Budgets aren’t always fun, but they can be lifesavers for many homeowners. Just watch a few Saturday afternoon home and garden shows, and you’ll realize how easy it is to spend money on home improvement.

Before going crazy with bathroom tile, underfloor heating and designer light fixtures, follow these tips from MSN Real Estate on keeping your spending in check:

• Make your remodeling budget, and keep it. Don’t be tempted to change the numbers around or eliminate the contingency fund. (As if nothing will go wrong?) Instead, assume that the contractor will find a few extra emergencies for which you’ll have to pay.
• Keep track of remodeling budget costs as you go.
• Use the “add and subtract” method. If you have to “add” a surprise expense, “subtract” the same amount somewhere else. Painful, yes, but it keeps your financial health in check.

Making your remodeling budget

As you prepare your remodeling budget, account for every cost category, from the contractor to the delivery fees. In a kitchen remodeling, for example, you’ll have:

• Cabinets
• Countertop
• Appliances
• Sink, faucet and garbage disposal
• Flooring
• Lighting
• Labor, including demolition, electrical, plumbing, drywall and painting

Then, there’s the “surprises” category. It’s a good idea to add in ten to 15 percent of the cost as a contingency. This will likely cover any problems that occur along the way. You might find:

• Faulty electrical wiring
• Problems venting the range through the wall
• Subfloor issues, such as uneven surfaces or hidden support issues

Here’s a good home improvement cost estimator from HGTV. While estimates are just ballpark figures, they can provide a good idea of what costs lie ahead.

When to replace? That can be a difficult question, as you juggle your budget and desire for brand new products (or products that work properly). Ideally, you want to stretch-out the lifespan of appliances and building products without wearing them too thin. Here’s how to find that balance.

Lifespan of Household Appliances

Here’s one scenario: the dishwasher isn’t rinsing properly, and you’ve tried adding a rinse aid in the water. Do you call a repair person or buy a new appliance? The answer depends on:

• The severity of the problem–how often and how much does it affect your daily life?
• The age of the appliance
• Your budget

If it’s a two-year-old dishwashe,r and you spend $100 on a repair, it’s probably worth the repair bill. If it’s an eight-year-old dishwasher (and they typically last ten years), it’s time to buy a new one.

Home Improvement Products: What’s the Lifespan?

To help you decide if a product is nearing the end of its lifespan, here’s a look at how long household products typically last. For example:

• Gas range: 19 years
• Refrigerator: 17 years
• Kitchen cabinets: 15 to 20 years
• Laminate countertop: 10 to 15 years

Next, look at major building systems, such as the windows, furnace or exterior siding. Focus on how they function and how much maintenance is involved. If you have real wood siding, for example, here are some signs from Amazing Siding that it might be nearing the end of the road:

• The boards near the ground have rotted
• There is mold or fungus growing, a common occurrence in shaded areas
• Boards are warped or bowed

For windows, try this guide from Simonton Windows.

To replace or not to replace–that is the question. Now, you know the answer!

Kitchen cabinets can take the brunt of abuse in the kitchen and sometimes just look worn. The tricky thing is…how do you update them without tearing apart the whole kitchen? That’s where kitchen cabinet refacing comes in. In a few days, a contractor can remove the cabinet doors and drawers and install new ones with a modern, updated look.

The process is relatively easy and financially painless, but it’s typically best when done through a contractor. Before trying the DIY route, make sure you understand the cabinet refacing process.

Once you decide to tackle a cabinet refacing project, the big question centers around the style. Here’s a look at popular kitchen cabinet styles:

• Old World: This style is timeless and often includes French or Italian influences. Consider adding an ornate dresser in the kitchen for storing dishes or a glaze to your kitchen cabinets. Rustic faucet finishes complete the design.
• Arts and Crafts: Named after this early 1900s architectural style, the look is elegant, but understated–not too fussy, but not too simple. The cabinets may have recessed front panels and just a touch of molding. Copper was big back then, so pull that in with your cabinet knobs.
• Country kitchen: Try knotty pine cabinets or muted white. Add in open shelving and plenty of country décor. Check out this kitchen cabinet layout for ideas.
• Contemporary kitchen: The look is sleek, bold and unpretentious. Try white laminate cabinets or stainless steel. No molding or detailing allowed!

The beauty of kitchen cabinet refacing is that it brings a dramatic transformation with only a moderate amount of time and effort. Select the right style, and the whole room will come together quickly.

Remodeling projects. We all have lots of them in our minds or on the drawing boards. The tricky part is deciding what to do when. If you’re trying to figure out a schedule, start by setting some priorities for your remodeling projects.

