Contrary to popular belief, you don't always have to spend a fortune to improve the appearance of your property. Often, a few small gestures are enough to rejuvenate the look of a house or condo that is no longer quite up to date.
Tired of your dark, faded or dated walls? Take out your brushes and paint pots and refresh them! Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable home improvement projects out there. Even if you are not very manual, you will get there without too much difficulty.
Often underestimated, paint can enhance the design of a room. Dark walls will shrink the space, in addition to creating a feeling of oppression. On the contrary, pale walls will brighten the room and promote calm and tranquility. Your home will even look bigger!
Although pale colors are in fashion, nothing prevents you from applying a small quantity of a bright color, or from making an accent wall that will give character to the place.
To avoid feeling like you’re living in a rainbow, however, make sure your walls match your furniture, flooring and decor. Gray walls will, for example, make it possible to highlight white furniture. It is also important to match the colors so that the transition from one room to another is done well.
Plus, get paint that provides extra protection against mold and dirt if you decide to tackle the bathroom or kitchen.
Are you no longer able to see the linoleum in your kitchen or bathroom? If you don't have the budget to change it, try repainting it! You will feel like you have a whole new floor! Make sure your surface is clean before you start painting. Preferably choose a product designed for linoleum or floors and tiles.
Are you no longer able to see your melamine cabinets? Instead of changing them, try painting them! You'll save hundreds of dollars and feel like you're living in a brand new kitchen. For an impeccable finish, however, use melamine paint and rollers and brushes designed for this type of project. At the hardware store, you will be shown the right products.
In case you want to completely change the look of your cabinets, cover them with beadboard panels. This affordable material is available at most home improvement stores.
If your cabinets cannot be repainted, remove the doors and fill the holes left by the hinges with wood putty. Your kitchen will seem deeper and more modern. If you feel like it, paint the bottom of your cabinets with a bright or dark color to create a striking contrast.
To give your kitchen a clean, professional look, hang a curtain rod over your sink. Hang your sponges, towels and paper towels on it using small hooks and baskets. This will free up space on your counter. If you don't like the color of your rod, do not hesitate to repaint it using a product suitable for the surface.
Renovating an interior staircase is expensive. Fortunately, there are simple and affordable solutions that will make you feel like you have a new staircase.
If your stairs are covered with an outdated carpet, remove it and replace it with a new one. You can also repaint it to give it a more modern look. If you choose this option, you will probably have to start by sanding the steps to get a flawless finish. It will also be in your interest to get a resistant and durable paint, this place being one of the busiest in the house. For the choice of colors, you have several options: you can decide to paint the treads and risers the same color or to create a contrast. Currently, dark colors are very popular for treads, while white is becoming more common on risers.
Does your staircase have a banister? Add one! Not only will it be more modern, but it will also be safer. If the ramp in place is no longer up to date, replace it with a newer model.
Wallpaper has come a long way in recent years. Now, you can find them in all colors, finishes and themes. Some companies even offer to print custom designs.
The biggest advantage of wallpaper is that it can style a room inexpensively. You can create a beautiful effect of depth in a small bedroom by installing wallpaper with a flower or tree pattern, for example.
As with painting, you don't necessarily need to hire professionals to wallpaper: you can easily do it yourself. There is even self-adhesive wallpaper, which requires even less equipment.
There is nothing better than decoration to personalize your environment.
Why not give a second life to all your photos that have been lying around in the back of your closet for too long by hanging them on the wall? If you are skilled with your hands, use wood, cardboard or even wooden branches to make original photo frames.
If you're not a do-it-yourselfer at heart, you'll find affordable frames at most dollar stores. Do not hesitate to play with sizes and colors to achieve a modern look.
To enhance your windows, it is also important to dress them well. For example, replace your old vertical blinds in the living room with brightly colored curtains to create a striking effect.
Indoor plants can also help you beautify your decor… provided you take good care of them! Choose plants adapted to the light and temperature of the place.
Cushions are other interesting decorative objects. They make it easy to refresh the look of an outdated loveseat or worn kitchen chairs. A word of advice: choose a style that matches your other furniture.
Cushions are also interesting decorative objects. They make it easy to refresh the look of an outdated loveseat or worn kitchen chairs. A word of advice: choose a style that matches your other furniture. Plus, adding simple hooks in the entryway will make this room more functional, especially if coats, mittens, and boots are often lying around in the cold weather.
Changing the light source is sometimes enough to transform a room. In areas without ceiling lights, such as some bedrooms, replace old lamps with newer ones. If yours are still in good condition, just get new lampshades. Also, don't forget to buy yourself bulbs whose color temperature is adapted to the use of your room. Thus, it will be preferable to install warm white bulbs in a bedroom to create a warm atmosphere.
We don't always think about it, but the lights can be replaced too! It's a little more complicated than changing a lamp, but the investment is well worth it. If you only had to replace one, choose the one in the kitchen, the most important in the house.
Do you like home automation? Get smart bulbs! This type of lighting gives you access to millions of different hues, making it easy to change the mood of a room, depending on your mood.
If you have no renovation budget, try moving the furniture. Indeed, a new configuration is sometimes enough to change the dynamism of a room. For example, put your loveseat in place of your TV.
If possible, change the function of some parts. If you work from home, it might be time to replace the little-used guest bedroom with a home office.
As you can see, there is no need to embark on expensive renovation projects to improve the appearance of your home. Repainting the walls, installing tapestry or changing the lamps can, in many cases, modernize your decor.
