Are you itching to improve your home but don’t have the money for a big project? Are you feeling handy but aren’t sure where to start? Are you just in the mood for a change? Home renovations can be long, stressful, messy projects, but they don’t have to be.
There are some projects that are inexpensive and relatively quick and can make a big impact on your home. A fresh new look might be just what your home needs, and you might be surprised what you can do with a bit of paint, some new hardware, or a little gardening. Here are our top tips for cheap, fast home renovation projects.
Landscaping
Landscaping is one of the easiest ways to spruce up your house. Whether you’re putting in a new flower bed, planting grass, or just adding a hedge row, a thousand dollars can go a long way. If you plan a new flower bed, be sure to factor in the cost of edging and mulch, like bark or gravel.
Washing the Exterior
The exterior of houses can easily begin looking faded, grungy, and dated simply because it’s dirty. In humid locations, mold and mildew build up on the exterior, making it look dirty. In drier areas, oxidation, dust, and water spots from irrigation can all have make your house look faded and tired. By washing your siding, you can give your whole house a facelift easily and cheaply.
Paint a Room
While painting is a big job, requiring a few days to prep and move furniture, it’s one of the cheapest and most dramatic ways to change the look of your house. Most medium-sized rooms can be painted with less than two gallons of paint, and even if you add tools and primer, you will still be way under $1000.
New Lighting
Light fixtures can be one of the most dated features in a room. By changing up the light fixtures in your house you can transform its look. Installing light fixtures is a relatively straight-forward process, and you should be able to hire a handyman who can do it. Ceiling fans can be a bit trickier, so be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Remember to always shut your power off at the breaker before doing anything with your wiring, and if you are at all uncomfortable, get help from someone with experience or hire help.
Kitchen and Bathroom Pulls
The pulls on your cupboard doors and drawers can really date your room. Even if you have no plans to paint or change your countertops, you can easily add in some new pulls. Almost anyone is up for this task, which can be completed in a few hours. Make sure you measure your old pulls and get the correct size so you aren’t drilling new holes in your doors.
Hardware
Hardware, such as light plates and door knobs, are another one of those features that age quickly. If you have old, dated hardware, it can throw off the look of the whole house. Changing door knobs and other hardware isn’t very difficult and most houses could be done in a day. Sometimes you can get deals on knob sets that are all keyed the same. For the inside doors, matching sets may be cheaper than individual knobs.
Paint your Cupboards
If you hate your kitchen or bathroom, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a new look. The most prominent feature of the space, the cupboards, can usually be refinished or painted. This is the most time consuming task on the list, and like all painting projects, requires extensive prep time, but you will get a big change without a big expense. Plan on several days to weeks to complete the job.
Countertops
If you have a dated kitchen with laminate countertops, you can replace them with new laminate relatively cheaply. While this job might be a little more involved than some of the others, and isn’t for absolute beginners, it can usually be done in a weekend. Plan on having help for this job, especially if you will me moving longer pieces, as they are heavy and awkward. Research the proper way to install them before starting the project, to make sure you can handle the work and have the tools you need.
New Flooring in a Room
Laminate vinyl planks, sheet vinyl, and laminate wood are all relatively cheap and provide a new look. Be sure to research your flooring type, how to install it, and how to prepare the subfloor before choosing a style and material. While some of the materials are easier to use than others, they all require careful cutting and fitting, especially in a small room like a bathroom. However, even larger rooms can often be done cheaply, and may be easier, depending on the style of flooring you use.