Remodeling for Safety

Safety should be your first concern and that typically means:

• Electrical wiring: If you’re buying a house that may have unsafe wiring, get a thorough assessment from a licensed electrician. It’s always best to do wiring early, as it’s disruptive and often involves making holes in walls. Fix the wiring and the holes. Then, move on to painting and other home decorating projects!
• Structural issues, such as rotting floors: We once had an exterior staircase that was rotting underneath. Luckily, the contractor found it before we all fell through! If you’re buying a home, a good home inspector or contractor can point out similar issues.

Remodeling for Function

Now comes the functional remodeling. Your next remodeling project may be a new mudroom for the kids. Or, think about the traffic flow through the house, the water pressure in the bathroom, and the storage in your kitchen. What drives you crazy the most?

As you plan, remember to figure out a budget. It’s easy to focus on the grand transformation, but someone will have to pay for it. Don’t schedule contractors without setting your budget, first.

Next, comes the fun part–the home decorating. If you’ve always wanted faux painting in the dining room, try these tips from Sherwin Williams. After you’ve suffered through the electrical work and the broken plumbing, dive into the painting, the kitchen remodeling or the new floor in the foyer. You’ve earned it!

Want the look of custom cabinets without the high cost? You can find plenty of ways to dress up the stock cabinets found in many home improvement stores. All it takes is a strong focus on the kitchen cabinets and their design. Try to tackle the following tasks:

• Paint the kitchen cabinets: White or off-white can give the kitchen a crisp look
• Remove a cabinet door: You can also get creative with open shelving
• Use different stains on the cabinets: This makes a strong impact
• Add drama on the island: Some people splurge on the island cabinetry to make it a showplace. Or, mix and match so you have a different wood or countertop on the island.
• Add funky cabinet hardware: Here’s more from Lowe’s on the various home improvement styles that can make your kitchen cabinets stand out.
• Add glass Doors: Glass can open the room and add an elegant touch, but you have so many options. Here’s the scoop from KraftMaid Cabinetry on the various types of glass and their uses. Try the following options:
  • Mullion designs that show the beauty of wood but let light filter through
  • Carned glass inserts–cut glass and zinc for a creative impression
  • Layered glass

Adding Crown Molding to Kitchen Cabinets

Crown molding can also transform a kitchen and make stock cabinets stand out. Try a two- or three-inch section of crown molding on top of your kitchen cabinets or below the bottom of yourcabinet door. Add vertical molding and undercabinet lighting for the finishing touch.

Stock cabinets can help you save big on your kitchen design, but they don’t have to be ordinary. With a little creativity, your kitchen cabinets can stand out from the crowd.

Whether it’s a high-end remodeling project or a budget quick-fix, today’s kitchens are all about design. Here’s how to get the kitchen you want while avoiding some common kitchen design mistakes:

• Oversizing the island:Kitchen islands are great for cooking and entertaining, but if they are too big, they can be too much. There also are functional issues. If the countertop is too deep, you’ll have trouble reaching across it. If you forget to leave at least 42 inches around the island as a walkway, the kitchen will seem cramped, and your perimeter cabinets may open too close to the island seating. Here’s more from Consumer Reports.
• Not adding enough kitchen storage:Inadequate or poorly designed storage can lead you to store cookbooks on the countertop and pots and pans on the stove. Without the right kitchen storage, the kitchen will end up as an unsightly mess some days. Among your options are cabinetry with shelving and vertical dividers, separate pantries and open shelving units, says House Beautiful.
• Forgetting about size and proportion: If you’re remodelinga small kitchen, don’t use dark cabinets and oversized appliances. Light, open and bright help make a small kitchen look big. You want furniture, drapes and accessories that are scaled to fit the space.
• Skipping the personality: While it’s nice to play by standard kitchen design rules, you don’t want your kitchen to seem flat and unappealing. If everything is neutral, nothing stands out. Add a row of red tile on the wall or fancy crown molding on your kitchen cabinets. Every kitchen design needs a little pizzazz.
• Adding too many colors: Color is good, but you should apply it in a systematic way. Stick with two main colors and one background color.

Don’t doom your kitchen remodeling project. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can get the kitchen you want without saying, “oops.”

You spend hours planning a remodeling project only to get estimates that show the work is much more intense and expensive than you imagined. All you wanted to do was strip old paint off all the baseboards and window trim. Is this home improvement project worth it? Here’s how to decide.

Remodeling for Character

Sometimes, it’s hard to put a price on character… until you ask a contractor to strip old paint from woodwork. But, consider the alternative. Do you want to live with layers of old paint? If the look of 8-inch baseboards is important to you, take the plunge, and hire a contractor. Perhaps you can do the work in sections to ease the pain.

Remodeling for Longevity

If you’re facing an expensive remodeling project with a questionable payback rate, think about your expected lifespan in the house. If it’s at least seven years, if could be worth it if:

• It will enhance your traffic flow or enjoyment of the space. If the home improvement project will transform a narrow kitchen into a spacious room with lots of entertainment space, it’s worth it over the long haul.
• It’s a space you use all the time.
• It will boost your curb appeal and improve the way you feel about the façade. Nobody wants to live with an old worn front porch, but they can be expensive to fix. Here’s a good post from Woodbury-House Blog on porch repair.

