Spend or Save: Which Rooms are Most Important
Which rooms to focus on? It’s not only about budget allocation - it’s also about where to focus design energy, where to create something special and where you can keep it more simple. If you are limited by budget, which in most cases we are, it’s also very important to allocate budget correctly between your most important rooms in the house. We are sharing how we prioritise both budgeting and focus, room-by-room.
Generally, as a rule of thumb - our focus in terms of budget goes on permanent fixtures rather than styling items. Styling items will change over time, however permanent fixtures will be a much longer-term investment. This is why kitchens and bathrooms are so important.
1. Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home - it is by far the most important room in the house and generally the most expensive to build or renovate.
A kitchen should be designed around the users needs - is it a family home, a holiday home, an entertainers home etc. The kitchen will also include pantry or butlers pantry.
The kitchen incurs some significant costs such as cabinetry, plumbing and appliances.
Expect to spend between $50-100k to renovate or build a kitchen depending on the size and scope.
2. Master Ensuite
A space to retreat, to unwind and relax - a sanctuary in the home, specifically for (generally speaking) the homeowners. As such, we prioritise the Master Ensuite and create something special, specific to the users needs.
A bathroom is also a higher cost room to renovate or build - due to plumbing, tiles, baths/sinks, & tapware.
3. Lounge Room
The lounge room is another central communal space - it’s a space for both family and guests to enjoy. While this room is often about furnishings and styling, there are opportunities, if your budget allows, to include various design elements to elevate the room including fireplaces, built in and custom furniture.
4. Dining
The importance of the dining room is less about budget and more about how the space is used. This is a space to share a meal with loved ones so we believe it deserves thought and planning in order to create an inviting & comfortable room.
Some things to consider in this space - natural light, size & shape of the dining table (can this be suited to intimate meals as well as larger affairs) and comfort of the table/chairs.
5. Master Bedroom
This one speaks for itself - the Master Bedroom is generally for the home-owner and is an expression of the user. While furniture & soft furnishings are important in this space, we focus on a design element that makes the room feel truly special for the client. Lighting sources are very important to consider as it affects the ambience of the room.
A wardrobe is another important feature to consider in terms of allocation of space, cabinetry and functionality.
6. Powder Room
This is a room both guests and the family use. It is a space that needs careful thought and planning as it is generally quite small, yet needs to function well and tie into the rest of the house design.
Tip: use a cavity sliding door as opposed to a swinging door to save space.
7. Shared Bathroom
This ranking is not so much about budget, because a bathroom will be a significant cost, this is more about design energy - a shared bathroom is often a space used by multiple people, its less personal and is often used by kids and guests. So this is the reason we are less precious about the shared bathroom as opposed to other spaces in the home. It should be functional and meet the needs of the users. A component you can save money on is tiles as there is a lot of budget friendly options available, where as tapware which is important to buy good quality.
8. Kids/Guest Bedrooms
Kids bedrooms are more about the styling and furnishings so they can evolve as children grow. They can be mostly blank canvases that can be suited to the current needs of the home i.e. young children, teenagers retreat, study/office or guest bedrooms.
9. Rumpus Room
Often a secondary lounge room, dedicated to play. This room will need to evolve as needs/use changes so best to limit permanent fixtures in this space.
9. Laundry
This is a utility room, so its use is practical in nature. This is not a room seen or used by guests so you can keep it simple and functional. This room requires cabinetry and plumbing, both of which require careful planning and execution.
If you are interested in our design services and have a potential project that your need help with, please get in touch.
