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If you shy away from updating your house because it’s too pricey to hire a contractor, consider doing the work yourself. A few minor alterations can completely change a room’s appearance. Plus, you’ll take more pride in your house if you contribute your time to make these upgrades. Here are some easy and inexpensive updates you can do yourself.
Change Cabinet Exterior Features
A kitchen is a place you probably spend a lot of time. You cook, clean and eat meals in this room, so upgrading its look is particularly important.
If you’ve had the same kitchen cabinets for years, the color is probably faded, stained or outdated. A new hue can make the kitchen feel exciting again, causing you to hang out in this room more often. If your goal is to lighten up the area, opt for white or cream-colored cabinets. However, don’t limit yourself as there are a lot of popular choices that will match nearly any color scheme, including gray, beige, tan or black.
If you want to add a few coats of paint to wood, the process is pretty straightforward. However, if you’d rather go from paint to stain, the procedure becomes a little trickier and more time-consuming, depending on how many panels are in your kitchen.
First, you’ll want to remove the panels from the hinges so you can comfortably work on them from the floor or at a table. Consider using a multi position ladder rather than struggling to get to these hard-to-reach areas. Once you have all of the doors down, you’ll have to strip the paint off every panel and then sand them down before applying the stain. This process is worth the effort if you’ve always wanted cabinets that have a traditional wood appearance. New hinges and handles can also make a significant difference if you’re looking for a more drastic change.
Add New Flooring
High-traffic areas get worn out quickly, whether the floor is wood, carpet or vinyl. If the flooring in your house is ready for an upgrade, but you’re worried about money, replace one room at a time to make it more affordable.
If you’re not sure whether to go with carpet or another material, consider which room you’re renovating. For bedrooms and living rooms, you may want to stick with carpet because it’s warmer on the feet, easier to clean with a vacuum and comfortable to sit on. Conversely, bathrooms and kitchens are easier to take care of with laminate or vinyl flooring. You can clean up spills faster without worrying that they’ll stain the carpet.
Additionally, if an appliance leaks, such as the toilet or kitchen sink, you’ll see a puddle on a hard floor easier than you would notice it on carpeting. Because of this visibility, you’ll be able to fix the problem in a timely fashion before it does more damage or causes mold to grow.
Move the Furniture
If you don’t want to spend any money but still desire a new look, all you have to do is rearrange the furniture in each room. By putting the couch against a different wall or moving the recliner, you might find that the angle is better to watch TV or engage in conversation.
Another option is to switch rooms around. For example, maybe the dining room is bigger than the living room. If you use the living room more often and have more furniture, the larger area might be more suitable as the family space. Or perhaps the kids are tired of the same old playroom. If you have a larger guest room that isn’t used often, it might function better as the kids‘ toy area. The options are endless when you can move entire rooms to different locations.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to spend your last cent on home renovations to make a noticeable difference. Tackle each issue you want to change one at a time. With each modification, your home will slowly transform into your dream abode.