Looking for easy home improvement projects to tackle around the house? From updating interior paint colors to adding a tiled backsplash in your kitchen, these 21 affordable home makeover ideas can help you create a brand new look in your home on a budget!
Opt for Bold Paint Colors
Photo via @nest_205
Tired of the boring white walls in your home? It’s time for a paint upgrade! What paint color should you choose? You could go with trendy interior colors like pale pink, turquoise, or olive green. Or you could use the color of existing furniture to determine a complementary color that brings balance to the room. Don’t want to go big with paint? You can always add a simple accent wall for a smaller pop of color!
Ditch the Paint for Wallpaper
Photo via @my_graceful_mess
If you don’t want to paint your walls, make a statement with wallpaper! Consider adding bold patterned wallpaper featuring palm leaves, floral motifs, or geometric patterns to a family room, home office, or kids room. Or stick with solid colors and more neutral patterns for a more subtle home improvement update. Looking for a DIY option? Make your own wallpaper by using stencils and your favorite colors!
Include Unique Wall Paneling
Photo via @revivalhomedesigns
An easy and budget-friendly home improvement idea is to upgrade your walls with paneling! Create a rustic look in your kitchen or bathroom by installing shiplap or wooden planks on walls. Or give bedroom, hallway, and living room walls a makeover with wainscoting, board and batten, or beadboard!
Add Crown Molding to Walls
Photo via @ourfrenchmodernhome
Upgrade the look of a plain room by adding crown molding to cover the gap between the walls and ceilings! White crown molding paired with a neutral paint color will give your room a finished look. You can paint or stain crown molding or even use peel-and-stick crown molding for a budget-friendly option!
Spruce Up the Ceiling
Photo via @hgtvconfessions
Don’t forget about improving your ceiling! There are plenty of options for this DIY home interior upgrade. You could add faux wood beams with beadboard or shiplap for a farmhouse-style look in a kitchen or dining room. You could go with surface-mount tile or tin for a more retro feel in a bathroom. Or you can simply paint ceilings with an accent color to create contrast and depth in a bedroom!
Go with New Flooring
Photo via @cloud_interiors
One way to spruce up your home on a budget is to install new floors. For this home makeover idea, think about using sheet vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, or ceramic tile. Sheet vinyl flooring is durable and water-resistant. If you want a look that resembles hardwood, use laminate flooring, which doesn’t fade from exposure to the sun. Or if you want flooring that’s easy to clean, opt for more traditional tile floors!
Glam Up Your Staircase
Photo via @chasingquinndesign
In most homes, the stairwell is the first thing you see when you walk in. So why not give your stairs a fresh new look? Make a bold statement by painting the stairs black and white or with a striped runner. Use patterned wallpaper or peel-and-stick flooring to break up the look of all-white steps. Or swap out an outdated banister with trendy wrought-iron posts, two-toned railing, or dark wood balusters.
Build Hidden Storage into Stairs
Photo via @myrestyleproject
Searching for easy home improvement ideas that can help you get more storage at home? Incorporate under stairs storage! Take advantage of a hollow space or tiny closet under your staircase to build hidden storage cabinets and pull-out drawers that give you more room to store items out of sight!
Swap Out Light Fixtures
Photo via @thetaborhood
Give the rooms of your home a cool new look with upgraded lighting! Add a sparkly chandelier to your dining room or hang industrial-style pendant lights over your kitchen island. Incorporate recessed ceiling lights over your shower or wall sconces around the vanity in your bathroom. Want to put your creative skills to the test? Try designing your own DIY light fixture like mason jar pendant lights or repurposed glass bottle lamps!
Update Worn Down Kitchen Cabinets
Photo via @clearcutandco
Want to improve old kitchen cabinets? Rather than tearing them out, paint existing cabinets a striking color like charcoal or navy to transform the look of your kitchen! Don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen? Painting cabinets white will instantly make your kitchen feel bigger. To finish off the new look, replace old hardware with brushed nickel, gold, silver, or black knobs and handles!
