While inflation is expected to fall to 6.6% by mid-2023, living costs remain high, so if you want to upgrade your home to suit your personality or increase its resale value, you need budget-friendly projects that will add value to it without breaking the bank. Here are a few ideas.
1. Replace Lighting Fixtures
Dated and worn-out lighting fixtures can make your home look dull. However, switching to LEDs can brighten up your space and decrease utility costs as they require only a fraction of the electricity to produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs.
You can get light fixtures from garage sales or second-hand stores and turn them into DIY projects to save additional costs. However, old lighting can easily short-circuit, so be sure to have an electrician assess old fixtures that could pose safety risks.
2. Replace Old Hardware
Instead of a complete kitchen or bathroom makeover, swap out cabinet hardware to change the aesthetics of your home. You don’t need to revamp your entire cabinet; instead, order cheap, unfinished kitchen or bathroom cabinet doors and paint them to match your decor. Give them a contemporary and streamlined style or a more traditional look; the choice is yours! You can also replace the knobs, doorknobs, hinges, and drawer pulls to change the look of your kitchen completely.
3. Vinyl Siding
If you want to remodel your home exterior, vinyl siding is an affordable option with a range of styles, textures, and colours to choose from. Siding insulates your home, completely changes its look, and is low maintenance. You can easily clean it with mild soap and water too. Additionally, vinyl siding is durable because it is waterproof, immune to moisture damage, and has wind resistance and colour fade protection. It’s worth getting vinyl siding estimations to find out how much it will be to have some installed.
4. New Flooring
Installing new flooring can be expensive, but there are tons of cheap options that include vinyl, laminate, cork, and more. For instance, laminate house flooring is low maintenance, doesn’t stain, and has chemical, heat, and moisture resistance as it is made of resin and synthetic fibers.
Similarly, vinyl plank flooring has different visuals and is highly durable and easy to maintain. In case replacing isn’t feasible, consider refreshing them by applying a fresh topcoat, polishing, or re-sanding them. It will clean and polish your floors, making them look new while protecting them from future marks and scratches.
5. Landscaping
Landscaping has two elements:
- Softscaping covers flowers, trees, shrubs, and other living things
- Hardscaping covers bricks, wood patios, and other man-made structures
Hardscape projects can change your garden’s theme entirely. You can go for brick patios, pond liners, small waterfalls, and stone walkways as cheap do-it-yourself projects with online tutorial videos available to guide you.
You can also purchase flowers or plant seeds and seedlings like sunflower seeds to grow in your garden. Research plants native to your area that are compatible with your area’s rainfall schedule and require less watering. They will instantly make your house look more welcoming.
You can also incorporate xeriscaping elements like rocks and cacti to reduce water consumption further. Xeriscaping is a form of gardening that eliminates any need for irrigation by using drought-resistant plants, minimizing turf areas, and optimizing soil conditions. Adding features like gravel walkways, seating areas, and container gardens can further add to the natural beauty of the landscape while reducing water use.
Endnote
There are many budget-friendly ways to give your home a fresh look without breaking the bank. You can change your kitchen layout, paint your doors and walls to give your home a new personality, or raise curtain rods to the ceiling to make your home look spacious. Be creative, try repurposing old materials, shop wisely, and find the best pricing for the materials you need.
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