Top Budge Friendly Home Upgrades
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home look great. If you think it’s time for a few improvements but you’re not prepared to pay thousands of dollars to put in luxurious new carpeting or a swimming pool, keep reading. OMTB put together 11 budget-friendly projects that will increase the appeal—and the functionality—of your home without breaking the bank.
Change out Cabinet Hardware: The kitchen is the place where everyone gathers, so you want yours to look good, but a full remodel can be cost-prohibitive. Fortunately, you can add a fresh new look just by replacing old cabinet pulls and knobs, an upgrade that can come in under $100. Choose new hardware that suits your style—maybe vintage faceted glass knobs for a boho-chic look or sleek chrome knobs for contemporary flair.
Paint the Front Door: Your front door sets the tone for the rest of the house. If it’s drab, it won’t make much of an impression on anyone who stops by, be they guests or prospective buyers. Painting the front door can renew the look of the whole front facade, for a mere $50 to $80—the price of a good exterior enamel. Choose bold blues or rustic reds to draw attention, or opt for soft tans or grays for classic appeal.
Pressure Wash: Now’s the prefect time to pressure wash your home and driveway to remove all the dirty residue from the winter months. You will be amazed at what a newly pressure washed walkway will look like!!!
Paint an Accent Wall: To transform a room, you don’t have to paint all four walls. In fact, painting just one wall in a contrasting or complementary color can give the entire space a new lease on life. Even better, the project will cost you less than $40 for a gallon of interior latex paint, plus a few more bucks for a roller, brush, and pan. Accent walls are a great addition to virtually any room, from the bedroom to the living room and beyond. Try to coordinate decorative elements, such as lamps or rugs, with the accent wall color for a polished look.
Build a Raised Flower Bed: Boost your home’s curb appeal by adding a raised flower bed, which you can build for $200 or less. In choosing the materials, try to complement those used in your home, whether bricks, wood, or stone. Carefully assess your property from the street to determine the best spot for the flower bed, and be sure to fill it with rich soil. Opt for annuals that offer bright splashes of color, keep it simple by planting attractive, low-maintenance perennials, or plant a mixture of the two.
Update Your Mailbox: If your old mailbox has seen better days, replacing it with a new, more decorative one will enhance the appeal of your front facade. For under $100, you can purchase a new curbside mailbox.
Trade Up to a Keyless Entry: Forget fumbling with keys! Today’s new keyless locks are safe and efficient, and they’re manufactured to complement a range of styles. For less than $300, you can purchase a keyless lockset, complete with an exterior handle and touch screen. Not only will a smart lockset eliminate the hassle of keys, it will also improve the appearance of your entry.
Show Off with Shutters: Adding decorative shutters to the windows on the front of your home can amp up curb appeal, and the upgrade won’t cost a fortune. You can either build your own shutters from exterior-grade lumber and paint them to suit, or choose premade options in a complementary color.
Add Style with Crown Molding: Crown molding—the molding that sits between the top of a wall and the ceiling—draws the eye upward and adds panache to any room. Crown molding, available at home improvement stores, sells for $4 to $8 per linear foot and comes in lengths of up to 16 feet. Easy to install, crown molding can make a builder-grade home look like a classic.
Switch to a Programmable Thermostat: For less than $50, you can replace your old manual thermostat with a programmable model that will turn the heat (and AC) on and off according to your predetermined schedule. With a programmable thermostat. Not only are these programmable thermostats more efficient than the old ones, but their sleek styling will freshen up the look of your wall.
Put Up New House Numbers: If your house numbers are small or dull, they’re dragging down your curb appeal and doing little to guide visitors—or even first responders—to your house. For $10 to $15 per numeral, you can replace drab house numbers with clearer options in the material of your choice, for instance, wrought iron, bold brass, ceramic, or elegant brushed nickel.
These a few budget minded upgrades that you can easily tackle this year! As always, if you need our help, OMTB will gladly assist in transforming your home in 2020!