5 Cheap and Easy Ways To Improve Your Home

by Sarah Parker

It’s no fun to look around your house and feel that it does not look it’s best. For many, moving and expensive renovations are not an option right now. The good news is that there are lots of little, inexpensive things you can do that will make a big difference overall.

1. Install Outdoor Lighting – A great way to spruce up your exterior walkways is to add some outdoor lighting. There are many different types to consider, such as post lights, outdoor ceiling lights and flood lights. The latter can be equipped with a motion detector that will flood your property with bright lights if it senses any motion. Post lights placed along a walkway give an aura of sophistication and come in many different styles to suit all tastes. If you have a garden you wish to draw attention to, add some landscape lighting to accent your foliage. Finally, keep that outdoor party going long after the sun goes down with some outdoor ceiling lights.
2. Resurface Your Cabinets – If your kitchen is starting to look outdated and in need of an upgrade but you don’t have the funds to completely repair or redo it, look into cabinet refacing. The costs are about 50% less than what it would cost to gut your kitchen and can be completed in a much shorter period of time. Replacing your cabinet doors, drawer fronts and hardware can give your kitchen a completely new look, and it gives you the opportunity to display your own personal style. This is also a great way to increase the market value of your home.
3. Get Out The Paint Brush – This is a cheap and easy way to breathe new life into a room and a great way to hide years of built-up dirt and grime. There are tons of colors, textures and patterns available to experiment with, and you can’t beat the sense of accomplishment knowing you did it on your own and saved a ton of money. If you don’t like how your work turns out, it’s not a problem as it’s relatively easy to change. Projects like these are a great way to spend time together as a family.
4. Give Your Bathroom a Facelift– There’s nothing worse than standing in the shower and noticing the moldy curtain two inches to your left. It also doesn’t help when you step out and are forced to stand on a discolored bathmat as you dry yourself off with an old, stained towel. Upgrade your bathroom by replacing some basic necessities, and add your personality to the mix by taking advantage of all the different colors, patterns and textures available. Faucets can be cheaply replaced and require no plumbing experience, and cleaning the grout in your tile will make a huge difference. Even getting a new toilet seat can make the room look cleaner and brighter.
   

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5. Declutter, Reorganize and Rearrange – This might sound obvious but by doing some deep cleaning and rearrangement you can get your home looking a lot more spacious and attractive. Often we don’t realize how much “stuff” we accumulate until we become overrun with it, so be honest with yourself, and get rid of whatever you don’t need. Try rearranging your furniture for maximum space and add a small rug that will act as a focal point to anchor the seating area. You might be surprised at how much more space you have.

Check out local before-and-after projects from Atlanta Home Improvement for more inspiration for your home.