Budget-Friendly Home Improvement Solutions

When spring rolls around we often feel a burst of inspiration flood our bodies. Time to clean, time to start a new project, time to take up a new hobby. The changing seasons are also the perfect time to spruce up your home. The best part about feeling inclined to change up your home is that you don’t necessarily need to break the bank to do so. Small changes, both decorative and functional, can be budget-friendly AND make a big impact. Here are some of the top projects you can tackle this spring: 

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Paint a Room:

This is typically everyone’s go-to project when they’re feeling like they need a change. Why? Because paint isn’t forever. Painting a couple of rooms in your house is an easy and affordable way to give your home a fresh look. A gallon of paint typically costs between $20 and $50, and a basic set of painting supplies (roller, brushes, drop cloth, etc.) can be purchased at around the same price. Obviously, you want to make sure you prep the space adequately before soaking your brush, so make sure you prime the walls, patch any holes, tape the edges. YouTube and Google are great resources to help you learn the ins and outs. Of course, if you're not confident in your painting skills, consider hiring a professional for a clean and polished finish.

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Update Your Front Door:

You’ve pulled into your driveway and instantly feel your shoulders slump. The outside of your house just isn’t what you want it to be. An easy way to fix this is with a new front door. Sometimes, when we buy a house, the outside of the house takes a backseat to the changes we want to make on the inside. And by the time we’re finished updating the interior, our budget has decreased significantly and there’s not much to spare on the exterior. So, a quick way to upgrade your home’s curb appeal is with a garage and/or front door update. If you're not ready to replace the entire door, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Like we mentioned earlier, paint is fairly cheap, and hardware is also very inexpensive. Looking for a bit of help on the hardware replacement? Hire a handyman – it’ll take them no time at all, maybe 30 minutes max. 

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Bring the outside in:

There’s no such thing as too many plants! Sometimes a couple plants is exactly what your home needs. Buy some funky or sleek pots and call it a day. Adding plants to your home can also improve air quality, and make your living environment a lot more peaceful. You can find affordable plants at your local nursery or hardware store, or even purchase them online. Plants range in price, anywhere from $5 to $300 depending on the size. If you’re looking to save some money, research how to propagate plants from cuttings or see if any of your friends want to arrange a plant swap.

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Update Your Lighting:

Swapping out light fixtures or adding new lamps can significantly influence the look and feel of your home. Lighting is one of the #1 ways your home can appear outdated. New lighting fixtures can cost as low as $50 and as much as $500, just depends on the look and quality. Replacing lighting fixtures is tricky business for someone that’s never done it before. It can also be very dangerous, so we recommend hiring a licensed electrician for a safe and professional installation. Ask the electrician about adding dimmer switches or automatic lighting for energy saving options. 

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There’s plenty more things you can attempt around the house to make things look and feel fresh. Give some of these ideas a bit of thought and consider whether or not they work in your space. If you have any questions, it’s always a good idea to consult an expert, whether that is a handyman or an electrician or a professional painter. 

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