Take on typical home improvement tasks and give overlooked areas a makeover with inexpensive and uncomplicated updates. You’ll be amazed by the significant difference these adjustments can make to the aesthetics and usability of a room. Experiment with one or more of these affordable small-scale renovations to enhance the appearance and functionality of your home.
1. Boost accessible kitchen storage
No matter the size of your kitchen, having enough storage is always desirable. Utilize unused wall or corner space by installing open shelves to conveniently keep dishes, spices, and commonly used cookware accessible. For those who enjoy hosting, it may be beneficial to attach a wine rack above or below upper cabinets.
2. Embellish the entrance
Why not enhance your curb appeal by incorporating millwork, which brings elegance to various rooms in your house? Extend your indoor style to the outside by incorporating elements that give your exterior a polished appearance. Enhance your front door by framing it with millwork and painting it to match the exterior of your home.
3. Restore shine to a wood floor
Wood is unmatched when it comes to its versatility and warmth as a flooring material. However, continuous exposure to dirt, dust, and heavy foot traffic can give it a worn-out and lackluster appearance. To bring back its shine, use a specialized hardwood floor polish. It is recommended to polish your wooden floor annually and every four to six months in areas with high foot traffic within your home.
4. Give the fireplace a facelift
Transform a dull brick fireplace into a modern masterpiece by applying a new layer of paint. Prior to commencing this home improvement task, ensure to meticulously clean the fireplace in order to remove any accumulated dirt. Apply a primer that prevents the passage of stains to the clean fireplace prior to painting, helping to conceal any residue from soot. For an exquisite and modern appearance, contemplate opting for a high-gloss paint.
5. Try a new hue
By incorporating color, you can easily transform the appearance of your bathroom cabinets. All you require are the appropriate tools, a little time, and a paint color that sparks your creativity. Observe and acquire the expertise to paint cabinets like an expert.
6. Stop clutter at the door
Creating a multi-purpose storage system in the entryway is essential in order to make a positive first impression and maintain organization for drop zone items.
To maintain an organized and welcoming entryway, incorporate furniture that serves multiple purposes, like using a bench as a shoe storage space. Additionally, utilize the appropriate storage solutions such as wall hooks, lockers, and cubbies.
7. Highlight your space with lighting
Achieving an energizing or calming atmosphere within a space can be greatly enhanced by exquisite light fixtures and intelligent designs that facilitate tasks requiring significant visual attention. To effectively illuminate a room, it is advisable to establish different levels of lighting through the use of task, accent, and ambient lighting.
A room’s sophistication can be instantly enhanced by the addition of a captivating pendant, sconce, or chandelier. In this case, a distinctive industrial fixture not only creates a fashionable impression but also delivers a specific light source for the table.
8. Banish closet clutter
Before immediately going to the store to buy new closet organizers, it is important to recognize that there is no universal solution for closet storage. It is necessary to measure the size of your closet space, evaluate the items currently stored inside, and take into account your present as well as future lifestyle.
After determining exactly what should be inside, go to the store and search for methods to optimize the capacity of your closet. Eliminate the unnecessary items to enhance the functionality of the space for both your daily activities and belongings.
9. Add a sink filter
You can enjoy clean, delicious water without occupying your sink or countertop space by using an undersink filter. Additionally, you can effortlessly set up a water filter system without the need to hire a professional. Prior to initiating your task, verify that the undersink area is spacious enough to accommodate the water filter system.
10. Go modular with shelving
If you have limited space in your small home, you can enhance the style and storage capacity of an empty wall with a modular shelving unit. They come in various sizes and designs, making them suitable for almost any available space. Open shelves can be decorated with books and display items to add vibrant charm, while cubbies are ideal for storing baskets, boxes, and bins in a convenient and concealed manner.
11. Accessorize your entrance
Enhance the appearance of your front door with impactful small accessories. Incorporating elements like house numbers, outdoor lighting, and a letterbox can leave a lasting impression and imbue your exterior with a unique character. Coordinating the finishes of these accessories produces a refined look, while the use of eclectic fixtures, such as vintage or upcycled items, can result in a truly distinctive aesthetic.
12. Build your own entry organizer
One can convert a bookcase into a flexible entryway organizer. The most preferable options are bookcases that feature modifiable shelves, allowing one to utilize the space according to their requirements. For instance, incorporating narrow compartments for shoes and an unobstructed section for storing coats.
By strategically placing hooks, you can incorporate more functionality. Whether it’s a basic and affordable bookcase from a chain store or a neglected, old cabinet, both options can serve the purpose. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to enhance the aesthetic appeal using attractive paint and accessories.
13. Have carpets professionally cleaned
Have you recently had your carpets thoroughly cleaned? By investing a small amount of money, you can rejuvenate the appearance of your carpets and enhance your family’s well-being through a professional carpet cleaning service.
