us get painting your dream home dazzling without the hefty price tag.
Planning Your Dream Home Painting Project
The key to an affordable dream home makeover is in the planning. Before you head to the hardware store, determine a budget and make a list of the supplies you’ll need. Focus on one room or area at a time.
Choose a Colour Scheme
Do you want complementary colours, analogous colours or a monochromatic scheme? Look through photos of rooms you love for inspiration. Once you find a scheme you like, buy samples of the colours and test them on your walls to see how they look in your space.
Buy Quality Supplies
Invest in high-quality brushes, rollers, trays, tape, and sealant. Good tools make the job easier and the results more professional. For the paint, choose a top-quality brand formulated for the surface you are painting. Higher quality paint provides better coverage in fewer coats.
Prep and Protect
Clean and lightly sand walls, then apply a primer seal. Use painter’s tape to protect trim, windows and floors. Patch any holes or imperfections. Clean up debris – your space should be dust-free for the best results.
Do Multiple Thin Coats
Apply at least two coats of paint, waiting 2 to 4 hours between coats. Thinner coats provide more even coverage. For dark colours, add an extra coat. Once done, remove the tape immediately and touch it up as needed.
Add Accents
For extra pizzazz, stencil designs or patterns onto walls, paint ceilings or trim in a contrasting shade, or do an accent wall in a bold colour. Wall decals and murals are an easy, removable option. With some planning, your affordable dream home makeover can become a reality!
Budget-Friendly Painting Tips for Your Dream Home
Plan and Be Strategic
Taking the time to plan your colour scheme and technique will save you money in the long run. Decide on a cohesive colour palette for your whole home and buy larger quantities of your main shades for a discount. Focus on accent walls or do colour blocking to minimise the number of gallons needed.
Buy Paint During Sales
Big box stores frequently run paint sales, especially for leftover or misprinted paints. You can get high-quality paint for a fraction of the cost. Just make sure you have enough for your whole project! Stock up on other supplies like brushes, rollers, and trays at the same time to get the best deal.
Consider Refinishing Existing Woodwork
Instead of painting over beautiful wood trim and doors, consider refinishing or re-staining them. A fresh coat of stain or polyurethane and some light sanding can restore woodwork to its original glory at a lower cost than repainting.
Use paint with a sheen Choosing a paint finish with some sheen, like satin or eggshell, will provide durability at a lower price point than flat paint. The subtle sheen still hides imperfections well but stands up better to stains and marks.
Paint the ceilings An often overlooked part of any room, painting the ceilings the same colour as the walls helps open up the space, giving an expansive feel. Use the same colour with a flat sheen for ceilings for a seamless, high-impact look on a budget.
With some upfront planning and strategic choices, you can achieve a designer look in your home at an affordable price. Keep an eye out for deals, work with what you have, and make high-impact choices that minimise costs. Before you know it, you will be living in your dream home!
Frequently Asked Questions About Affordable Dream Home Painting
What are the best ways to save on paint costs?
When painting your dream home, the paint itself can end up costing a pretty penny. Here are some of the best ways to cut down on expenses:
Buy in bulk. Purchasing paint in larger sizes, like five-gallon buckets, can save you up to 50% per gallon versus buying individual quarts or gallons. If you have a big project, the savings add up.
Choose a lower-cost paint. While premium paints offer better coverage and durability, basic or mid-range paints will still get the job done for most DIYers and at a fraction of the cost. Brands like Valspar, Behr, and Sherwin-Williams offer high-quality yet affordable options.
Limit custom colours. Custom tints require mixing multiple base paints to create your perfect shade. This process is time-consuming for stores and can increase the cost by up to $10 per gallon. Opt for stock colours that do not require custom tinting whenever possible.
Buy mismatched lots. Many home improvement stores sell mismatched lots of high-quality paint that were custom-tinted for another customer but not picked up. You can get these for up to 75% off the original price. Just make sure there is enough for your project!
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a home?
The cost to paint the interior of a home can range from $400 to $4,000 or more, depending on the size of your home and the number of rooms. According to HomeAdvisor, the average homeowner pays between $1,500 to $3,000 for a typical 2,000-square-foot home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The exact price will depend on the quality of the paint and the number of coats needed.
Professional painting will be on the higher end of that range, while doing the work yourself can save you thousands of dollars. No matter which route you choose, make sure you get multiple estimates from contractors to determine a fair price. And when calculating costs, do not forget additional supplies like brushes, rollers, painter’s tape, and tarps.
Conclusion
So there you have it, all you need to know is to paint your dream home on a budget. With some savvy shopping for supplies, clever colour choices and a bit of elbow grease, you can give every room a gorgeous new look for less. Just take it one space at a time, tackle the prep properly and do not be afraid to get creative with techniques and tools. You have got this! Soon you will be sitting back admiring your beautiful handiwork knowing you have achieved something amazing without breaking the bank. All that is left is to invite some friends around, open a bottle of bubbly and toast your success. Enjoy your budget dream home makeover!
