Sometimes we all need a change in our lives. And switching up our home design can really help pick us up and refresh our perspectives. But shelling out a bunch of money can stop us in our tracks. Luckily, there are some simple ways to update a home without spending a ton of cash.
From adding a few accents to your living room or bedroom to redesigning a few kitchen items, a few small changes around the house can really make a big difference.
Here are 60 small changes you can make around your house that will make your space look completely different.
1) DIY no-sew seater pillow
Wrap your sofa throw pillows with colorful sweaters you don’t wear anymore. It’ll give any room a bright, new look, and you don’t need to sew anything. Check out how to do it here.
2) Hang your own artwork
Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, creating your own artwork is fun and inexpensive. Plus, you can transform a room’s look just by hanging a new piece of art. Here are some great ideas on how to start.
3) Hang family photos
You can also hang up some of your most precious family photos to bring any space to life. Use matching frames or mix and match them. Whatever design you choose will refresh any living space.
4) Use jute rope
Some furniture and accessories can be a bit of an eyesore. So use jute rope to make them more decorative. For instance, you can wrap it around light cords or desk lamps to make something old look new.
5) Refresh your fireplace mantel
Make your fireplace look like new by adding some new accessories to the mantel. You can use candles, a vase with flowers, and some pictures. Get creative!
6) Decorate with heirlooms
Accessorizing your home with a few prize family heirlooms adds a meaningful, historical vibe to almost any room. You can display special books or frame a poem passed down by your great grandmother.
7) Hang high curtains
You can make your living room or bedroom look really different just by hanging your curtain higher and wider on the wall. This will make the room feel much wider and taller.
8) Add a front-door greeter
Place a plant, photos, piece of art, or something you love by the front door. This is the perfect way to make your home homier with little effort.
9) Add some plants
Putting a few plants throughout your home can immediately transform it. This will actually improve indoor air quality while making each room come alive with color and beauty.
10) Rearrange your furniture
Making a room look like new doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Consider rearranging the furniture you already have to give any room a new, updated look. There are even tools online to help you do it. For instance, check out Pottery Barn’s Room Planner tool.
11) Hang affordable wall art
If you don’t want to try your hand at making your own wall art, you can find affordable wall art and hang it around your house to jazz up any room. You can find affordable art online or even in local discount stores.
12) Place a few mood lamps
Strategically place a few lamps around the house on dressers, bookcases, mantels, and end tables. Mood lamps help reinvigorate a space, plus they help you relax at just the right time.
13) Use area rugs
Put a rug in front of the kitchen sink, in the entryway, or in the middle of the living room. This will instantly add flare to any room.
14) Couch blanket
Keep a blanket on your couch or oversized chair. It’ll accent the room and give you some warmth when needed.
15) Get some candles
Place some pretty candles on the mantel, coffee table, or end table. Whether they are scented or not, they will add a glowing ambience for any occasion.
16) Rearrange messy cabinets
By organizing a messy cabinet or closet, you will make the space look refreshed and uncluttered. Plus, it’ll be easier to find what you need.
17) Add books to bookshelf
Add a few of your favorite books to your bookshelf. This is sure to make you smile as you pass your most-prized books each day.
18) Fireplace makeover
Is your fireplace looking dilapidated? Maybe you should give it a new makeover. Some wood and stone will do the trick. Get the details here.
19) Frame a mirror
Don’t buy expensive mirrors. Just frame them yourself and make them look expensive. Learn how here.
20) Paint your linoleum floors
You can paint linoleum floors with a cool pattern for a more modern look. And it’ll make any space look like new. Learn how here.
21) Remodel the baseboards
You don’t need to pay to install new thick baseboards. You can fake them and give any room a new look. Learn how here.
22) Oak banister makeover
Don’t buy a new banister. Give your banister a richer look with some paint and stain. It will completely transform your staircase. You can find a tutorial on this here.
23) Peel-and-stick tile backsplash
Installing a new backsplash can get expensive when hiring a professional. You can go the DIY route with peel-and-tick backsplash tile. Learn everything you need to know about peel and stick tiling here.
24) Mirror doors
Mirrored doors are a lot pricier than regular doors. But you can fake them. Just buy inexpensive framed mirrors and use something like Liquid Nails Mirror Adhesive to glue them to your doors. It makes the door look high-end, and it makes your room look a lot larger. You can also use caulk around the edge of the mirror to hide the seams.
25) Try wainscoting
Wainscoting is a great way to give your room a high-end look. And you can create wainscoting with some paint and a few piece of wood. Get the details here.
26) Frame the TV
Your TV can stick out like a sore thumb when it’s mounted on the wall. Frame it to give it a classier, updated look. Find the instructions here.
27) Transform a tiny bathroom wall
You can create a great focal point in even small bathrooms with an accent wall. You can do this with some wood planks, tiles, paint, or peel and stick tile or wallpaper.
28) Paint the ceiling
Make your ceiling the centerpiece of your room. You can change the entire look of a room and modernize it by painting the ceiling a pop of color. Learn more here.
