Interior Designer Recommends: What We Can Afford at Current Prices

Fast-paced living and rising cost of living have made budgeting for apartment renovations and interior design a challenge. Interestingly, a Statistics Office survey shows that 60% of Estonian residents plan to carry out renovation work in their homes over the next five years. Spring is a time when many people feel a strong desire to make updates to their homes, as warmer weather and sunshine bring positive changes to our well-being. Whether it's a used apartment or a new development, each of us wants to make it unique and personal so that we feel even better in our homes.

Advice from an interior designer / things to remember

We from the Altero loans team decided to offer you the best advice on home renovation. For this purpose, we turned to an expert in our field – our own interior designer Berit Kirs from BK Design OÜ bkdesign.ee, who shares her valuable experience and recommendations with you. Here are five things you should keep in mind when renovating your home:

Plan long-term and value-adding solutions

1. When renovating your home, it's worth thinking about how to ensure the longevity of renovation and interior design investments and increase property value. Well-thought-out solutions help avoid double reorganizations and make renovation a good investment in the long term.

For example, when purchasing a small 3-room apartment, you can transform it into a comfortably spacious two-room living space or build an even larger bathroom together with a sauna.

Setting priorities: family needs and quality materials

2. When renovating, consider which solutions best meet your family's needs. When choosing materials and furnishings, keep in mind their quality and durability. For example, when living with children and pets, you should think about the choice of flooring materials, and in this case you should seek advice from experts in the field.

Choose neutral and timeless designs

3. The basis of good interior design is the choice of materials in light, neutral and warm tones that do not cause tiresome effects in the room. Quality furniture is important, especially for kitchen furniture and built-in cabinets, which should remain timeless and fit well even after several years.

Work with an interior designer to achieve the best use of space

4. An interior designer can figure out the purpose of rooms and find interesting solutions with the help of different niches or custom furniture. When you have a layout and concept in place, it's easier to work with construction workers, but in some cases you can also do the renovation work yourself.

Find balance between aesthetics and functionality

5. Before investing in new furniture, such as sofas, it's worth assessing the current condition of the property and focusing on problems with walls, ceilings, floors, ventilation, heating and moisture. Renovating one room at a time can achieve better results by focusing on quality.

We hope these tips will help you make the best choices when renovating your home. If you're considering hiring an interior designer, our recommendation would certainly be to turn to a professional expert. They will help you create a home that is both functional and visually beautiful, while ensuring quality work and long-lasting investments.

Renovation ideas tailored to your budget

When planning a renovation project, it's important to set a budget and distribute funds among different tasks wisely. Here we give you some inspiring ideas and recommendations for renovation projects with different budgets: 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000 euros.

3.1. Renovation with a 10,000€ budget – small but impactful changes:

With this amount, you should focus on one room, for example a bathroom. When renovating a bathroom, it's important to think through what you want to see in the new room – a bathtub or a shower corner? If you decide to focus on one room with a 10,000 euro budget, then refresh the walls and flooring. Small visual changes have a big impact – add freshness with potted plants, change curtains, textiles or carpets. With new accessories, you'll make the interior even more beautiful.

3.2. Renovation with a 15,000€ budget – two rooms at once:

With this budget, you can already focus on two rooms or replace larger furniture in the apartment, for example kitchen furniture with appliances. When renovating a bathroom, it's possible to repaint old tiles with microcement to achieve a new and stylish result. You can save money by not removing old tiles and installing new ones, and use those savings elsewhere in the apartment. Also try to refresh furniture with a new color to create a new and modern look.

3.3. Renovation with a 20,000€ budget – ambitious plans:

With this budget, you can do a thorough renovation in a 2-3 room apartment along with necessary new furniture and plumbing replacements. Think about built-in furniture and purchasing home appliances. An excellent investment would also be interior design according to an individual project, which would make your home truly special.

How to approach financing your renovation project

To make the best decisions when financing your renovation project, it's important to think through the following steps:

a. Assessing your creditworthiness and repayment capacity

Before submitting a loan application, you need to assess your creditworthiness and repayment capacity. To do this, review your income, expenses and financial obligations and determine what loan amount and payment schedule would be suitable for you.

b. Comparing different loan offers using platforms such as Altero.ee

Explore the offers of different lenders and compare interest rates, contract terms and fees. Platforms like Altero.ee help you find the best loan offer according to your needs and financial situation.

c. Making a responsible decision based on your financial situation

When making the final decision, take into account your current financial situation and choose a lender that offers you the most favorable terms. Try to choose a loan amount that doesn't put you in an uncomfortable position, and keep an eye on your financial situation so that loan repayment goes smoothly.

By following these steps, you can make responsible and thoughtful decisions when financing your renovation project, which will benefit you in the long run.

Summary

Renovation projects can be both exciting and complex at the same time, but careful planning, following good advice and making financially responsible decisions help ensure an excellent result. The information shared in this blog post will help you focus on your family's needs and budget, while choosing quality materials and solutions that make your home visually beautiful and comfortable.

Don't be afraid to use the help of professional interior designers, who will help you find the best solutions according to your budget and wishes. Don't forget to explore financing options to determine the best way to finance your renovation project that suits your financial situation.

In conclusion, regardless of your renovation project budget, excellent results can be achieved through thorough planning, smart choices and good advice. This way you can create your dream home that will bring joy to you and your family for a long time.