Living in the same home for years is great: you know the layout very well, feel comfortable in the space and you can see personal touches everywhere you go. But if you’re looking at each room and feeling it’s all a bit aged, it might be time for a makeover. The best part is that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars achieving this new look!

Kitchen

• Cabinet Finishes – Don’t like the current color of your kitchen cabinets? Getting a transformation kit or wood stain can change the color and give your cabinets a fresh new, expensive look. While it might take some elbow grease and time, it’s must more cost-efficient than replacing all the cabinets!

• Accent Wall – The space between your countertops and cabinets is often covered with paint or left bare. Add some small patterned/textured tiles or wallpaper to this area to create beautiful backdrops for your most-used space.

• Knobs and Handles – The cheapest, yet most impactful, change you can make to your kitchen is updating or adding “pulls” to your cabinets. They’re also known as handles or knobs, and can really make the space more vibrant.

Bathroom

• Countertop / Vanity – If you want to change the color of your bathroom countertop, the change can be less costly than you think. Some DIY projects suggest using concrete to replace the current overlay, but you can also use countertop paint for a quick refresh.

• Floor / Wall Tiles – With paint for every surface available, it’s no surprise that you can also paint tile. However, if you don’t have any wall tiles currently, consider re-painting the walls to a color you like and then accenting with a thin tiled back-drop.

• Bathtub Paint – What color was your tub initially? Age and use impacts the condition of your bathtub and the result can be unappealing. Find tub paint in the original color and spend some time cleaning and re-painting. In the end, your bathroom will look like it just got a brand-new tub!

Rooms

• Electrical Outlet Covers – We sometimes forget to take a good look at the outlet covers in our rooms, despite us using the switches and outlets daily. These can be removed and given a fresh coat of spray paint to match the room color or stand out.

• Doorknobs – Similar to painting electrical outlet covers, the same can be done for most doorknobs. Before you remove and replace them all, determine if their condition is still good and find a paint that matches the color scheme.

• Paint! – If nothing else, a fresh coat of paint will instantly liven up the room. You can even find many DIY texture tutorials, like using plastic wrap to add “splatter” a wall, if you would like to avoid painting entire walls a new color.

Outdoors

• Fire Pit – Always wanted a social gathering point in your yard? With the weather warming up, now is your chance! Making a fire pit is easier than it might seem, too. All you need are some bricks and a shovel (depending on placement) to get started. Ask a local hardware store for tips, tricks and tools you might need to get the job done.

• Deck – A wooden deck is great, but over time, the wood starts to splinter and age. Use a deck restoration kit or outdoor wood stain to freshen up the paint and seal it for many more years to come.

• Build a Garden – This may seem obvious, but a garden can bring plenty of life back into a yard. You can use wooden boxes or boards to section of spots in the yard where you want to plant, or simply go around the house. No matter what kind of flowers and bushes you choose, the end result will make you happy.

Ever done your own low-budget renovation? We’d love to hear about it! Share with us below and inspire others to do the same!