When we bought our current house, it needed a lot of work as the previous owner had not updated for a long time and some of her newer décors were mismatched with older décor that hadn’t been updated since the 80s. There wasn’t much of a theme and it didn’t fit our personal tastes. Luckily, we were renting at the time so we had time to bring it back to basics and put our stamp on it.
If you have just moved to your new home or just want some ideas, please check out these inexpensive and easy ways to update your home. You can make big changes with small efforts and very little time!
Add Plenty of Light
Is your room too dark and needs some natural light? Why not install sun/roof tunnels and let the natural light flood into all corners of your house? With extra natural light, it lifts a room and helps make it look bigger.
Maybe add new light fixtures throughout the whole house or just one room, depending on your budget. You can even get clip-on light fixtures instead of hiring an electrician to fix them for you! Simply add any contemporary LED light fixtures to allow bright beams of light to diffuse throughout your home. Or accessorise with lights in your bedroom and around your bed/photo frames to change the mood.
If you have blackout blinds that block out too much light, swap them out for ones that let some light in. Trim back big trees that have overgrown outside the windows or clear all the decorations or accessories around the window areas to allow more light in.
Paint Paint Paint
First impressions always count. So what is the first thing you see when you come home? Your door! If your door is too tacky or beyond repair, then change the whole door. There are so many designs and colours to choose from. If you have a fairly new door, why not freshen it up with a fresh coat of paint! You can always buy test pots to try it out and ask your family or friends for their opinions. You can also add a new doorknob or knocker as they can have just as much impact! With a colourful front door, it will look eye-catching and inviting for the entire house!
Boring white uPVC windows? Why not spray paint them in grey to add an instant wow factor? And update those brass window handles to smart chrome handles to uplift the look of your windows.
Lots of tired-looking kitchen cupboards or vanity units? A fresh coat of paint is the easiest path to a quick refresh! This is what I did last year, where I painted my master bedroom’s toilet units into royal blue. You can also replace the handles to suit the new look. Vintage or contemporary? Your choice.
Boring kitchen tiles? Paint it. Yes, you can simply paint over ceramic tiles with tile paint for a quick and beautiful fix. You can also paint the grout white for minimal cost yet maximum impact.
I have also painted our original porch brick walls into white which helped give an uplifting new look. Now it is so bright and welcoming each time we enter our home. You can create a statement wall in your living room. Give the wall a fresh coat of bright or unusual colour to transform the look!
Another room you can paint is the garage floor. Get rid of the generic grey looking floor and turn it into a bright and beautiful looking floor. Also, don’t forget any outdoor decking if you have it!
Change Your Wall/Switch Plates
Updating your wall/switch plates shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. It is relatively easy to change, but if you are not confident, then hire an electrician to change it for you. You can even get the latest wall plates with USB ports. It will make a big impact.
I hope I have offered you some general yet practical tips for upgrading your home. Do share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.