29) Remodel your closet
Give your entryway closet a makeover. You can transform it into an open closet with an entryway bench. Learn how here.
30) Stone-faced tub
Have you always wanted a spa bathroom? You can easily give your bathroom a spa look by giving your tub an Airstone face. All you need is a few boxes of Airstone and some adhesive. Get the details here.
31) Pantry makeover
You don’t have to spend a ton on a fancy pantry. You can buy a cheap one and make it look a lot nicer with a paint job, some picture frames (or molding), and new draw pulls. Learn how here.
32) Mosaic wall
Want to give your room a fun and modern look? Trying painting a mosaic wall. Learn how here.
33) Wallpaper back of bookshelf
Your bookshelves don’t have to be blah. You can spruce them up instead by painting the back of it or wallpapering it. Learn more here.
34) Closet office
Need an office but lack the extra room for one? Why not turn your closet into an office? Get some ideas for your closet office here.
35) Add some kitchen shelving
Get your cookbooks off the counter. Add some shelves to the side of your cabinet to give them a place where they are easily accessible. This will help make the kitchen more clutter free. See info here.
36) Hide your AC
Air conditioners can look unsightly. There are lots of creative ways to hide your air conditioner and prevent it from looking like an eyesore. Get ideas on how to hide your air conditioner here.
37) Illuminate the cabinets
You can create the illusion of a state-of-the-art kitchen without making any major upgrades. Just add some lighting to your cabinets. Learn more about cabinet illumination here.
38) Dresser makeover
Give your dull colored dresser some life with a new coat of paint. You can also Mod Podge the drawers. Get the tutorial for this project here.
39) Use brackets on a window
If you have a window that doesn’t need curtains, you can accent it using brackets. The design pictured here gives the window a Steampunk look.
40) Faucet facelift
Has your faucet seen better days? Bring it back to life with a spray paint facelift. Details can be found here.
41) Creative doorbell
Make the entranceway to your home fun and welcoming. Get yourself a fun doorbell. Decorative doorbells class up the front of your home.
42) Pillow covers
A very easy was to update your living room is to put new covers on your pillows. It’s a lot cheaper than buying brand new pillows. You can find all kinds of decorative pillow covers here on Amazon.
43) Paint your front door
Your front door is a big focal piece to your home. Give it a coat of paint and pop of color to really make it stand out. You can get some good ideas here.
44) Mix and match sheer curtains
If you want to add some color to a bedroom, consider mixing and matching sheer curtains. The look is fun and whimsical.
45) Paint paneling
Dark wooden paneling looks kind of vintage. And not in a good way. Give it a more contemporary look with a coat of paint. Get more info here.
46) Laundry room chandelier
Your laundry room doesn’t have to be a neglected room in your house. You can make it look like its own special room with a chandelier. Having a nice laundry room makes doing laundry not so bad.
47) Switch plate spruce up
Don’t let a light switch stick out like a sore thumb. You can hide it or make it look a lot nicer by adding a picture frame or new plate. Get some decorative light switch ideas here.
48) Add window trim
You can dress up a room by adding some trim to your windows. You can add pieces on top, the sides, and/or the bottom. Learn how here.
49) Paint tile backsplash
Sick of the drab tile in your house? You don’t have to replace it. You can just paint over it. Learn how here.
50) Contact paper countertop
Is your bathroom countertop drab and outdated? You can update it with some contact paper. You can get the details here.
51) Decorate the fridge
Give the kitchen a whole new look by adding washi tape to the fridge. Or you can even spray paint it.
52) Glass shelves
Need a little extra shelf space? Install glass shelves to increase storage space without the bulk of regular shelving. Get more info here.
53) Header 53
Is your couch or arm chair looking a little worse for wear? Bring it back to life with a new slip cover. You can find some here on Amazon.
54) Modern house numbers
You can really modernize the front of your home by switching out your house numbers. This house number planter was a DIY job. Learn how to create it here.
55) Paint a ceiling fan
Dark wood ceiling fans with gold trim can have an outdated look. You can make it look like a completely different fan by giving it a paint job. Get the details here.
56) Add tassels to the bedskirt
By attaching some yarn tassels to your bedskirt, you’ll give your room a whole different vibe. Here’s how to do it.
57) Weathervane
You don’t need new exterior to dress up your home. You can create a nice focal point with a weathervane. They have all types of weathervanes with different ornaments and animals.
58) DIY roman blinds
Give your mini blinds an upgrade. You can turn them into roman blinds with some fabric. Get the instructions here.
59) Paint the sink
You don’t need to buy a new sink to give your bathroom a new look. You can just paint it. Learn how here.
60) Shower fixture makeover
Shower fixtures can get rusty or water stained over time. Make them look brand new by spray painting them. Learn how here.
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So when you’re ready to make a few upgrades on your home, try a few of these ideas out. It’ll be like you’re living in a brand new house.