Budget-Friendly Ways To Make Your Home Look New Again

The current housing market has many homeowners staying put for the foreseeable future. Buying a brand-new home simply isn’t possible for many people, but that doesn’t mean your living situation has to feel dated. While a complete home remodel can cost many thousands of dollars, there are many minor and affordable upgrades you can implement to make your home look new again. 

A fresh coat of paint, peel-and-stick wallpaper, and fresh landscaping are all cheap and effective ways to make your home look new. Refresh your current furniture, buy new throw pillows and blankets, and upgrade your bedding. Swap out old hardware, faucets, and outdated light fixtures with new ones. Refresh the grout in your home, add a DIY backsplash in your kitchen, and deep-clean your home.

Just because you can’t afford to buy a brand new home or undergo a major renovation, it doesn’t mean you have to live in a dwelling that feels old. There are numerous ways you can transform your current property into a place that feels sleek and new. While some home upgrades are complicated and pricey, all the options listed below are easy and budget-friendly. 

14 Ways To Make Your Home Look New On A Tight Budget

1. Add A Fresh Coat Of Paint To The Walls

Walls are often the most visible feature in a home. They also tend to get neglected over the years. You should repaint your walls every three to 10 years, depending on various factors. If you notice your walls are chipped, cracked, or simply look dull, consider repainting them. Painting your home’s interior is manageable if you plan properly, and it’s a great home improvement project for the winter. When you do this project yourself, it’s also a very inexpensive home upgrade that will make your home look new and refreshed.

2. Buy New Throw Rugs

Over the years, your floors take a beating. They will eventually become scratched and dull-looking, especially if you have wood flooring. Unfortunately, ripping out your old floors and replacing them with new ones is a costly and complicated project. Instead of paying for a massive flooring project, buy beautiful new throw rugs to cover your aging floors. Not only will rugs add fresh color and design to the rooms where you place them, but they will also protect your floors. 

3. Paint And Reimagine Your Cabinets

New cabinets are costly, especially if you have custom cabinetry. Old cabinets, however, can significantly age your home. They may look old or simply appear out of fashion. To help give your kitchen a facelift, you can paint your cabinets a new color, or even multiple colors. While painting your cabinets won’t change the design, it can give them a fresh look. Combine painting with new handles and other hardware to give your kitchen cabinets a complete transformation.

4. Refresh Throw Pillows, Blankets, And Other Accents

Throw pillows and blankets are great accents and practical ways to make your home warm and comfortable. Over time, however, they tend to get stained, frayed, and shabby. New furniture and custom cushions are pricey, but throw pillows and blankets are very affordable. New throw pillows and blankets can go a long way toward making your home look newer and enhancing its design appeal.

5. Buy New Hardware

Door knobs, handles, and light switches are often overlooked. Collectively, outdated hardware can make your home feel older. Light switch covers crack, metal tarnishes, and designs go out of fashion. Changing your old hardware for new pieces is a fun and simple DIY task. You can often find handles and knobs for cheap at home improvement stores and online. Changing these small details will give your home a youthful glow, especially when combined with other ideas on this list.

6. Upgrade Your Bedding

Your bedding is one of the main focal points of your bedroom. It’s also crucial in ensuring a restful night’s sleep. You should buy new bedding every one to five years, depending on its quality and maintenance. If you want to make your home feel new, consider splurging on high-quality bedding. Remember that you spend a lot of time on your sheets, and even if you spend a little extra to get quality fabrics, it is still much less than the cost of a new mattress.

7. Level Up Your Landscaping

As you try to find ways to make your home look newer, don’t forget to pay attention to your home’s exterior. One effective way to make your yard look new is to upgrade and clean up the landscaping. Add fresh mulch, new plants, and trim your hedges. Consider planter boxes in windows to make the home look vibrant. Unlike repainting your home’s exterior, new landscaping is a project you can complete yourself on a tight budget, while still boosting your property’s curb appeal.

8. Make a Peel-and-Stick Accent Wall

Wallpaper was once out of fashion, but it’s back in style in a big way. Accent walls are a great way to incorporate bold wallpaper into your home. Installing wallpaper is also easier than ever. Peel-and-stick options are a simple way to give your old, tired walls a new look. Choose a space in the home where an accent wall will make a significant impact. The best part about this peel-and-stick material is that you can remove it easily once you grow tired of it.

9. Buy A New Showerhead And Faucet

If your faucets and showerhead are as old as your home, then they probably don’t make your dwelling look new and modern. Luckily, there are many models of showerheads and faucets that can make your kitchen and bathroom look brand new. A new faucet is not only a significant visual upgrade, but it can also help you conserve water. Replacing your old shower head with a new one can transform your bathing experience and help you use water more efficiently.

10. Create A DIY Kitchen Backsplash

A kitchen backsplash is a great project if you're looking to give your kitchen a new look on a tight budget. While contractors may charge thousands of dollars for this type of project, there are several DIY routes you can take to accomplish a similar look. There are peel-and-stick backsplashes that look just like tile, which is an excellent option for those with limited tiling experience. Alternatively, there are also many easy-to-install tiles designed for DIY enthusiasts looking to install a kitchen backsplash without professional help.

11. Refresh Your Grout

Old grout ages a home and can even make it look dirty and unsanitary. You should regrout your bathroom and kitchen spaces every eight to 10 years, depending on how well they are maintained. The clean whiteness of fresh grout can make the tile and the entire room look much newer. Regrouting a space also improves waterproofing and the area's overall hygiene.

12. Find Ways To Refresh Older Furniture

New furniture is more expensive than ever, which means you are likely holding on to your old furniture longer than you’d like. The good news is that there are several ways to make your old furniture look brand new. You can sand down and repaint wooden furniture, and cover old upholstery with furniture covers. Adding new cushions and throw pillows can also make various pieces of furniture look newer.

13. Perform A Thorough Deep Clean

One of the best ways to make your home feel less dull and dated is to clean it from top to bottom. A deep clean with the right cleaning products restores metal, wood, and stone surfaces to their original shine. Removing dust and grime makes a home look new again. When you clean, remove clutter and unnecessary items, as they make a room look old and messy. As you clean, you're likely to notice areas of your home you can refresh in the future.

14. Replace Outdated Light Fixtures

If you have the same lamp shades and light fixtures that came with your home when you bought it, then it’s time for an upgrade. Since the eye is drawn to light, new light fixtures are a great way to make your home look brand new. Opt for fixtures that suit your desired aesthetic and enhance your room’s lighting. Better lighting is a cheap and fantastic way to make a room look more expensive and new.

Summing Up Budget-Friendly Ways To Make A Home Look New

Buying a new home isn’t in the cards for many homeowners, but that doesn't mean they need to live in an outdated space. Some cost-effective ways to make your home look newer include painting interior walls or adding an accent wall with peel-and-stick wallpaper. You can swap out old hardware, faucets, showerheads, and light fixtures for new ones, and add a DIY kitchen backsplash. New rugs, pillows, and bedding are all great ways to make an older home look and feel newer.

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