When one thinks of home renovations, hordes of hammer-wielding carpenters come to mind, installing granite countertops, new cabinetry, contemporary bathroom fixtures and the like. While this is one way to undertake a renovation, there are many things you can do to freshen the look of your home without spending a ton of cash.
Here are six budget-friendly home renovation tips to add to your list.
Paint Your Walls (or a Wall)
Few actions have as much of a revitalization effect upon a room as painting the walls. If you initially went bright white as a default to be on the safe side, it’s time to look at the colors in the room and change the walls to complement what you have, or contrast with it. When most people consider painting, they think they must do the entire room, but sometimes all you need to do is an accent wall in a contrasting color or the ceiling to brighten a room.
Rearrange Your Furniture
Changing things up will give you a brand-new perspective on your rooms. You’ll see your room from a completely different angle, just by repositioning your sofa, coffee table and end tables. Sure, you set your furniture on a configuration when you moved in because it seemed logical, but experimenting with a different placement to change the floor plan can give the room a fresh new feel.
Wrap Your Kitchen Appliances
Coveting the look of stainless steel appliances, but your budget is resisting the changeover to all new units? Apply peel and stick contact paper with a stainless-steel finish to your refrigerator, stove, oven and dishwasher. It’s easy to do, affordable and if applied carefully, looks just like the outré expensive real thing.
Check with Your Insurer
If you’re looking to effect cost saving renovations, you might find certain changes will lower your insurance premiums. New wiring doesn’t start fires, new furnaces don’t malfunction and new pipes don’t leak. While these changes might cost more up front, they’ll save you money in the long run with more affordable insurance. To find out just how much you could save, take a look online and make some comparisons to be certain you have the best homeowner’s insurance to keep your home safe and your wallet happy.
Change Lighting Fixtures and Switch Plates
A well-chosen chandelier will create a handsome new focal point in a room. New lamps will do the same. In fact, lamps are one of the most overlooked accessories when it comes to budget-friendly home renovations, even though they are a room’s jewelry. Switch plates and the area of the walls right around them tend to become discolored over time from the oils in our skin. New ones are cheap and easy to install. Doing so and repainting the soiled sections around them will brighten a room considerably.
Change Cabinet Doors and Pulls
One of the most prominent aspects of your kitchen, next to your appliances, the cabinetry dominates the look of the room. Often people think they need to replace the cabinets completely to get a new look. However, the doors are primarily what you see and they’re easy to replace. Plus, it’s a lot more affordable than changing out the entire cabinet system. While you’re at it, get them some chic new handles to further the renovation.
You can undertake these five budget-friendly home renovations simultaneously for a moderate amount of money to transform the look of your home. Give them some consideration before undertaking more costly alternatives.