Refresh the Kitchen with a Backsplash
Photo via @beangardn
Need a simple kitchen renovation idea? Add a DIY backsplash! Choose from design options like faux brick, wood laminate panels, subway tile, patterned mosaic tile, and artificial stone to create a backsplash around your sink, under cabinets, and around your oven. Need a more budget-friendly option? Use removable fabric or tile to design a faux backsplash that looks like the real thing!
Install a New Faucet
Photo via @beyond_beige
If you’re looking for basic home improvement projects for updating a bathroom or kitchen, change out the faucet! You could go with a stainless-steel faucet in the kitchen to match appliances, or add a popular brass finish or polished nickel faucet in the bathroom to complement vanity cabinets!
Create a DIY Headboard for Your Bed
Photo via @lillemittalt
A great idea for a bedroom makeover on a budget is to make your own headboard! Build a headboard using reclaimed wood or wood pallets for a rustic feel. Go with a plywood or geometric wood headboard for a more modern look. Want something cozier? Craft your own tufted upholstered headboard!
Repurpose Old Furniture
Photo via @hkwdesign
Have old furniture you don’t know what to do with? With some sanding, a fresh coat of paint, and a little bit of upholstery work, you can repurpose furniture for cool new uses! Transform an old bedroom dresser into a vintage bathroom vanity. Upcycle an old hutch into a spacious kitchen pantry. Use old windows and doors to create a coffee table or a hallway mirror. Or take an old headboard and build a DIY storage bench!
Refurbish Your Mudroom
Photo via @brunoandlibby
Want to update a mudroom? To freshen up this multi-functional room, add shiplap or patterned wallpaper to the walls, paint cabinets with stark neutral colors like white or gray, and get creative with flooring options like tile, brick, faux stone, or hardwood!
Make Over the Fireplace
Photo via @marcpoulospainting
Have a dated brick fireplace in your home? Paint your fireplace to create the perfect focal point! Go for a clean minimalist look with neutral colors like white, gray, and beige. Or make it stand out with a more dramatic color like charcoal or black. You can also choose eye-catching colors like deep blue, bright pink, or yellow to make your fireplace really pop!
Incorporate Sliding Barn Doors
Photo via @fieldshandcrafted
Looking for an affordable space-saving home renovation idea? Install a sliding barn door! Not only are these sliding doors a fun take on pocket doors that can help you save space in a small home, but they’re also great for getting a farmhouse look in your home. But don’t just stop there! Consider painting sliding barn doors with bold colors like deep blue or sage green to make them stand out from your walls!
Paint the Front Door
Photo via @chrissiehomeanddesign
Improve the curb appeal of your home by painting the front door a unique color! When choosing a color, consider how the shade will look with the rest of your home. Choose a paint color that works well with your landscaping and stands out from the color of your home. Popular colors for front doors are slate blue, classic white, stained brown, and bold red.
Upgrade Your House Numbers
Photo via @dropcap_studio
Like painting the front door, changing out the numbers on your home’s exterior with a more modern look is a simple improvement project for boosting curb appeal! When upgrading your house numbers, be sure to consider readability from the street and contrast with your exterior paint color. Make your address stand out with sleek brushed nickel digits or design a wood plaque for displaying numbers!
Get Some Color with Window Boxes
Photo via @amanjim
Looking to add some color to the front of your home? Make your own window box to hang around your home’s exterior. Use repurposed wood or pallets to create a budget-friendly design, then plant geraniums, impatiens, or petunias to freshen up your home’s exterior. If you’re really tight on your budget, you can even replant flowers that you’ve already grown in your yard!
Restore Your Deck
Photo via @rowanhallinteriors
Searching for a backyard makeover project on a budget? Spend some time refreshing your deck! You can paint your deck with colors like mahogany red, fog gray, or colonial blue. You can also improve the appearance of your deck by staining it to prevent sun and water damage. Painting or staining your deck is often cheaper than replacing the deck and can extend the life of your deck for a few years!
Thinking about tackling larger home improvement projects? Check out these home remodeling ideas for increasing home value and these home addition ideas for upping square footage!
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