You’ve probably spent a lot of time in your house over the past two years – and it’s starting to show. Certain fixtures and decor elements look more shabby than chic, so you’ll want to make updates. The only problem is you don’t have the budget for a major overhaul.
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Fortunately, you can make some seriously stunning home improvements without spending a fortune. A little creativity is often all it takes to transform an outdated or unsightly space into something beautiful. When you’re done, you can enjoy both a beautiful new room and the satisfaction of knowing you did the work yourself.
Of course, finding a starting point can be challenging, as home updates often feel overwhelming. It is important to carefully plan the changes you want to make so that you are happy with the final product.
If you’re ready to get started, here are some ideas to inspire your home makeover. From your kitchen to the bedroom, these affordable solutions will give your home a much-needed refresh.
Kitchen: paint the cabinets
According to HomeAdvisor, buying new cabinets for a standard 10-by-10-foot kitchen is estimated to cost $2,000 to $24,000. For comparison, a gallon of Behr Premium interior cabinetry and trim paint costs $52.98 at The Home Depot.
Clearly, you can save a fortune simply by painting your existing kitchen cabinets. For example, if you currently have dark brown cabinets, painting these cabinets white or gray will brighten up the room and give it a more modern look. When you’re done, you might have a hard time believing it’s even the same kitchen.
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Bathroom: Swap vanity drawer pulls
Your bathroom furniture is a huge centerpiece in the room. If it’s seen better days, it could easily make the whole room look grungy. Installing a new one might be your first choice, but according to Home Advisor, it typically costs an average of $1,500.
Don’t stress, because there’s an easy way to give your vanity a new look on a shoestring budget. Simply replacing the knobs on your sink can make a world of difference. For example, Lowe’s offers modern square buttons for $2.98, which are easily swapped out instead of a dated style.
Living Room: Create a gallery wall
You spend a lot of time in your living room, so you want the wall decoration to make you happy. If you’re tired of staring at the same meaningless piece of art — or a blank wall — consider creating a gallery wall. This collection of framed artwork, photos or mementos will give your wall that personal touch that will make you smile every time you walk by.
First, you’ll want to choose a theme – family, Paris, abstract, for example – then find the items you want to frame. To keep it affordable, Target has a set of seven gallery frames for just $40.
Bedroom: Update your lampshades
The lampshades in your bedroom are functional, but not particularly chic. This is an easy problem to solve because you can easily replace them — that is, swap out a bell-shaped lampshade for a more contemporary drum style.
For example, Cost Plus World Market has a white linen drum table lampshade with gold lining for $26.99. This stylish shade adds a touch of elegance to your room, and when the light is on, the gold lining provides extra cozy warmth.
Dining room: Dress your table
Let’s face it: your dining table is not your most attractive piece of furniture. But buying a new one is not in your budget right now. Not to worry, because you can easily dress up your table to disguise the parts you don’t like.
For example, Ikea sells table runners for $6.99 or, if you want more coverage, tablecloths for $24.99. From there you can head to the vase aisle and grab the $9.99 BERÄKNA clear glass vase and fill it with lemons.
Your dining table is likely to take up a large part of the room, so choose a decor that creates the atmosphere you want — that is, elegant, contemporary, relaxed.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Affordable Ways to Remodel Any Room in Your Home