These cheap ways to update your home are easy, so start your dream home file now.
Remember the day you bought your home?
All the excitement of starting somewhere fresh and new made it seem like…well maybe not the perfect home, but close!
Over the years, though, that home started to feel boring.
It’s getting to the point that you just don’t want to be there anymore.
But with the cost of housing (not to mention the work and effort of moving), swapping house is just out of the question.
Well, that’s ok. Because once you put these cheap ideas in place, your home will feel new all over again.
These Cheap Ways To Update Your Home Make Home Improvement Affordable
Cut the Clutter
I promise you…the fastest way to feel like you’re living in a different house is to get rid of all the “stuff”.
For some reason, I was hesitant to do this for a long time. Probably because I’m cheap, and I didn’t want to get rid of something, only to find out I needed it and now have to buy a new one. (argh!)
But the secret is, that has almost never happened.
If that whole idea seems completely overwhelming, and you aren’t really into the whole Marie Kondo fad, here’s a better way to start.
Change It Up
Swap out your decor. If you’ve been looking at the same artwork in your living room for years, a new look will make everything seem fresh and is totally a cheap way to update your home.
Borrow from other rooms, check the thrift shop, ask friends if they want to do a swap.
Rearrange furniture. Move that bench from the kitchen to the hallway.
Sometimes asking a friend helps, especially if you’ve been staring at the same arrangement of furniture for so long that you barely even see it anymore.
Here are a few more shoestring budget ideas for when you hate your house.
Living Things
Your kids are the cutest living things around, but that’s not exactly what I mean here.
We’re talking about plants!
While I’ve always been one to grab a discount bundle of flowers in the winter time to warm up my home, I only really began to appreciate having plants in my house year round pretty recently.
And they don’t even have to actually be living. Fake plants still feel homey!
Ikea has them for less than $5, and they’re so easy to pop into a small space.
But you can also ask friends if they have some house plants they’d like to share.
Stay motivated to keep your home a haven from the world.
Lighting
When we did our home addition last year, lighting was one of the few places I splurged.
That’s because the kids can’t destroy it quite as easily. 😉
(Notice I didn’t say they can’t destroy it at all…)
There are some very pretty light fixtures for under $100.
A ceiling fan like this one is a nice way to change up the look of your room and add a function that will save you money on cooling.
Change Your Porch
Curb appeal isn’t just for home sellers.
You can go as cheap or expensive here as you want.
Give your front door a fresh coat of colorful paint. Or completely replace it with a new style.
Add plants. In the springtime, you might find someone in your neighborhood that is separating out bulbs and would be willing to give or trade some to you.
Aldi sells big signs that cost about $10 all the time, and I’m a sucker for them!
They are not outdoor signs, but for $10 I didn’t mind taking the risk of hanging them on my front porch. (I didn’t have any issues doing this at all, but your mileage may vary.)
Love your home every single day (with a little help).
New Faucets
On the advice of a friend (who is a home inspector), we stuck with Moen faucets for our kitchen remodel (this is the exact model we bought and love).
They don’t cost much more than other faucets, but seem to hold up better.
Here’s exactly how we managed a home addition on a budget, if you were wondering about the remodel.
A different color or style faucet is a nice treat if you, like me, wash your hands about 126 times a day.
If that’s too much, just give your sink a really good scrub and enjoy the shine.
Add Shelves
If you have stuff everywhere, it’s time to go up the walls.
Shelving in open areas is probably best for pretty displays. It can be fun to change it out with the seasons.
For storage, find places to add shelves in closets or bedrooms. Sometimes it’s just nice to walk all the way to the bed without tripping on stuff.
One Thing
Let’s say you have a budget of $50 to make a change to one room. It can be tempting to see how much you can get for that $50…but resist the urge.
Instead, focus on just one thing you really want with that budget.
Maybe it’s a pretty rug. Or a giant metal chicken. (swoon!) A pretty painting (or print of one) could be your thing.
It’s easier to display one thing in an impactful way, and that one thing will make you happy every time you see it.
Create A Window Seat
Can’t you just feel the comfort of that?
Whether that means pulling up a chair, adding a side table, and this cozy blanket…OR (if you’re handy) building a whole bench from scratch, it’s an amazing touch that definitely changes the feel of your home.
Paint
I know, this one is on every list out there. But there are so many options!
Paint a room. Paint just one accent wall. Put up tape in geometric shapes and paint patterns.
Furniture can be painted. Sometimes steps can go for a coat of paint. Cabinets, heck people have painted floors! The possibilities for paint are practically endless, and it’s a quick, fairly cheap way to make a dramatic change to a room.
These simple ideas are the best cheap ways to update your home so you can love your safe haven again.
Looking for a little more help? Then sign up for this free 5 Word Challenge that is exactly what you need to get your home under control again.
What cheap idea has made the biggest impact on your home?
I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. 
