Bathroom and Kitchen Makeovers for Less

Rusk Renovations founder John Rusk is here to answer all of your questions about renovations, choosing the best contractor, and much more.

Today, he helps a reader with ideas for a quick bathroom and kitchen makeover on a small renovation budget. 

Dear Rusk Renovations,

I know you guys specialize in high-end renovations, but do you have any tips for those of us on a budget? We have a bathroom and a kitchen that we want to spruce up without spending much -- maybe $600 total for both rooms. Yes, we know that's nothing, but that's what we have. What are some ideas?

Sincerely,

Beauty on a Budget

Dear Beauty,

You can make a dramatic difference by simplifying and adding a splash of color. First, clean out everything that looks messy. Refrigerators that are papered with notes, piles of clutter, rarely used appliances. Clear out everything that's broken and either repair it or throw it away.

Now take a hard look at the visual clutter in the rooms -- elements like competing patterns and colors that don't have a lot to do with one another. Anything that looks like it came from the 70s and 80s. Clear it all away.

To make a limited budget work, I think you need to think spare, clean and functional and focus on finding a great color combination.

Browse through preselected color palettes from designers like Ralph Lauren and Martha Stewart. Within these palettes, almost all the colors look good together. With just a little common sense you can pair two or three colors that complement each other beautifully. Stick with the same designer to find coordinating fabrics and accessories that harmonize with these colors. Suddenly, you can put together something quite nice without a designer and on a limited budget.

So, clean up, pick some great colors, drop a little money on towels, curtains and other accessories and you've renovated. If you have a few cents left over, you might want to look through a Pottery Barn catalogue because their light fixtures and other accessories will fit with these colors perfectly.

Have fun.
John Rusk