10 Easy & Inexpensive DIY Updates to Improve your Home on a Budget
Looking to improve your home but the budget is tight? Thinking about selling but don’t want to spend a ton to fix it up before you move out? No problem!
While a major renovation may not be feasible, that does not mean that you can’t improve the look and feel of your home, without breaking the bank.
These 10 budget friendly updates will bring you the most bang for your buck when it comes to home improvement.
Continue reading to learn about the most impactful ways to achieve a beautiful home for less.
1. Paint
Hands down, the number one update that you can do for huge impact on a minimal budget in your home is to paint. It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can completely elevate the overall look and feel of a space.
If you are moving into a “fixer upper” with intense bright colors on the walls, painting is an obvious choice. But I often feel that painting is overlooked when it comes to just kind of “ok” walls.
Those tan-ish walls that someone else chose and has seen better days but “it’ll do”.
A fresh coat of paint covers up all the old dings, scratches and fading colors, and can also bring a more contemporary feel to your space.
When in doubt, neutral colors are always a good choice, and the warmer tones are currently having their moment in the spotlight as they bring a sense of comfort and relaxation to a space.
We all need that right about now!
When buying paint, especially for a large space, it’s always worth it to go with the higher coverage option.
Trust me: I’ve made this mistake.
I figured I would purchase the less expensive paint and “no big deal; I’ll just do two coats”.
But completing that second coat meant that I had to purchase a second can of paint because it wasn’t enough paint for the size of the room.
So instead of spending $40 on the guaranteed coverage, I spend $60 because I needed two $30 cans.
AND I still had to do two coats, so it took about twice the amount of time.
Save yourself the time, money, extra trips to the store and the headache and just purchase the good stuff right off the bat.
You will thank yourself later.
2. Update or Replace Old Cabinet Hardware
There’s nothing that will make cabinets look more outdated than old hardware. Swap out that old pull for a fresh new knob!
They only cost a few bucks each and it can make a huge difference, even for older cabinets.
I LOVE that wood cabinets are coming back because that’s totally my jam. BUT some wood cabinets can look incredibly outdated. If you simply add a contemporary knob, you can really uplift the overall look, without the expense of new cabinets.
I always recommend shopping locally first and supporting small business.
That being said, I did buy these beautiful champagne bronze handles from home depot for our DIY MDF cabinet door project. They look SO beautiful and give the simple DIY project the touch of vintage that I love.
You can also find great deals on Amazon for inexpensive cabinet hardware.
You could also simply spray paint your old hardware for a fresh look that will only run you the cost of the can of paint (usually around $8).
3. Peel and Stick Tiles
I know, I know. Peel and stick tiles are not actual tiles and no one will ever think otherwise.
Going back just a few years, they were made very cheaply and looked it. However, the technology of this product continues to evolve, and the current peel and stick tiles are seriously impressive.
Check out our peel and stick floors, for example.
I never thought I would ever put peel and stick floors in my home, but there they are. And they are SUCH an improvement over what was there previously.
If you have a space that you are looking to update but are not ready to spend a whole bunch of money on, this is a fantastic way to update.
You can find tiles for your kitchen backsplash, floors, bathroom, you name it!
They are an easy to install, inexpensive update that can be completed in just a few hours (depending on the size of your space).
4. Remove Old Carpet
Carpet, while it can be new, clean, soft and lush, can also be ugly, stained and tattered.
The later does nothing for your home improvement goals.
The (usually) easiest and cheapest thing to do is borrow or rent a steam cleaner and clean them. They’ll look and feel SO MUCH BETTER and will only cost you a few bucks.
BUT if the carpets are that much past repair, I say rip them up!
….Ok, this one, as far as budget goes, depends on what you have underneath the carpet.
If you are lucky enough to have beautifully protected wood floors under the carpet, easy! It’s just a simple weekend DIY of taking up the carpet and making sure you remove all the staples.
However, if you have older floors, you may have to sand them down. This costs some money. Or you may not have anything but a subfloor under the carpet, in which case you will have to lay something down on top of it, which also costs money.
(Peel and stick tiles are a great option in this case!)
It’s a good idea to find out what is under your carpet first so you can make an educated decision on whether or not to rip them up.
In a closet or an unnoticeable corner, or if you have some of the carpet already coming up in an area, pull it back and give yourself a peek underneath the carpet to see what’s there before removing it.
We had really old, dingy, stained and smelly WHITE carpets in our bedroom when we moved in. Our first project was ripping up that carpet.
Underneath was cool cork flooring, but it was also stained and in really bad shape. So we simply used deck paint to paint it and that lasted quite a few years before we it was time to update it with the peel and stick tiles.
5. Remove Popcorn Ceilings
While they were super cool a few decades ago, popcorn ceilings can really make a room look dated.
