When you’re living in an apartment or house that’s just not big enough, the temptation to upgrade can be strong, especially if your rent or mortgage payments are high. But who says you have to buy? There are plenty of ways to upgrade your home without taking out a loan and buying something new. Here are 5 ways to upgrade your home on a budget.
1) Start with the basics
A major appeal of buying a new home is that you have an opportunity to pick and choose features that you’ve always wanted. However, starting with an upgrade can be expensive and might delay your ability to get settled into your new home. If you’re looking for ways to upgrade your current home on a budget, try fixing things yourself or adding inexpensive updates like seasonal décor, extra storage containers and coffee table books. Over time, these small investments will give your place more personality without breaking your bank account. If money is no object, then we recommend designing with renters in mind—buildings with lots of shared spaces usually create fewer headaches than individual units because they need less maintenance.
2) Replace every other fixture
Did you know your kitchen sink faucet alone uses 30 gallons of water per day? Because most homes have many fixtures like these, making them more efficient can go a long way toward reducing your energy bills. However, retrofitting fixtures is expensive, especially if you hire someone else to do it. As an alternative, consider DIY-ing new, super-efficient versions instead of replacing all your existing fixtures. You’ll save cash in both installation and upfront costs and improve your home at no added cost to you!
3) Add accent colors
Painting an accent wall in your home is one of those small, low-cost upgrades that can make a big difference. Painting an accent wall allows you to add splashes of color and personality, but still keep your rooms looking sleek and elegant. The way you choose to paint is entirely up to you, but consider using complementary colors like blue and orange or purple and yellow. As long as it isn’t too dark of a shade (and always follow safety precautions), painting an accent wall is guaranteed to help refresh any room in your home—without busting your budget.
4) Buy things you need, not things you want
One of the easiest ways to throw away your hard-earned money is by trying to decorate your new home. Be honest with yourself; do you really need another tv, another table or more shoes? No! To keep your finances in check and still make improvements, stick with things you need, not things you want. Things like items for your kitchen, bathroom and utility bills. The peace of mind that comes from paying off these essential items will be worth it in both now and the future. It will bring you an amazing sense of satisfaction knowing that if something should happen to occur at any time, there is less at stake financially because most of what was owed has already been paid off.
5) Focus on storage areas
Of course, deciding where you want to upgrade will depend on what you want out of your home. If you’re looking for more storage space, focus your efforts there. Simple tricks like wall-mounted organization systems or clever design elements can create additional storage areas that aren’t immediately obvious when you walk in. You could also take advantage of unused wall space by creating shelves or magnetic bulletin boards that are easier and cheaper than building an addition onto your home. Additionally, buying secondhand furniture can save money while upgrading your decor at once.