Real Simple

Is your home looking less exciting these days? Are you sick of staring at the same four walls but don’t have a huge budget for renovations? Just because you don’t have a lot to spend doesn’t mean you can’t refresh your home. You just need to know what to do and how to pay as little as possible for it. Here are seven microbudget ways to upgrade a home.

Repaint Any Room

“Paint is a decorator’s miracle,” says interior designer Kate Dawson. “Nothing can transform a space as quickly or dramatically—without renovating—as a new coat of paint. It can change the vibe and energy even if it’s only used on one wall.”

The best thing about paint is it’s not only inexpensive (the price of dining out for lunch can get you a fairly cheap can of paint)—but you can also do it yourself and save on labor. The cost of rollers and brushes also won’t break the bank.

Swap Out Pillows 

Whether they’re in your living room or your bedroom, old pillows can really make a room look dated, but new pillows can surprisingly transform. “I see decorative pillows as the home’s version of earrings, shoes, and scarves,” Dawson says. “When we’re going out, we always accessorize because it adds individuality, style, and pops of color. A room is the same way. Pillows pull the room together and give the space cohesion and a new energy.”

There are many places to buy pillows inexpensively, such as HomeGoods or Target. Amazon also has curated sets, so you don’t have to spend extra time and money mixing and matching. Another way to save a few bucks is to replace the pillow case but keep the insert.

Add Greenery 

There isn’t one room that wouldn’t benefit from bringing a little nature in. That’s why Dawson is so passionate about plants. However, real ones can be expensive, so she recommends going the faux route to achieve the same design impact for less money. “Plants are a fantastic way to play with scale, levels, and volume,” the designer says. “They come in so many shapes and sizes and are the perfect thing to tuck into little places that just need a little pop of color, or for large spaces such as a big empty corner of a room. Get a nice faux six-inch fiddle leaf plant for any area that feels like a gap in the flow of the space.”

Wallpaper A Powder Room

We often neglect powder rooms but these spaces are a great way to go big on design. While replacing a toilet and sink can be expensive, installing wallpaper is a great way to get some wow factor without overspending. To save more money, consider peel-and-stick wallpaper over the traditional pasted kind because it can be self-installed and generally costs less.

Swap Out Hardware in the Kitchen and Bathroom

Old hardware can really date a room. While you can definitely splurge on hardware, you don’t need to. Look for hardware multipacks, which can get the cost of a handle or knob down to a few dollars each—a major bang for your buck.

Add A Peel And Stick Backsplash To Your Kitchen

Is your kitchen backsplash looking dated? While you might not have the budget to replace it permanently, you can use peel and stick tile over it. From faux marble subway tiles to ceramic penny styles, there are a lot of options out there. Best of all, no one will know the difference between that and the real thing.

Add Artwork in Any Room 

Dawson recommends upgrading your plain walls with artwork. “Adding colorful artwork instantly tells a story about the homeowner,” she says. “It always makes great conversation, and aesthetically, it always adds depth, texture, and dimension to the room.”

Alternatively, you can use photos. Try shopping from your own camera roll for maximum savings. That beautiful shot you have of a sunset on vacation can be made into a canvas fairly inexpensively.