Whether you want to increase the value of your home or just give it a functional upgrade; there are a host of cost-effective ways to do it. From giving the kitchen a makeover to tinkering with the appeal of the living room and from tweaking overall interior decor to leveling up outdoor appeal, you can do it all well within the budget if you know the right ways to do it. Check out a few suggestions below:
Paint Your Cabinets
You don’t need to redo the kitchen to make it new—freshening up your cabinets can do this! Replacing cabinets is an expensive proposition unless, of course, they are broken or damaged beyond repair. Otherwise, you can simply paint the cabinets to make your kitchen look graceful and new. Some pointers to note:
- Preparation is the key – Before even thinking about painting, you need to make sure there’s a clean and even surface to paint over.
- To start with cleaning, spray a degreaser onto a cloth. Wipe all cabinet surfaces with it to remove any excess oil and grease.
- Next, it’s important to sand the wood. You can do this with sandpaper bought at a local homeware shop. Sand until the surface is smooth.
- Prime – Using a good quality primer paint will ensure the paint you put on top is less likely to flake away and lasts longer.
- Finally, painting – Choose a color that compliments your kitchen, and you’re ready to go!
Invest In a Stair Runner
If your staircase has begun to look a bit tired, a stair runner will give it that missing wow. At the onset, the idea of installing a stair runner may seem intimidating, but the heartening thing is that adding a runner is pretty effortless. In addition to making the stairs look better, there are several practical positives to fitting a stair runner:
- Increased comfort – A stair runner will be softer on your joints than concrete or a hardwood floor when you’re running up and down the stairs.
- It’ll make the steps less noisy.
- It also provides more grip on the stairs—so if you have children who’re rushing up and down, it’s a lot safer.
- And of course, it looks beautiful, we can’t stress this enough.
Add a Statement Color to Your Ceiling
Adding color to the fifth wall that often goes unnoticed can jazz up the room with minimum effort, time, and money. You won’t want to paint the ceiling of every room, but if you want to make a statement in one of the rooms, this is an effective way to do it.
- It’s as cheap as you want it to be. Spend what you want on paint, and it’s easy to DIY (it’s okay to spill some paint on the floor, you cannot really defy gravity).
- If you’re not up for it, you can pay a decorator to come and paint for you.
- It can add a pop of color to a room that looks tired, really bringing it to life.
- It will give the room of your choice a unique and luxurious feel. It’s bound to wow guests or buyers.
Plants Are Your Friends, Add Them to Décor
If you have some space vacant at home, adding slight green to it will do you no harm. Certain houseplants are air purifying, therefore, they are healthy for your home environment. Even if you don’t have floor space, try indoor vertical gardening but have plants at home, since they bring the outdoors in all year round. Even on a dull, rainy day, your home will have a tropical feel to it.
- Succulents, Aloe plants, Peace Lily, Bamboo palms, and Golden Pothos are some good addition indoors.
- Plants instantly freshen up space and make you feel livelier and happier.
- In addition to making your living space look more inviting and luxurious, indoor plants also make your home’s air healthier.
- Homes with plants indoors are better for the elderly, children, and pets.
- If you’re low on space, you can even hang the plants. Hanging plants make interiors pop. And since it is unexpected, it adds freshness to your decor.
Go Shabby-Chic
If worn furniture, antique look, and pastel hues define you—shabby-chic is your style. Shabby-chic style of décor is a timeless trend that never goes out of fashion, and it can be both affordable and classy as long as you do it right.
- If you can’t afford to buy new furniture, give your old ones a makeover by painting them.
- Old dining tables and chairs/chest of drawers look great painted.
- You can’t go wrong with pastel colors. Creams and gray are timeless and classy and will give your home a luxurious feel.
- If you really want to commit to the shabby-chic trend, distressing the paint after it dries looks great. Do this by carefully distressing the furniture with sandpaper to give it this overall effect.
Think Thriftily and Upcycle
Always think thriftily and upcycle what you already have at home. A perfect example would be some old wooden ladders that you have lying in the shed. Sand them, paint them, and voilà, you have a new and entirely unique set of shelves. They work especially well for book and DVD storage.
- Do you buy your fruit and/or wine in bulk, or know a shop that would donate you a crate? Crates are great for both storage and furniture. They’re bang on trend with the whole rustic/shabby-chic vibe, too, which is great.
- If you have some prints that need to be framed, buy your frames from charity shops and decorate/paint them yourself.
- With some fine DIY skills and slight chopping and trimming you can turn an old bathtub into a chair or lounger for your living space.
- By removing the guts of an old tennis racket and fitting in a mirror instead, you can have a trendy mirror for the bathroom.
- Upcycle old tires into charming and colorful garden planters by simply painting them modishly and placing them in the garden or along the pathway.
Accessorize, it’s a Fun Way to Liven up
Adding fresh accessories to your home is another way of transforming what you already have cost-effectively. You don’t need to go overboard spending on expensive wall decor or furnishing.
- A new doormat will brighten up your doorway.
- Curtains can really change a room – Add a pop of color to a room, or alternatively go down the net curtain. A top tip to get the most out of your net curtains is to hang fairy lights behind them for a cozy and magical effect.
- New throws and cushion covers will liven up a tired sofa.
- A quirky rug can give the room a nice lift-up.
Sometimes, your home doesn’t look as new as it should or as trendy as it can be. You can not afford it, especially if you’re looking for buyers for it. Chances are it’s the reason your home isn’t selling quickly. It may require a bit of DIY, but it is absolutely possible and easy to upgrade your home on a budget and make a stark difference to the appearance without spending much.
Add Flair to Decor and Interior Design
Revamping your home decor doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Simple updates such as a fresh coat of paint, new carpet, or new flooring can do wonders in brightening up any room. Grab some fun curtains or blinds and give your space an interior design uplift in no time.
Of course, furniture can also make a difference when transforming a living space. If you have unused rooms, consider converting them into practical living spaces like a cozy home office or a library. Adding closet organizers or bookshelves will not only spruce up the look but also declutter your home and create more storage space.
Enhance outdoor appeal
Enhancing your outdoor space can easily boost the appeal and value of your home. Whether you have a small or large area, there are various ways to elevate it, such as:
- Planting flowers and shrubs by the walkways.
- Adding a shed or garden studio.
- Upgrading your exterior walls, front door, garage doors, and windows.
- Investing in landscaping.
- Repair and paint windows.
- Build an in-ground fire pit.
These simple improvements not only impress visitors but also increase the value of your home.
Create More Storage Space
If you’re searching for the perfect way to add an extra touch of value and practicality to your home, floating shelves could be what you need. Since they take up overhead or vertical space, they are great for adding a generous amount of storage to your space. Also, they won’t be taking up floor space either – so it’s a win-win. In addition, they can be used for a wide range of purposes from bookshelves to toy racks or to displaying artwork and photos.
Transform Spare Space Into Granny Flat
Converting a little extra space into a granny flat could be the perfect way to upgrade your home without the hassle of planning permission. Not only would it add definite value to your property, it could also mean an income stream, should you choose to rent it out. If you want to make sure you get the most out of it, be sure to include amenities. These include a kitchen, bathroom, and private entry – that way, and you’ll make sure your granny flat is worth its weight in gold.
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