Renovation budgets almost always stretch further than expected — and not in a good way. If you’re facing tough choices about finishes, fixtures, or where to spend vs. save, this guide will help you make smart compromises without losing sight of your dream home.

This post is for you if you are embarking on a renovation and will be living at the house for some or all of the project. It’s inspired both by clients and friends who are doing major renovation work whilst living in the building site. I'll also be keeping all of this advice in my own back pocket for when we eventually do our renovation too.