How Sydney couple saved thousands on their one-bedroom apartment renovation

We all have our Pinterest mood boards and Instagram saved folders ready to go for when we decide to take the leap and renovate our homes.

But a little thing called money means it's not always possible to create the home of your dreams.

When Sydney couple Jennifer Kang and Andrew Lee renovated the one-bedroom, one-study apartment they'd bought in Sydney's Lower North Shore, they managed to slash thousands of dollars from their budget with a few simple changes that didn't compromise their overall aesthetic and the quality of the work.

Can't afford expensive art? Try framing a blanket! Don't have enough money to completely overhaul your bathroom? Try re-grouting and see what a difference that makes.

Here, Jennifer shares the things she learned along the way that helped keep costs down during her renovation.

RELATED: Sydney couple completely transforms one-bedroom apartment with dreamy results

How to save in the bathroom:

"We were quoted about $3,800 for tiling our bathroom and laundry (installation only — not the cost of the tiles themselves, which can vary). Instead we went with extensive re-grouting for $1,800: we got our bathroom and laundry re-grouted and sealed, two balconies with outdoor tiles partially re-grouted and sealed and our new kitchen tiles sealed."

How to save in the kitchen:

"Our builder advised we'd be saving up to $5,000 on the supply and installation of Caesarstone by going with laminate benchtops in our kitchen. Especially due to the size of our kitchen island, which includes an overhang for dining, and the modern, thick concrete style we were after. Also remember, stone has a longer lead time."

How to save on joinery:

"We also did our research with joiners. We had a joiner quote us $12,500 for our TV cabinet and L-shaped bench/storage unit, which we couldn't afford. He also had a longer lead time, which wasn't ideal for us as we were moving out of our rental. Nick from All Smarts Kitchens and Custom Joinery quoted us $8,950 with a pretty quick lead time and without compromising on quality — features like soft-close European hinges all included."

How to save on carpet:

"We ended up paying about $3,500 for our wool carpet, but could have easily saved on this cost by going synthetic."

How to save on art by being creative:

"It's actually a framed blanket ("Snake Eyes" wall art from Jardan, now sold out) — and a lot cheaper than getting a painting, or even a fancy print. I bought it from Jardan while they were having a sale on blankets. We had it framed without glass to save, but also to keep the knitted detail visible."

How to subtly add more storage:

"Despite having ample wardrobe and storage space, we have way too many clothes. We passed on a bulky tallboy and instead went for a really narrow mirrored bathroom cabinet from IKEA (LILLÅNGEN High cabinet with mirror door) to store easy-to-fold pieces like tees and activewear. The mirrored surface blended right in, too. Soon we'll get around to gap-filling the edges so it melts right into the wall."

How to save on stunning statement pieces:

"You can buy these on House of Orange (they have great flash sales, FYI), or spot the same pieces on their brand outlet Instagram page called @dutchdesignbrandoutlet. The outlet piece might come with a couple of imperfections, but nothing you can't fix easily or cover up."

How to save on custom-made pieces:

"Yes, the desk is a custom-made stone piece, but surprise — it wasn't expensive. I wanted a similar piece that was $1,300 (excluding delivery) but Danny at @welddone_, who operates out of his home, made it for us for $900, including delivery. The best part is we can pull it out and use it as a bistro table for breakfast or tea, or use it as a desk. The custom measurements work so well for a smaller space like a study."