Feeling a home refresh, but not feeling the related expenses? There are plenty of ways to upgrade your space while keeping your costs in check. Whether you’re looking for ways to make your home more appealing to potential buyers or simply bored with the current state of your home, here are six projects you can tackle with confidence in just an afternoon or two.
#1. Create a Feature Wall
Never underestimate the impact of a feature wall. When done well, a feature wall can draw the eye in, offer a focal point, and elicit interesting conversation. Whether it’s a single hallway, the nook under the stairs, the back panel of a bookshelf, or a powder room, a pop of wallpaper or bold paint — no matter how small — can make a big difference in your decor.Choosing a small space to focus on is a great solution if you don’t want to commit to the time and money required for a full room of wallpaper or redecorating. And, this is an ideal spot to take some design risks and let your personality shine. While covering your entire living room in zebra print and teal accents may feel a bit over the top, doing the same thing on one wall in your powder room may feel just right. The best part? If you hate it, redoing everything won’t ruin you financially.
#2. Jazz Up Your Staircase
Depending on your skill level and budget, this upgrade could range anywhere from painting your stairs to replacing your traditional banister with a wrought-iron one. For an unexpected pop of pattern, try peel-and-stick flooring in between the stair steps. Get creative with a colorful runner, or rip off the carpet entirely and go for a glossy finish. Create a massive gallery wall spanning the length of your staircase using family photos, decorative mirrors, and favorite pieces of art. The staircase is often a focal point whether you want it to be or not, so you might as well make it one worth seeing!
#3. Refresh Your Front Porch
First impressions matter, and your front porch and entryway are your chance to make the right one on first-time guests. Luckily, a cute, welcoming area doesn’t have to break the bank. A few relatively inexpensive and easy ways to achieve this: Upgrade your house numbers; buy or make a new welcome mat; fill a big planter or two with some beautiful blossoms. A wreath is another inexpensive way to keep your decor seasonally appropriate without much effort.
#4. Upgrade Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
Kitchen renovations are often a worthwhile investment that see the highest resale value. Of course, a gut job costs a pretty penny. Besides painting, replacing the outdated pulls, knobs and handles on your cabinets and drawers is one of the easiest ways to transform your space into something more modern. And, once you have the hardware in hand, it’s a fairly simple task that can be accomplished in an hour or two.#5 Paint Your Fireplace
A classic brick fireplace never really goes out of style, but you may be ready for something a bit more contemporary. Painting your fireplace can instantly change your living room for the better. Not only is it a focal point, but it can elevate a design style and serve as the jumping off point for the rest of your decor. For a clean, minimalist look, consider a strong black paint, neutral white, or soft gray. If you’re brave enough, a bold jewel tone like sapphire or rich forest green can add exquisite color to the space.6. Give Your Bathroom Mirrors a Makeover
Even if your budget doesn’t allow for a full renovation, a few simple upgrades can instantly give your bathroom the refresh it needs. If you have a sheet mirror behind your bathroom vanity, adding a frame to the existing mirror is an affordable way to make the space look professionally designed. Even run-of-the-mill mirrors or those that look old due to desilvered edges can be given a second life. Best of all, this is a fast, easy upgrade that won’t drain your time and energy.
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Choose from 80+ frame styles and finishes with Add A Frame® for a fast, customized, easy-to-install end product. Think you’re better off replacing the mirror altogether? Peruse our selection of Decorative Framed Mirrors for a ready-to-hang option.