7 Ways To Update Your Home On A Budget

Published on Thursday, February 20th, 2020

If you’re a DIY’er, you’re already on your way into saving money. With the right research and strategy, you can transform a room in your home for under a few hundred dollars. The passionate Scottsdale Flooring America team has put together a comprehensive list of 7 ways to update your home on a budget so you can turn your dreams into a reality.

1. Add a fresh coat of paint to any room

You can improve your washed out, outdated walls with a fresh coat of paint in any room. If you are updating your home for sale, a brilliantly bright living room might be your top choice, however, a neutral clean color palette is much more appealing to most buyers.

Additionally, there are various other features of each room that a fresh coat of paint can help to completely transform a room on a budget.

• Painting the cabinetry in your kitchen or bathroom to make an outdated room look much more modern and clean
• Replacing and painting over light switch plates to match your walls and allow them to disappear more
• Consider painting your front door a bold color for added curb appeal.
• If you don’t want to replace old, ugly tile, paint them to look fresh and clean.
• Paint the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom to look brand new.

2. Protect walls with an easy-to-clean backsplash

Cutting, shaping, and gluing tile may sound daunting, however, putting up one made from a single sheet of solid surface material may just be perfect for you. It’s easy to install, cut, and shape and comes in a variety of colors and patterns that can be done in one weekend.

Once you have your new stylish backsplash in place, you’ll wonder why you ever considered tile in the first place.

Related Topic: 2020 Flooring Trends

3. Lay low-cost flooring

Laminate is much less expensive in comparison to hardwood flooring but doesn’t fall short on quality and appearance. Its benefits are no less than durability, affordability, and vast style variation and are a great option for many rooms in your home.

Most homebuyers stumble upon laminate because it’s so affordable. The way laminate is manufactured is what makes it so much less expensive compared to other types of flooring, however, the materials are engineered to give lasting durability and strength. Laminate offers homeowners a realistic hardwood, tile, or stone look without breaking the bank.

In addition, laminate is a lot easier to install than traditional hardwood flooring. You can install laminate planks over virtually any subfloor and laminate is even considered environmentally friendly because it uses much less wood compared to other flooring materials.

4. Quick and easy upgrades

There are so many quick and easy ways homeowners can change the look and feel of their home. A few includes

• If you are upgrading your home for sale, a great thing you can do is either stash family photos or temporarily place a generic photo in the frame. Potential buyers want to picture themselves in a home and this helps to do that.
• To make a room feel larger or more open, add mirrors. This can help to make a room feel lighter as well.
• Some things that are necessary to a home are an eyesore and can be covered up with affordable painting.
• Consider adding visible storage to bathrooms, mudrooms, and laundry rooms. Buyers love to visibly see storage, therefore a few extra shelves in a blank space can make a huge difference.

Related Topic: FAQs About Laminate Flooring

5. Replace light fixtures

Natural light is only half of the lighting equation. Replace old lighting fixtures with beautiful options ranging from traditional to smart lighting fixtures. Simply replacing light fixtures throughout your home can make a room feel that much more expensive.

Additionally, consider adding ceiling fans to living rooms and bedrooms to create a cooling breeze and reduce the strain on air conditioners in the summer. In the winter, ceiling fans work to circulate the heated air to keep the room warm. More and more homeowners are discovering the dramatic year-round energy savings of ceiling fans and the installation is relatively simple.

6. Take control of the front and back yard

According to Consumer Reports, landscaping is among the most effective home improvements you can do to generate the biggest return on your money – and your overall happiness. It creates curb appeal and can also prevent expensive potential damage. Assessing your driveway is one update worth budgeting for in your front yard. An updated driveway without cracks or weeds pushing through can improve curb appeal as well.

Now, think about what you can do with the back yard space. Consider this space your private sanctuary, adding features such as a dining table to make it seem like more space, or adding a safe space for kids and pets to roam. If you have a deck, another option is to power wash and hand scrub the deck to remove algae and leaf stains, then brush on a protective coat of semitransparent stain to protect it from the elements.

7. Functional updates

A few easy and affordable functional updates include

• Installing a digital thermostat can trim over $180 off the annual heating and cooling costs. Simple models are sold for only $25, however can only control heat. More expensive digital thermostats can handle many more functions such as cooling and humidifying.
• Install a ventilating fan in your bathrooms to eliminate steamy mirrors, foggy windows, and moisture-related problems such as mold and mildew. These are costly issues that can lead to health problems.
• Install an under-sink water-filtration system to affordably obtain clean drinking water.

The price range of each of these items can vary from very little to very expensive. However, with a little time and research, you can find either of these options affordably and efficiently.

Related Topic: Important Flooring Questions To Ask Before Purchasing

7 Ways To Update Your Home On A Budget

If you are updating to sell your home, consider asking a real estate agent what buyers are currently looking for and make a list. If you are updating your home to boost your personal happiness, you’ve come to the right place. Scottsdale Flooring America has a warehouse full of flooring options fit for any style and budget. After all, changing the look of your floors can completely change the look of any room.

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of 7 ways to update your home on a budget, start your adventure today! Reach out to an expert now.