From Neutral to Noticeable: Eight Budget Friendly Updates to Give Your Home an Extra Pop

Spring is a time of renewal. Nature evolves from the bleak winter dullness to a beautiful spring display. While everything is new and fresh outdoors, we understandably want a little refresher on our indoor spaces.

As parents, most of our finances go toward raising our family and there is little room in the budget for a transformation as spectacular as Mother Nature’s. However, there are plenty of little things you can do to give your space an updated look without breaking into the college fund.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – Mirrors are an easy way to give a room a new focal point. You are not limited to the rectangular mirrors that came with your house. Try different shapes – ovals, squares or circles – as well as different frame materials. Consider adding small framed mirrors to a shelf, wall collage or on a stair landing. Decorative mirrors not only brighten a room and give it depth, but they also give you an extra spot for a quick reflection check.

Accent Wall – Social media is filled with DIYers creating batten board walls in their house with bead board or simple 1 by 4s. Another trending option is peel and stick wallpaper and tiles. All options offer a little texture and color to freshen up a room. It’s an easy way to update a bathroom, long hallway or entryway. Even simply painting one wall in the room, like behind a headboard, gives a room the freshen up it needs.

First Impressions – Your front door is the first thing your visitors see. Try painting it a bold color – if you hate it, it’s easy to fix. Freshening up your front porch with new house numbers and a doormat is a simple and inexpensive change. Add a seasonal wreath and flowerpots of different heights to give dimension. If you have space for a chair or bench, add some colorful outdoor pillows.

Bring the Outdoors In – One of the biggest trends for this year is nature and sustainability. This year’s paint colors reflect Mother Nature’s palette, with more emphasis on greens, browns and neutrals. Add live plants and vertical gardens to sunny spaces. Decorate with natural pieces like dried flowers and use materials made from bamboo or hemp. Shop thrift stores and garage sales for unique items that can be refurbished to save them from landfills.

Add Décor with a Story – My mom has a photo wall in her dining room. It is not pictures of family, but instead, places that she has visited or things in nature that caught her eye. If you ask her, she can tell you where each picture was taken. The wall is interesting because it tells her story and adds a personal touch to her décor that you can’t get from a store-bought item. Consider creating a wall like that in your house.

Give them Pantry Envy – An organized pantry is always impressive as well as more functional. To ensure everything has its place, purchase clear containers and fill them with the contents of your open bags and boxes. Use a Lazy Susan to store spices and small jars that can easily get lost. Put bread in a breadbox, add bins for potatoes and stair step racks for cans. If it’s in the budget, replace wire racks with cabinets or solid shelves. Don’t be afraid to paint the walls or add a fun chandelier.

Make a Laundry Room You Love – We spend too much time in the laundry room to keep it drab. Jazz it up with a bright tile floor or an interesting backsplash. Hide laundry supplies in cabinets or under-appliance drawers. Add built-in drying racks, coat hooks and broom holders. Create a command central space with a dry erase weekly calendar, bulletin boards and office supply drawer. Soften up the space with an area rug and window treatments.

Kitchens with a Wow factor – Everyone knows the kitchen is the heart of the home. However, it is one of the most expensive rooms to makeover. If you can’t afford to change cabinets and countertops this year, start with new handles for cabinets or add cane webbing for texture. Replace lighting (just brighter lightbulbs can be enough) or change out your sink and faucets. Did you know you could tile right over tile? It’s an easier way to update an existing backsplash and it gives your kitchen a whole new look.