Vacuuming on a weekly basis helps eliminate surface-level dirt, dust, and hair; however, engaging a carpet-cleaning service is necessary to get rid of stubborn stains, allergens, dust mites, and grit. It is recommended to commence with the high-humidity regions of your house if you have carpets, as this cleaning process will additionally combat mold and mildew growth. A thorough deep cleaning contributes to the longevity and improved condition of carpets.
14. Add a backsplash for less
Installing a backsplash in a kitchen enhances its charm and provides protection against splashes and spills for walls. Both beaded-board panels and decorative tile backsplashes can be easily installed without professional assistance. Even beginners in remodeling can accomplish this task. Follow our detailed instructions to learn how to tile your own backsplash within a weekend or even less time.
15. Accentuate with crown molding
Trimwork and crown molding serve as decorative accessories for walls, doors, and windows. In merely a weekend, you can completely revamp a room by either replacing existing trim or embellishing your walls for the first time.
Get a full and less expensive makeover for your home by using inexpensive, ready-made moldings from a nearby home improvement center. To achieve a luxurious and personalized appearance, you can overlap sections of crown molding on entryways and ceilings.
15. Paint
Consider painting your entire house or focusing on specific areas such as the trim, interior, or exterior. Another option is to add a touch of style by painting an accent wall indoors. If purchasing new kitchen cabinets is not feasible, opt for painting the existing ones. Remember that proper preparation, such as taping around windows and cutting in around the ceiling, is crucial for painting. Keep this in mind when determining the time required for a particular project.
Using the correct type of paint is crucial, as the longevity of latex paint applied over oil paint, for instance, is compromised. Choosing high-quality brushes also significantly influences the outcome. Prior to purchasing a new brush, conduct some research to ensure it is the appropriate kind. Since good brushes tend to be pricey, it is important to make a wise selection.
16. Change your kitchen or bathroom hardware
Before embarking on this project, ensure that the new hardware is compatible with the current holes to avoid the necessity of filling old ones and creating new ones. This project is remarkably simple and will breathe new life into your kitchen or bathroom.
In order to make sure that the new parts will fit properly, measure the gap between holes for handles and take along an old knob when visiting the home improvement store to compare. Prior to purchasing hardware from a brick-and-mortar store, it’s advisable to conduct an online search as you might stumble upon considerably more affordable prices.
17. Reorganize a closet
You have the option of purchasing a closet-organizing system from either Amazon or a home improvement store and installing it, or alternatively, you can design and assemble your own system using either purchased or pre-existing shelving.
18. Boost your curb appeal
You can either paint your front door or take it a step further by painting all the trim and garage door too. Additionally, consider adding fresh house numbers and a new mailbox. To enhance your curb appeal even further, consider planting new flowers and shrubs. Adding a fresh new doormat can also have a significant impact.
19. Turn a closet into a de facto mudroom
There are numerous houses equipped with hall closets intended for hanging coats. However, this does not solve the issue of having to store backpacks, shoes, sporting gear, and other belongings that your family brings home and leaves at the entrance. One solution to this problem is to remove the doors of the closet and install hooks and shelves, thus creating a space that caters better to your family’s requirements.
If you are without a closet, search for a freestanding entryway unit, which is compact in size yet capable of storing numerous everyday items.
20. Install updated lighting fixtures
Swapping out one chandelier with another of equal size is unexpectedly simple, albeit certain light fixture replacements are better suited for professionals. A simpler undertaking involves replacing all your outlet and switch covers with fresh replacements.
21. Build a stone or brick path outside
You can often get by with just stones and sand in most situations. Search for stones on Craigslist in order to save money on materials.
Consider replacing your shower head.
By using a rain shower head, you can easily transform an ordinary bath into a luxurious spa-like experience, while also reducing water consumption with a more efficient model. Before installing the new shower head, make sure to wrap the threads with plumber’s tape.
23. Add pullouts, shelves and other organizing tools inside your kitchen cabinets
Installing pullout drawers requires a certain level of expertise and specific tools, but you can easily enhance your storage capacity by incorporating wire shelves or a lazy Susan for spices without any skill requirement.
24. Wheel out the pressure washer
You can rent a pressure washer at a hardware store to power wash the exterior of your house, driveway, and walkways. This will effectively eliminate mud, dirt, mold, and any other unpleasant buildup.
25. Do small kitchen updates
Making a significant impact on your kitchen doesn’t necessarily require a complete renovation. Simple steps such as repainting cabinets or installing new doors can yield impressive results. To achieve a polished appearance, ensure you use an appropriate brush. Additionally, consider replacing or upgrading your countertop as another option for rejuvenating your kitchen.
