We’re asked this question all the time: when should you splurge and when should you save when fixing up a house? There’s no single answer—choices vary by person, room, budget and long-term goals—so we’ll share how we’ve approached it in our new home, what we’ve splurged on, what we’ve saved on, and the questions we ask ourselves before deciding.
“Splurge” and “save” mean different things to different people. One homeowner might call a $5,000 custom built-in a splurge while another considers it a necessity. For us, a splurge might be paying for hardwood floors throughout the second floor or investing in a slate-like roof, while we’ll save by painting, removing wallpaper, or refinishing existing materials ourselves. Sometimes purchases sit in a gray area—a Restoration Hardware table bought at 70% off feels like a save to some, a splurge to others. We try to be intentional, spending more on improvements we expect to live with for years and saving on interim updates that won’t last.
What we’ve splurged on so far
- Hardwood floors across the second floor
- An upgraded, slate-like roof
- A substantial sunroom renovation (tiling, ceiling work, fans)
- Professional yard leveling
- Upgraded doorknobs rather than refinishing old pitted hardware
- Two smart thermostats to improve comfort and energy use
- Higher-end furnishings in key rooms (some items acquired at a discount)
- Thicker crown molding in select rooms
- Upgraded lighting in the kitchen and foyer
- A quality stair runner
- Privacy trees and thoughtful landscaping
- Upgraded laundry appliances with features we’ll use
Some splurges were strategic. For example, the sunroom was a long-term investment, so we chose durable finishes and systems. The roof was replaced using funds returned at closing. Sometimes we mix splurge and save: buying a higher-end runner but installing it ourselves, or hiring a pro to level the yard and then seeding the lawn on our own.
What we’ve saved on
- Painting nearly every wall, ceiling and trim ourselves
- Refreshing grout and refinishing existing wood floors instead of replacing them
- Finding secondhand furniture like thrift-store kitchen chairs
- Painting existing interior doors rather than replacing them
- Removing wallpaper in multiple rooms ourselves
- Stripping, resealing and staining the deck
- Phase one updates in rooms: cosmetic fixes that improve function and appearance without full renovations (kitchen, powder room, bedroom sink nook)
- DIY closet and organizational improvements
- Playful, low-cost updates in kid rooms (painted doors, stenciled floors, simple lighting and décor)
Our overall approach: spend more on permanent improvements that we expect to keep for many years, and save on cosmetic or interim updates that improve livability now but may change in a full renovation later. For example, we’d rather invest in quality flooring and an updated roof because those are long-term choices, while choosing inexpensive paint or shelving for a kitchen we might reconfigure down the road.
We also look for ways that savings enable splurges. A home warranty covered a furnace replacement, freeing funds to upgrade other items. Finding a great deal on a piece of furniture means we can splurge elsewhere while staying within budget overall.
Possible future splurges
- New kitchen appliances and a gas stove
- Adding a gas insert to the living room fireplace
- More exterior upgrades and privacy plantings
- Higher-end fixtures, window treatments and furnishings over time
- Thoughtful full renovations for kitchen and bathrooms
- Built-ins for the office and hallway niches
- Replacing kitchen windows with French doors to the deck
- Finishing an unfinished storage room as a bunk or media room
Possible future saves
- DIY wall removal where safe (non-load-bearing walls)
- Installing heated tile and other major projects ourselves
- Building custom cabinetry for smaller niches
- DIY landscaping, transplanting and mulching
- Painting and cosmetic updates throughout the rest of the house
- Energy-efficiency upgrades we can install ourselves (LEDs, insulation)
- Reusing old kitchen cabinets in the garage for storage and a workshop
To decide whether to splurge or save, we ask four simple questions before spending:
#1. How long will you live with it? Spend more on things you expect to keep for many years (flooring, roofs, structural changes). Save on temporary or interim improvements you’ll replace in a future renovation.
#2. How much will it affect daily life? Prioritize upgrades that improve comfort and everyday function—if an item will be used often and provide real convenience, a splurge may be worth it.
#3. How much wear and use will it get? For items that take a lot of daily abuse—kitchen tables, sofas, toilets, ovens—invest in durability. Research and try before you buy to find value purchases that may not be the most expensive options.
#4. Does the look depend on this one choice? If one element defines a room—dramatic curtains, chunky rods, a unique coffee table—splurge on that element and save elsewhere so the overall visual effect succeeds.
That’s our splurge vs. save strategy: prioritize long-term, high-impact items and use sweat equity and thoughtful, low-cost updates to improve livability in the meantime. We try not to splurge on everything, but we’re willing to invest in choices we won’t regret. What patterns have you noticed in your projects—where do you splurge and where do you save? Balancing both approaches can lead to a home that feels great now and stands up over time.