Like a relationship, a home remodeling project is the most fun in its earliest stages. You get to pin inspiration photos to your heart's content, your brain is filled with all sorts of grandiose design ideas, and you study catalogs, jotting down minor details like the virtues of brass versus nickel versus copper faucets.

Then the word "budget" rears its ugly head. Soon, your dreams of high-end countertops and high-tech appliances come crashing down, as you mull over labor costs and not-so-exciting project elements like electricity and plumbing. Even if you can afford to turn your design vision into a reality, it's still a puzzle trying to work out how much to allocate for the dizzying array of costs that accompany kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects.

First, give your kitchen and bathroom a deep clean to help determine what kind of updates you’d like to make. Scour the floors, clean the grout and re-caulk the tub and shower area, remove rust from metal fixtures, and wipe away grime and soap scum. With a spotless kitchen and bathroom, you’ll be able to see clearly where you need updates. Does the metal light fixture still look dingy even after removing rust? Are the brushed bronze plumbing fixtures outdated?

Next, determine how much you can afford to spend on your remodel to determine the extent of the changes you can make. If your budget is on the low end (i.e. $1,000 or less), you’ll want to stick to cosmetic changes, such as new fixtures or a new sink, and new paint. Pacific Bay’s Lynden faucets are perfect for budget-conscious remodelers. With this line you can replace both your kitchen and bathroom fixtures for less than $40. If you have more to spend, you can focus on larger changes, such as adding tile, a bigger shower, or a window. Again, it all depends on your budget.

Figuring out your budget and then deciding where to spend your money is the best way to start a remodel project. The remodel can happen in stages as money allows. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!