Since we are sandwiched right between post-holiday bills and impending tax time, let’s consider a few ways to spruce up a home without breaking the bank.
The off-season is the perfect time to do a little home maintenance, especially for those with vacation rentals or anyone who wants to list a property in the spring.
Here’s a look at three inexpensive ways to make home improvements without spending a fortune.
Painting
Whether you want to make some dramatic changes or to simply perk things up, painting is one of the most rewarding choices. Doing it yourself will save hundreds of dollars and the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel for a job well done is priceless!
If you are not an experienced painter start this project with a visit to your local paint store and get a little guidance. The key to achieving excellent results requires attention to detail when prepping the areas to be painted, investing in some good brushes and learning a few tricks of the trade. You can discuss your plans with a pro or check out one of hundreds of DIY lessons online. Along with tutorials on YouTube, Lowes and Home Depot have several excellent DIY videos on their websites. The cool thing about many of the online resources is that they are frequently job specific, such as, “How to Paint a Door”, “How to Paint Trim”, or “No-Mess Masking Techniques”.
Improving your home with paint can be as involved as completely painting your home’s exterior, redoing every room with the latest trendy colors or just touching up the trim.
Fixtures and Hardware
Another way to make frugal yet effective improvements to your home is to track down your screwdriver and upgrade cabinet hardware, drawer pulls, switch plates, and outdated light fixtures. Replacing tired showerheads and faucets is another frugal fix that can breathe new life into a tired bathroom.
Believe it or not, you can also track down new and like new hardware and fixtures for a fraction of the cost at a few places you may not have considered. Frequently builders and other homeowners have things left over from construction jobs or renovations and donate them to Goodwill, The ReStore, or post them on Craigslist. Those spots are where you may be lucky enough to find some vintage pulls, doorknobs, or hinges. Who knows? You may find just what you’re looking for and save quite a chunk of change in the meantime.
In the case of pulls, doorknobs, hinges, and certain lighting fixtures, sometimes just cleaning and polishing them can make a world of difference. If you want to change their color, or bring a metallic finish back to its previous luster, there are new spray enamels in every shade imaginable including oil rubbed bronze and polished nickel!
Textiles
Curtains, throw rugs, towels, table linens, decorative pillows – These household mainstays get lots of use and should be replaced every few years. Incorporating a few carefully chosen pieces is a nice, yet inexpensive way to update a room or even change the color scheme. If you’re the crafty type, stitching up a new beachy table runner or pretty pillows for the porch rockers can be a rewarding wintertime activity!