Home improvements don’t have to be expensive. In this post, we share 5 budget-friendly updates you can make that won’t break the bank.
If you’re anything like me, then when you hear the term “home renovations” you can hear your bank account screaming in fear. Seriously, it’s no secret that many home improvement projects can cost a pretty penny. This is why when my sister and I bought our first rental investment property, we knew we needed to prioritize projects that would give us the biggest bang for our buck! You will be amazed at the transformation you see by just doing these five key updates.
Okay… let’s get started!
This post is all about budget-friendly home improvements that will make the largest impact in your home or Airbnb property!
1. Hardware
Whether it be cabinet pulls in your kitchen or handles on all of your doors, new hardware is one of the EASIEST and best ways to upgrade the look of your space. There are so many great options online that you are guaranteed to find something to fit the exact style you are looking for.
Personally, I love a simple matte black or gold finish for the majority of my hardware. These 5 inch matte black cabinet pulls are the exact ones we purchased when updating our Airbnb property. (A very important detail that would be a sin not to mention, is that these pulls come in a pack of 30 for less than $30.) If gold is more your vibe then these pulls are *chef’s kiss*.
2. Fresh Paint
This is a subject I could talk about for – quite literally – forever. Don’t worry, I’ll respect your time and make my claim short and sweet.
My love for a fresh coat of paints runs deep through my veins. No matter how many times I complete a painting project, I am ALWAYS blown away at the incredible difference it makes in my space. Seriously, paint can really transform your home into anything you want it to be.
A fresh coat of paint on the walls can really liven up a room. To brighten up your home, try out a light grey or white to create a soft, neutral base. By doing this, you are allowing yourself to bring in personality and various styles with other decorative elements.
Paint can make it’s biggest impact when it comes to kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities. If you don’t love the look of your current cabinets, don’t think this means they need to be completely replaced. Replacing kitchen cabinets is expensive and labor-intensive. Two adjectives I don’t like one bit. As long as your cabinets are in “good health” I will recommend painting over replacing 10/10 times.
Related Posts:
The Best Sage Green Paint Color for Any Space
How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets in 11 Simple Steps
The Best Paint for Cabinets That Will Transform Your Kitchen for Less Than $70
3. Caulking
I know what you might be thinking… “can caulking really make that big of a difference?” Honestly, I understand the skepticism. But hear me out. There is something so crisp and clean about a freshly caulked seam. This is one of those home improvements that is so simple and so cheap, yet makes a world’s difference. Take a look at your showers, baseboards and trim. Is the old caulking starting to peel up on the edges? Or maybe it was never caulked in the first place and you can see the small open seam at the connection of the wall. If this is the case, get that caulking out and get to work, girlfriend! For tips on how to caulk, check out this post.
4. New Flooring
Something about new flooring is just truly magical. Now, full transparency here, there are some floorings you can choose that cost nothing less than an arm and a leg. However, there are SO MANY affordable options out there. One of my all-time favorite floorings to use is a vinyl plank. Not only is vinyl plank absolutely stunning, but it is durable, and easy to install yourself (I promise). All for a reasonably low price. I’ve shared above a picture of our Airbnb after we re-did our flooring using the Style Selections Vinyl Plank in the color ‘natural hickory.’
Pro Tip: A “rule-of-thumb” is to buy 10% more than the exact square footage that you need. This is to account for any “waste” you might have throughout the process.
5. Kitchen Countertops
Kitchen countertops. Let’s talk about ’em. If you are looking to replace your kitchen countertops with a marble or quartz stone, it’s not going to be cheap. It will be absolutely beautiful, stunning, and all of the other related adjectives. But it will not be listed under “budget-friendly” home improvements. HOWEVER, there is an amazing alternative. Epoxy countertops. Yep, you read that right.
Epoxy marble countertops are one of the best home improvements you can complete in your kitchen and still stay within your budget. You can achieve unbelievable results with epoxy countertops at a literal fraction of the cost. This Giana Marble Epoxy Countertop Kit is on Amazon for less than $200, and it’s the exact kit we used on our countertops.
If you don’t believe me quite yet, check out our post 5 Steps To The Perfect Epoxy Countertops to see a step-by-step guide on how to complete this project. Spoiler: our post is complete with mind-blowing “before and afters.”
Now that you have our list on the best budget-friendly home improvements, I hope you feel confident to take on some of these projects. Okay, enough reading. It’s time to put these words into action!
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