They also hang onto cobwebs and if you’ve ever had an issue with your roof, any cracks or stains look especially pronounced with this material.
Scraping down the popcorn ceiling can really make a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of your space.
While this process can be time consuming and will create a mess, it is totally worth it to take a weekend to scrape those popcorns down.
6. Update Old Light Fixtures and Fans
Do you have one of those ugly old wood and brass fans? How about some rusted light fixtures?
It can be expensive to replace these items, especially for something that you really love. This can run you several hundred dollars, just for one fan light!
However, you can paint just about anything and this goes for your light fixtures too!
Check out how to update your our old fan with paint here.
7. Maximize storage
Nothing makes a home look more cramped and cluttered than items stacked up in a corner.
Having all your items tucked away in storage so that only furniture, plants or rugs live on the floor is so important to you overall décor.
Think about it! If you look at a picture of a space you love, there isn’t an old Tupperware storage container in the corner! Get that old clutter out of your living room and put it away!
Now, I get it. If you don’t have enough storage space this can be an extremely difficult task. But there are a few options:
Marie Kondo it.
If the item no longer sparks joy, you do not need it. Send it off into the universe for someone else to love.
Give it to a friend, donate or even sell it. You’ll be surprised what you can make from some of your old items laying around on sites like eBay.
Optimize your storage space.
It is a fact that many apartments and older homes come with minimal closet or storage space. BUT it is important to optimize that space so you can fit more of your items while staying organized so you can actually find your stuff.
There are awesome closet systems out there that can help you stay organized, you could build your own DIY system, or just utilize inexpensive storage drawers inside your closet to fit the most amount of items.
Add more storage options.
Just because you don’t have a closet, doesn’t mean you can’t create beautiful storage.
For example, IKEA sells very inexpensive shelving units that easily fit in with many different décor situations.
You could add a storage bench that doubles as entryway seating, or how about adding a dresser or buffet with lots of extra storage as a TV stand. Some couches even come with built in storage under the seat.
Get creative but get those items off the floor! You will enjoy your space so much more.
8. Tidy up the Garden
I would be remiss if I did not speak about the outside of your house. It is the very first thing you and your guests and neighbors see when arriving at your home and it should give off a peaceful feeling.
Having overgrown grass and weeds can really make a beautiful home feel messy and chaotic.
You do not have to be an expert gardener or even pay a landscaper to create a beautiful yard. Simply tidying up by cutting the grass regularly, weeding and pruning overgrown trees and shrubs can go a long way.
If you are interested in further tips on growing your garden, check out our post on how to create your dream garden on a budget.
9. Bring Plants Inside
While we’re speaking about the garden, bringing some of that greenery inside brings a new life to your home, as well as other benefits such as purifying the air!
Houseplants create beautiful neutral accents that work with any décor style, are inexpensive, and if taken care of properly, can last for years.
They are an incredibly simple way to spruce up your home without spending a lot of money.
Some great options for beginners include peace lily, aloe, ZZ plant, pathos and snake plant.
Bringing fresh flowers inside also creates massive impact for the overall look and feel of your home. You can grow these yourself or pick them up locally for just a few bucks.
10. Update Old Faucets
What they say is true: kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. So updating these areas will give you the most bang for your buck when it comes to home improvement.
Those old, leaky, too-small faucets can really date a home, and is often one of those updates that is overlooked. Swapping them out for new ones will improve not only the look but also the efficiency of your home.
Today you can easily find a beautiful faucet that is tall and doesn’t hinder you when trying to wash your dishes, without spending an arm and a leg. They also come in an array of finishes, so you can find one to perfectly match the look of your home.
This simple switch can be done by any DIYer, but if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you could have a plumber switch it out for you.
An alternative to purchasing new fixtures is to simply spray paint them for an updated look. While this will not improve the efficiency of the fixture, spray paint is easy, inexpensive, and will give a fresh look to that old faucet.
Recap.
These 10 easy and inexpensive updates prove that you don’t have to break the bank when trying to update your home.
Even on a budget, you can create a beautiful home by stretching your dollar and putting in some sweat equity.
Remember the 10 simple DIY’s:
- paint
- update old hardware
- peel and stick tile
- remove old carpet
- remove popcorn ceilings
- update old light fixtures and fans
- maximize storage
- tidy the garden
- bring plants inside
- update old faucets
A few bonus budget-friendly updates include:
- Updating your furniture (paint, new fabric or DIY pillow covers is a great way to do this!)
- Hang your curtains high above the window so they go from floor to ceiling, making the room look bigger
- Hide eyesores, including your pet items (check out our DIY litter box furniture and get rid of those ugly scratching trees with our kitty jungle gym!
Questions? We’re here!
Leave a comment below and tell us which of these tips you’re excited to try
OR share with us your favorite inexpensive home update
Let’s learn from each other as we continue to update the “worst on the block”
