We all have spent a great deal of time in our homes over this past year. And like the rest of us, you probably spent a good chunk of time browsing your favorite real estate app. If so, it’s probably safe to say you have been inspired by looking at the interior of hundreds of houses and now you’re considering ways you can improve your own space, right? Or if you’re looking for inspiration, check out which home improvement and interior design trends can help increase home value or resale.
Though it may be common to assume that home renovations or improvements will inevitably cost you a fortune, that isn’t always the case. If you want to learn how to modernize your home on a budget, here are 7 ways that you can affordably give your space the lift it needs.
1. Address the first impressions
Old, worn-out doors and windows can really make a property look dated. If your budget can handle it, consider replacing your windows with hardwood frames or even steel ones. If not, repainting them in a more modern shade will instantly improve the look of your home – classic yet fashionable shades such as blues, sage greens, and soft greys work wonders.
Another tip on how to modernize your home and make a world of difference is having the outside of your exterior cleaned with a pressure washer. If you live in a wet climate like Portland, OR, or Vancouver, BC, this will take years of dust, dirt, and moss off your siding and roof. It can really bring your property back to life, and even take years off its appearance.
2. Revamp your kitchen to modernize your home
A brand new kitchen could set you back thousands of dollars, but there are several clever ways to breathe new life into your kitchen without doing a full remodel. Kitchen upgrades such as repainting your cabinets and replacing the cabinet handles can easily modernize your kitchen and make it feel clean and fresh.
You can also reface your cabinets, which is a cost-effective way of modernizing your kitchen without replacing all of your cabinetry. Basically, it’s like giving your kitchen a facelift since you’d only be swapping out your cabinet doors for new ones, giving it a fresh, clean look.
Kitchens can also easily become a place of clutter and simply tidying away the excess and focusing on minimization can make a big difference to your kitchen’s appearance and usability. The kitchen is usually the centerpiece of a home and should be at the top of the list when it comes to important areas to keep clean and tidy.
3. Give your bathroom a facelift
It’s common for people to leave bathrooms until last when it comes to making home improvements because without a full remodel, it sometimes feels as though there isn’t much of a change. There are, however, several easy superficial ways to modernize your home bathroom.
To begin, dated bathrooms often need a good, deep clean. Giving tiles and grout lines a deep clean and scrubbing limescale off the sink, bath, and toilet is the perfect start to freshening up a tired bathroom. From there, replacing accessories such as towels, mats, shower curtains, and even toilet seats can make a sizable impact. Also, you should consider re-painting any walls that may be darker in color or dated with old wallpaper. Instead apply a bright, cleaner color to your walls. All of these small changes can make a big impact on the look and feel of your bathroom.
4. Declutter
Minimization is the way to go for a more modern look and feel, so consider modernizing your home with a major decluttering project – think minimalist.
Make a point of not only maximizing your storage space but becoming a little picky when it comes to deciding what should stay and what should go. If an item hasn’t been used in a year and doesn’t add any value to you, toss it.
Whatever is left that you simply can’t live without, find a home for it that is out of sight. Under the stairs, in the cupboards, in the basement or attic – whatever you can do to minimize the amount of ‘stuff’ on display. Minimalist interiors tend to calm the mind and body and are certainly the more modern approach to designing a living space. If the process of decluttering your home is too much or overwhelming, consider hiring a professional declutter to help you with the project.
5. Freshen up your walls
Refreshing your walls with paint or wallpaper can be the best bang for your buck when it comes to affordable home improvements. But with so many different options for paint colors and wallpaper, it’s important to carefully consider color schemes.
Dark shades can leave a room feeling smaller, whilst brilliant whites everywhere can feel too cold or stark. Depending on your tastes, you may want to opt for neutral tones and soft, lighter hues that freshen up and add warmth without being too intense. If you are having trouble picking the right colors to match your space, consider reaching out to a color consultant to assist you and ensure you choose the right shades for your space.
6. Have your floors refinished
Floors are the foundation of your home and set the tone for your color palette and decorating style. If you want to know how to modernize your home on a budget and have hardwood flooring that has not been refinished in years, consider having your floors re-sanded and re-sealed. This project can significantly rejuvenate a room and make all the difference.
Additionally, many homeowners don’t realize that you can change the color of hardwood flooring when you refinish your floors. You can go light, dark, and anywhere in between. So, if you are trying to modernize your house opt for textured warm or cool tones to tie your space together.
6. Upgrade your lighting
You can transform the look and feel of your home with lighting, turning dated, dingy spaces into cozy, warm areas that feel inviting. There are so many different types of lighting to choose from, whether you want super modern pieces or more classic timeless lighting, they have it all.
Whether it’s a pretty table lamp, some hidden spotlights, or a statement pendant light over a kitchen island, you can easily modernize your home and create a dynamic new aesthetic with some carefully considered lighting for your home.
7. Add finishing touches
Shopping around for decor such as lamps, art, rugs, and furniture can be fun, especially in today’s online world. Use your creativity and possibly the help of an interior designer to assist you in putting the finishing touches on your space and bringing your home together into a modernized, inviting space.
You can also save money while putting the final touches of the house together by using home decor coupons, so be sure to shop around to find the best prices and look for online stores that have great deals.
With a little imagination and these tips on how to modernize your home on a budget, there is no end to the improvements you can make, so let your creativity flow and have fun with it.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.