Look I’m not one to splurge on anything even home essentials. I would (obviously) use that extra money to buy a plane ticket or Airbnb somewhere cool. However, one thing I’ve learned as I get older is that there are certain items you should definitely spend that little extra money on and splurge.
As we move through these insane renovations I’ve learned so many things along the way. For starters, how to lay floor, how to frame a door, all of the complicated pieces to building a kitchen, to name a few. As difficult as the process has been, it’s been also incredibly rewarding. There’s nothing like seeing work you’ve done yourself and appreciating it. I’ll be honest though, Ben is doing most of the work and I just Instagram about it!
All that being said, we’ve also had to make some tough decisions along the way about what we splurge on and where we can save a bit of money. It’s the age-old saying you get what you paid for. The question is, where is that okay and where is that a bad idea?
While I still don’t think I’m any kind of expert, these are all of my opinions from hours and hours of research, talking to others or simply learning the hard way.
| Mattress |
Who knew sleep was so important? Okay, I obviously did but I think we massively underestimated how much your sleep is affected by what you actually sleep on. Before we could move into our home we were sleeping on a pull-out couch, for 5 months. Yeah, we know. Stupidly when we moved out of our last place we threw out our mattress. Part of that was laziness, the other part was forcing ourselves to get something new. The problem was, we underestimated how little money we would have left when we moved in.
We were desperate for something to sleep on and so we bought a box spring and a very small foam overlayer. For me, it worked okay but for Ben, who’s slightly heavier than me, he basically slept on wood for 1 month. Not having solid sleeps really affected our moods so we finally made the decision to buy a proper mattress.
I had heard a lot of amazing things about the Endy mattress. For starters, it was super easy. The company shipped the mattress and pillows right to our house in an easy-to-move box. Within 15 minutes we had the bed upstairs, unrolled, and bed made. I couldn’t believe it.
We’ve now been sleeping on the mattress for 2 weeks and I can’t even explain the difference in my sleeping patterns and mood. For the first time in 7 months, I wake up feeling refreshed and like I actually slept! We both find the Endy mattress to be that perfect combination of soft but firm. It fits our Queen size bed perfectly and its height is amazing.
The best decision we made was splurging on a mattress!
| Windows |
It’s funny because being a homeowner now, I find myself walking past homes getting ideas of things we want and need. Windows are a big one. I actually never knew how important windows were until we took possession of the house. It’s actually crazy how much heat or cool air can be lost through a window. God, I sound so boring these days.
The best part is the government now has initiatives in place that will give you some money back if you purchase windows that are energy efficient. You can hardly argue with money back can you?
Windows are also really hard to replace and can be quite costly so if you’re going to be replacing them at all, spend the little extra to get ones that will last you a while. There’s no point putting something in there that you’ll have to replace in a few years is there?
| Showerhead |
This might seem like the most random one of all but hear me out. This was actually one of the places I thought we could get away with spending a little bit less than we were until our plumber piped up. He said a number of times to spend a little bit more on a showerhead and faucet. Mostly because they are pain in the ass to replace but also because you want to enjoy your shower.
I can’t say I regret it for one minute. Honestly, having a shower in our bathroom now is something I look forward to. The pressure is perfect, it looks nice and we know that it will last us a long time. When comparing the cost of a more premium showerhead compared to all of your windows it might seem menial but it’s one that matters.
| Lighting |
This is one of the home essentials that we haven’t actually purchased yet but when the time comes I know we will purchase something a little above budget. It may not seem that important but a good statement piece in a room can really make a difference. The only problem is what to choose! I’d love a beautiful chandelier for the bedroom and an intense statement piece over the dining room table.
The other thing that we splurged on and I’m obsessed with is a smart lightbulb. We only have one for the bedroom but it’s an absolute lifesaver. I can be in bed and turn off the light from my phone. No more arguments about who’s getting up to turn off the lights! I’d say that’s worth the extra little bit of money.
| Big ticket items |
Seeing as we bought a SUPER old home (celebrating its 100 year birthday next year) we’ve had to replace basically everything in this damn house. I seriously mean everything. Some of the bigger items have been a huge pain in the ass but it will be totally worth having them in the end.
After speaking with professionals we were told that we would be very smart to buy a good (and high end) furnace as well as a water tank. It’s hard to spend so much money on those two things because they don’t exactly make the room look beautiful but hell, it keeps us warm and clean so how can I complain?
If you’re in the market of upgrading any of these items make sure to look for deals. Flyers can be super annoying but I actually love them now as we go through renovations because there are so many helpful sales inside. You just never know!
There you have it, the home essentials we would definitely recommend splurging on and spending that little bit of extra money. It’s worth it in the end!
