How Much Does It Cost to Renovate A Bare 50sqm Condo Unit?

Anyone who has worked on a makeover project can tell you that it generally costs around P15,000 to P20,000 per square meter to renovate a given space. This amount covers construction, furniture and accessorizing, and in some cases a design fee can be part of that budget as well. Keep in mind that this amount varies depending on the specific style or look you're going for, the quality of materials, your chosen appliances and furniture, and which designer or contractor you're planning to hire, to name a few. If you're looking at a mid-range renovation—may it be your first, second, or third, this is a good budget to set and follow. Using existing interior finishes, appliances, and furniture can help you reduce renovation costs. After all, not everything has to be brand new! Consider bringing in existing items like your well-loved TV set, perhaps?

In renovating our condo unit, I wasn't looking at spending so much. But even before my husband and I bought the space, I knew that it had to be done because no amount of DIYs, repainting and styling will be enough to maximize the potential of the small 50sqm space. The layout of the unit was a good rectangular shape with areas (kitchen, bath, bedroom, and laundry) branching out. I knew I wanted three things out of it: a home office, a bigger bathroom, and a walk-in closet. As an interior designer, I had no problems with space planning, but things like tearing down and moving walls, changing the kitchen completely, transferring door openings and swings, not to mention the intense electrical works—these entailed professional help. Some homeowners would opt to manage workers on their own, but the logistics of it is tough so I just went and got a trusted contractor.