Buying and Remodeling: What’s the Deal?

If you’re considering buying a house that needs remodeling, consider all the variables. How’s the location? Can you live there for many years to help offset the remodeling costs?

Remodeling can be a complicated process. Think through your financial decisions carefully and ask yourself: Can I live without it?

If your home remodeling projects tend to stretch out all over the house, you’re not alone. Many homeowners get so carried away with great ideas that they stop and start projects in several places or want to fix eight areas at once. Here’s how to get a handle on a chaotic house and complete your home improvement projects once and for all.

The Almighty Home Remodeling List

Start by making a list. The list should fit your house and start with your biggest pet peeves. Are you tired of looking at the chipped kitchen countertop or the peeling paint in the bathroom? Put those home remodeling projects on the top of the list.

Then, decide what you can tackle and when. Start with any half-finished projects, so you create some closure in some areas. Do you have:

• Wood trim you started to strip and then stopped? Finish the stripping, and stain or paint it.
• Partially-installed closet shelving? Finish the job, even if it means taking all the clothes of the closet for a few ways.

Wrapping up loose ends isn’t always fun, but it does help. Here are tips from HGTV for improving your home improvement approach.

Coming Undone with Kitchen Remodeling

One tricky area is the kitchen, as it’s the heart of the home and a place where remodeling can create major disruptions. During a kitchen remodeling, consider these tips from Realtor.com:

• Plan for the disruption, and make a timeline
• Be realistic–use paper plates instead of trying to wash dishes in the bathtub
• Stay in a motel, and eat out for part of the time, if possible

Take a deep breath. With a little fortitude, you will finish all your home remodeling–eventually!

Tired of walking into a dingy basement to do the laundry? Given how much time you probably spend doing laundry, perhaps it’s time for a laundry room makeover.

Laundry experts (yes, there are lots of them)) suggest you design your laundry room according to your lifestyle. The location (basement, first floor, or second floor) should be geared toward your preferences. The finishes also should mirror your tastes–from grand to elegant to contemporary casual.

Laundry Room Design Tips

According to Renovation Design Group, your laundry room design should follow form and function. Do you do one major round of laundry a week or chip away at it every day? Some people buy a second pair of machines to stack in a second floor bedroom for small daily loads, for example.

As you peruse the fancy cabinetry and countertops, also consider whether you need:

• Hanging space near the machines that will keep clothes out of your bathroom or bedroom
• Folding space in the form of countertops or a large center island or table
• Wall cabinets for storing detergent, office supplies, and other materials
• Vinyl flooring, which is durable and easy to clean–tips from the Family Handyman)

Laundry Room Planning Tips

When planning a laundry room makeover, consider these statistics from HGTV and others:

• Whirlpool estimates that 28 million Americans do laundry each day.
• Many people want fancier laundry rooms with folding tables, built in cabinetry, and room for the kids to do crafts (when they aren’t helping fold the laundry, of course!).
• The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers reports more than 14.3 million washers and dryers were shipped to stores in 2009. That’s a lot of laundry machines!

Follow these tips, and enjoy your new laundry room love affair!

Where is this remodeling project going?

Have you ever asked yourself that when planning a project? You start with a simple remodeling project, and, all of a sudden, you want to tear apart the kitchen or add a new bathroom. What happened to the quick fix that would only cost $500?

Reining in Home Improvement

It’s easy to get carried away with home improvement projects and watch your project costs climb. There are many benefits of home improvement, but you should periodically monitor the remodeling to make sure you’re on track. Before you get too far down the remodeling track, think about:

• Your home improvement goals: Do you need more space, more room for storage, or just a nicer countertop for meal prep? Let’s consider a remodeling plan to add storage space. According to Luxury Housing Trends, fancy closets are a must. But, before you spend your paycheck on a high-end walk-in closet, consider how much you really have to store and what you can live with or without!
• The long term home improvement plan: How long will you live in the house? How much kitchen space do you need now and in five years? Consider that:
  • CBS News suggests updating instead of renovating given the slow down in the real estate market
  • Those who plan to stay for seven to ten years should focus on comfort and efficiency versus curb appeal
• Your home improvement budget: Can you afford to expand your original remodeling plan? While it often makes sense to do more “when the walls are open” or “while the contractor is here,” it can also cause your budget to swell. Think about what you really need now and in the next three to five years.
• What you’ve added: Is it necessary and a good investment?

It’s easy to get ahead of yourself during your home remodeling project, but it’s also easy to overspend. So, weigh these considerations before you start–and give yourself (and your wallet) a breather.