Learn how to balance your budget and set priorities to get the home features you want with the least compromise

Planning a remodel is always a financial balancing act, no matter the budget. Chances are, you’ll need to scrimp a little (or a lot) to make room in the budget for the things that are most important to you. But how do you make those decisions?

While setting a remodeling budget is a very personal endeavor, it can help to get a big-picture view from someone who does this stuff for a living. We caught up with the Best of Houzz pros at Bill Fry Construction for their take on the subject.

New project for a new year: Get the closet you’ve always wanted, starting with all the info here

If you’ve ever feuded with a spouse over hanger space or drawers, or turned your house upside down trying to find the summer clothes you stashed last fall, you might be a prime candidate for a closet conversion.

Turning a spare room into a walk-in closet is not a huge task, and it can reap instant rewards. “People want all their stuff in one space,” says Angel Martin, co-owner and senior design consultant at Affordable Closets Plus in Bangor, Pennsylvania. Martin’s firm is one of countless companies that will quiz you on your needs, measure your space and install a spacious walk-in closet in what was once a spare bedroom, a nursery or that home gym you swore you’d use but somehow never did.

You can also opt to do the project yourself, using materials from a hardware or home improvement store. Which method you choose will depend on your needs, your budget and the kind of look you want to achieve.

New project for a new year: Bring your fireplace design up to snuff with this makeover lowdown

The fireplace is often the most commanding element in any room it’s in. Size and abundance of material are often factors, but as renovation specialist Ron Parko points out, our eyes are naturally drawn to the darkest object in a room anyway. Oftentimes, that’s the firebox when it’s unlit.

Naturally you want this element, and everything that surrounds it, to complement the rest of your home. In many older homes where large brick fireplaces prevail, this can pose a challenge. What do you do? Cover it, paint it, rip it out? Here’s what to consider.