23 Simple Ways to Upgrade Your Home on a Budget

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Does your home feel drab and outdated and in need of some upgrades?

Do you find yourself scrolling through Pinterest, wishing you could create some beautiful upgrades you see there, but they all cost more than your budget? 

Well, you are not alone in this struggle. 

Even though you don’t have an unlimited budget, you can still upgrade your home without breaking the bank.

We have compiled a list of 24 simple ways to upgrade your home on a budget. We chose these 24 ways to update your home because they will have the least impact on your finances while giving your home a brand-new look and creating a space that feels fresh, has style, and is uniquely yours. 

So, let’s explore some budget-friendly home upgrade ideas, from easy DIY projects to handy tricks for saving money when shopping. 

1. A Fresh Coat of Paint 

Painting the interior of your house is one of the cheapest ways to change the look and feel of your home. 

You can paint a room yourself or gather friends and family together for a weekend of some DIY fun. With a gallon of paint costing around $50, you can easily update a room for under $150.

2. Update Your Hardware

You can instantly bring a fresh, updated look to your home by replacing all the old doorknobs, handles, and drawer pulls in your house with new, more modern ones without breaking the bank. 

Look for sales at local hardware stores or go online to save even more and get the hardware that fits your decor style. If you plan to replace a lot of hardware, try to stick to the same style, as buying a bulk pack of knobs or pulls is much cheaper than buying individually priced ones.

3. Change Outlet Covers

You might not think changing the outlet covers would have much impact, but it can make a big difference in a room’s overall look.

Not only are outlet covers one of the cheapest changes you can make, but they are also a great way to get rid of the old, dingy-looking outlet covers and go for a more cohesive look that matches your decor and paint colors.

Basic covers can be had for under $1, and more high-end ones can range between $2 and $10 or more.

4. Add Greenery

Whether you choose artificial or real houseplants, adding green plants and flowers to your home can make it feel even more alive and vibrant.

You can mix different sizes and types of real and faux plants to create a layered and textured effect on shelves and windowsills, or try hanging them from the ceiling for a cool look.

5. Add New Lighting

If you haven’t changed the lights in your home since you moved in, you might be surprised at the impact it can have on the mood of each room when you add new lighting. 

A simple way to give your lighting more character is to swap out old lampshades for new ones, add inexpensive string lights, or, if you have a bit more budget, consider installing pendant lights to separate different areas of your space. 

6. Toss Some Pillows Around

Another simple and easy way to add a new, fresh look to your home without spending much money is to add throw pillows to your chairs and couch for a pop of color.

You can also carry the look throughout every room by adding new pillows and pillowcases to your beds and cozy throws on your couch and chairs. To save the most money, consider going to IKEA and buying their throw pillows. By doing this, you can purchase replacement covers for cheap, allowing you to constantly change styles without buying new pillows.

7. Stain Cabinets for an Updated Look

If you have outdated wooden cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, you can restrain or paint them for an inexpensive, more updated look.

Just make sure you sand and prep the cabinets before applying any paint or stain, then have fun choosing a color that compliments the color scheme of your room.

8. Add Art or a Gallery Wall

Art is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to give your home an upgrade and a new style.

You can either create a gallery wall with inexpensive frames and fun prints that you find at local flea markets or thrift stores or frame your own photos for an even cheaper way to add color and style.

9. Design a Door

Whether you have old wooden or newer plain doors, you can give them a fresh look with some paint and creativity on the exterior and interior doors.

Start by painting your door a bright color, or add a unique design using stencils to create a space that stands out.

10. Give the Backsplash a New Splash of Color

Even inexpensive stick-on tiles or a painted backsplash can instantly transform the look of your kitchen or bathroom.

Or, if you are up to the task, you can shop for tile that is on sale or discontinued and try a DIY tile backsplash for a more custom look.

Finally, consider painting it, as many paints are durable enough to cover almost everything.

11. Update Faucets

Old, dingy, water-stained faucets are a great upgrade to give your home a fresh, clean look.

You can spend less money when choosing a new modern faucet to replace your old faucets by simply watching for sales or shopping at discount home improvement stores.

12. Flooring Makeover

Replacing old, worn-out flooring, whether with new carpet, hardwood, or vinyl, can make a huge difference in your home’s overall look. 

Closeout stocks offer the best sales, and if there isn’t enough flooring on sale to cover your whole floor, consider creating a pattern or design with more than one color to really make your floors pop!

13. Change Curtains and Blinds

Next to painting, curtains and blinds are some of the simplest and biggest upgrades you can make without spending much money.

You can find curtains or blinds on sale or make your own curtains from fabric that you can find at discount stores.

Another option is to use decorative window films, which are an even more unique and very affordable way to add style to your windows.

14. Dollar Store Finds

If you want to upgrade your home without an actual remodel and save money, check out your local dollar stores for rugs, shower curtains, bowls, vases, jars, and baskets.

Look for seasonal and holiday items that you can repurpose for different uses in your home for even more savings.

15. Display Your Collections

How about a free upgrade? Why not decorate your home by displaying your collections?

You may have lots of books or fun shells you collected from the beach, or you may collect vintage kitchen utensils.

Use your collections as focal points around your home by placing them where they draw the eye or adding some unique decor.

16. Build Some Shelves

You can DIY shelves or bookshelves for your home or buy inexpensive ones on sale or in thrift stores.

Paint shelves with cool colors to match your decor and fill them with books, plants, or other items to add personality to your space.

17. Garage Sales 

Garage sales are a great way to find upgrades for your home and save money.

Many people will sell building supplies, extra flooring, cabinets, sinks, countertops, and other home improvement items for a fraction of the cost at a home improvement store.

18. Use Storage for Decor

We all have items that we need to store well; using vintage trunks, pretty baskets, and other unique storage solutions can help keep your home organized and be a great way to upgrade the look of any room.

Look for vintage trunks, baskets, old freestanding cabinets, and shelves at thrift stores or garage sales and repurpose them as storage for blankets, pillows, or other items in any room.

19. Trim and Crown Molding

Adding new trim or crown molding can instantly change the look of a room by adding character and hiding any imperfections in walls or ceilings.

Look for the most affordable options at home improvement stores; some you can paint yourself to save even more money.

20. Add a Deck

If you want a significant impact on your living space, consider spending more money to build a deck.

If you can DIY a deck, you will be surprised at how much value it adds to your home, not to mention the extra space for outdoor entertaining and relaxation.

21. Landscaping

Curb appeal is where your home makes its first impression, so don’t forget your landscaping.

Simple things like mowing the lawn, adding flower beds, and placing colorful plants or flowers in your yard or porch can make a big difference.

22. Clean Inside and Out

You might be surprised at the difference a good cleaning can make to the overall appearance of your home.

Start by renting a power washer for the exterior and then do a thorough deep cleaning on the inside.

23. Declutter and Rearrange

Getting rid of unwanted or unneeded items can be a simple way to upgrade your house and make it feel less cluttered, and, if you have a yard sale, give you extra cash to do other upgrades.

Then, rearrange your furniture and add fun new decor to give your home a fresh look by spending your garage sale money to buy some new upgrades.

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