Giving your home a makeover is a great way to feel refreshed and inspired, especially if you do it at the start of a new year.
You might face some challenges if you’re renting or you’ve got a small budget to work with, but even if you can’t knock down walls, install new windows or retile your bathroom, there’s still plenty of simple and cost-effective ways to give your home a revamp that looks and feels amazing.
Here are 7 great ideas to get started with.
1. Set the atmosphere with lighting
You might not think it, but the way you light a space can dramatically affect the atmosphere and even your mood.
Natural lighting is always ideal, and there are ways to help increase the amount of natural light in your home without putting in more windows. Try cleaning your windows, opting for a lighter colour palette and hanging mirrors around the house to reflect the light.
After you’ve made efforts to better natural lighting, look at ways you can improve the artificial lighting situation. Energy efficient LED lights are the way to go, but don’t forget to add some personality and flair with the lighting fixture you choose.
If you can’t make changes to the main room lights, introducing decorative lamps is a good move. Floor lamps make a statement and small table lamps can bring any dead corner alive.
2. Turn heads with wall art
If your home is lacking in personality, wall art is a great way to bring more of the things you love into your rooms. Whether it’s a landscape painting of your favourite place, a family portrait or a print that just captures your eye, wall art is about curating colours, textures and images that mean something to you.
Go big and bold with a statement piece or put together a series of smaller artworks that work together well. Get the kids involved and have them make some art for the toy room or frame a puzzle that you’ve worked on together.
For expensive artworks and meaningful pieces, make sure you go for professional picture framing. Not only will custom frames make your artwork look its best, it’ll also protect your precious pieces and keep them in great condition so you can enjoy them for longer.
3. Refresh the kitchen and bathroom with new hardware
You might not have the permission or budget to redo the cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, but simply changing the hardware can make a big difference. Switch out outdated drawer knobs and door handles for a more modern option and you’ll instantly notice a classier look.
4. Give your walls a fresh coat of paint
The most effective way to give worn out rooms a facelift is by applying a new coat of paint. Whether you’re not into the current colour scheme or you’re noticing cracks and chips in the walls, a new coat of paint will help your rooms look fresh and clean.
Unless you know what you’re doing, opt for a neutral white for the walls and add colour with your decor. If you’re working with a small budget, go for the rooms that need it the most – or spend your money on a feature wall.
Painting worn out woodwork like fences, decking and outdoor furniture is also a great way to revamp parts of your home that have seen better days.
5. Declutter and organise
Mess and disorganisation can make your home feel chaotic. Decluttering, organising and deep cleaning is a great way to bring more calmness and clarity into your home.
If you’re feeling pressed for space, consider selling or donating items that you don’t use anymore. Invest in good storage baskets and containers so that everything has its place. If you’ve got a particular trouble spot (such as your second drawer in the kitchen), do some research on how to best tackle the problem.
Keep in mind decluttering and reorganising can take a long time, and might even be emotionally taxing. You don’t want to start the project and stop half way – you’ll be in even more mess. It’s best to set aside time when you don’t have a lot of other pressures on your plate.
6. Introduce calmness with house plants
Plants have a calming effect on us and can even improve air quality inside our homes. Consider bringing a few plants home to decorate with.
If you don’t want to spend money on new plants, ask your friends and family if they have any plants you can take a cutting from. Many indoor house plants can be grown by cutting a section off a well established plant.
Some plants are fussy and need lots of attention, but many indoor plants are hardy and respond well when neglected. If you don’t have a green thumb, opt for easy to care for plants like the ZZ plant, Devil’s ivy or monstera deliciosa.
7. Upgrade appliances
If your appliances have seen better days, consider upgrading to more modern options for an instant facelift. Look for attractive options that are super functional and reliable. Better energy ratings will also help keep your power bill down.
If your goal is to increase aesthetic appeal in your kitchen, spend your money on the appliances that are seen most rather than the ones that are stored in the cupboard. Coffee machines, kettles and refrigerators will make more of an impact than the blender or food processor you keep tucked away.
Revamping your home doesn’t have to be hard or expensive
We all need a change of scenery once in a while. Revamping your home in these simple and cost-effective ways can help you feel inspired and refreshed without breaking the bank.
Don’t forget to enjoy the process. Changing up your decor, decluttering your living room and choosing mood lighting for your bedroom can all be satisfying activities when done mindfully.
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