Striking Remodels on a Budget

Give your home a makeover without spending money on a full-blown renovation or repainting. From simple alterations to adding personal touches, these no-fuss decorating changes will help your space feel brand-new.

Adding interior doors that aren't in many other homes is one way to make your home feel unique and more personable.

Change Up Your Layout

It's easy to overlook how much a room could be improved by changing the layout. Whether you're into a new home, renovating your home, or just tweaking an existing space, this is an easy fix.

Start by emptying the space of furniture, rugs, and decorative items (leaving behind any that are easy to move elsewhere) and cleaning the floors and shelves. It will give you a blank canvas to work with.

Next, measure the room and plot out wall boundaries, windows, and doors to create a blank canvas for the new layout. Be sure to consider any obtrusive features like radiators too. The most striking remodels typically leave some space so each component can "sing" and keep the design from cluttering.

Declutter

Clutter can make a room feel drab, from piles of mail and dishes to years-old toys or games. But while there are tons of storage solutions on the market, tackling clutter requires time and patience.

The cheapest way to declutter is to eliminate items you no longer use. You can sell or donate unwanted items to benefit a good cause or save money on new storage containers by reusing cardboard boxes, plastic bins, and other simple materials.

You can also declutter a space by simply rearranging the space. For example, removing knickknacks from tabletops can help a room look clean and modern. And putting a few framed pictures on the wall creates the illusion of a gallery wall without the expense of purchasing artwork.

Add Texture

Mixing textures can elevate a space-like color, Whether the artist's velvet or jute. The trick is to ensure the shades you choose complement one another rather than clash. You can play with texture by adding different materials – smooth, woven, fur, nubby, shiny, and more.

Using textures on walls, furniture, and other decorative pieces is easy if you look for natural, neutral-colored elements. For instance, a macrame plant hanger or woven wall art is a great and budget-friendly option. Adding textured blankets to your living spaces is also an effortless way to transform your space. They come in many textures ranging from chunky cable knits to lightweight muslin or nubby linens.

Add Light

Getting the most out of your natural light is a great way to make any room feel brighter. One of the easiest things to do is to replace your overhead lights with recessed lighting. These will allow natural light to bounce off the ceiling in all directions rather than just downwards.

You can also add more lighting in general. Adding more lamps, chandeliers, or sconces will be a simple way to brighten the space. Opt for ones that are light in color and not too intrusive.

Dark walls will absorb the light in a room, so stick with lighter tones or even happy pastel hues, like Robin's or lavender. Painting the trim a white shade can also be an easy way to brighten up your home.

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.