Easy Budget Home Makeover

Want to re-vamp your home but don't have thousands in the budget? New to DIY or don't have a lot of time?

Here's a handy list of easy jobs that you can do around your home to both improve appearance and add value;

(*Just a side note: no content here is sponsored)

photo credit: www.edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk

1. Keeping your White's White. 

Most of us have a lot of white painted areas in our homes that are easily forgotten about. Increasing the whiteness in our homes helps rooms appear larger, airier and bright. 

Have a walk around your home, room to room and see if you can locate all the white then ask yourself; when is the last time this was painted?

If it's over 2 years, it's probably due a re-vamp. Try holding a piece of white paper up against them and see how much it's tarnished. Maybe you have some wooden features that may need to be painted white for the first time to match other decor? 

Common things to look at are; doors, window frames, skirting boards and other woodwork, ceilings, radiators and banisters. 

At B&Q you can pick up 5 litres of white gloss paint and a set of paint brushes for under £30... enough to brighten-up a 3 bed semi in a weekend. 

2. Fake a New Bathroom

Does your bathroom look a bit run down and worse for wears? It's so easy and cheap to make that tired suite look like new again. 

• Change that old toilet seat; is it cheap plastic? Does it slide all over the place? are the hinges rusted? Is it cracked? Our most recent home purchase was a £14 toilet seat that came with fittings, it took me and my boyfriend less than 20 minutes to install and it's made the world of difference; a new seat makes the toilet appear new!
  Link; http://www.wilko.com/toilet-seats/wilko-toilet-seat-oakwood-veneer/invt/0426378
• Swap that shower curtain; because seriously guys; a new curtain will cost you less than £10 and 5 minutes to change. 
• Screw-in's and handy add-on's; did you know you can pick up a new toilet brush, bathroom bin, towel rail and toilet roll holder at Wilkes's (all chrome) for just over £10? Just saying...
• Textiles; The more expensive in the list but worth a mention; nothing says luxury like new white fluffy towels in the bathroom... how long have you have yours? Also, how long have you had your bath mat? 

3. Light it up

As white keeping your white's bright, the lighting in your house really contributes to the airiness and feel to your rooms. You don't have to go out paying for whole new light fittings and the people to come and install them to add cosiness or a different hue to your home.

• Think about the bulbs themselves; lights in the lounge that are only on in the evenings when you're watching the TV don't need to be bright white lights that give you a headache. Look into bulbs that suit each room and it's uses. For example, we have a main light in the lounge for when i do crafts in the evenings or read, as well as a 4 watt vintage bulb in our lamp for the cosy nights in. 
• Layer your lighting; Remember that having a few different options to light each room dependant on situation is flexible and inexpensive. Try lamps, fairy lights, candles etc. 
• Change or clean old shades; it's worth taking old light shades down and giving them a good clean from time to time, also play around by swapping shades between rooms, or pick up some nice inexpensive ones like those shown below;

Kitchen Makeover

Many estate agents will say this room is a key decider of house price as many buyers overestimate the cost and time of replacing an outdated kitchen. 

You don't have to buy a whole new fitted kitchen to see a benefit, take a look at the example below; 

Credit: Storywood Designs

This is the same kitchen in both images but the doors have been re-painted and the handles on the doors exchanged. You could easily emulate this dramatic transformation in a weekend between two people for under £100... not bad for these types of results! Other minor kitchen updates on a budget could include painting tiles, re-sealing counter edging with silicone (about £6 for the tube and gun) or even adding vinyl counter covers from your local DIY store as below (just measure, cut, peel and stick). 

Credit: Nelson Paint Company

Be Thrifty

Get down to your local charity/thrift shop and have a look for items you could use to personalise your home. Here are some of my favourite items to look for;

• Photo frames; from ornate to minimal, I love being able to buy a bunch of photo frames for very little money all mix-matched and maybe painting them the same colour then hanging together. You can frame family photo's, memento's or maybe even some pretty scrapbook paper or a greetings card that you love.  
• Furniture; I love buying basic furniture from the local charity shops and up-cycling them to breathe new life. Make you you pick an item with good bones (structurally sturdy) then get to work with new paint, handles or stencils. 
  

Window Dressing

It has been said that "windows are the eyes to the house" and there's no one single thing, in my opinion, that can change a room more than updating a pair of curtains or blinds. 

If you're any good at sewing, why not make your own, or check out your local charity shop (I once bought a pair of fully lined beautiful floor to ceiling curtains for our french doors for just £2 at my local charity shop-they practically give them away because people don't think of buying them there). If you love your own or just don't want to pay, it is totally worth taking them down, giving them a good clean and re-hanging... something a lot of people probably only do every few years. 

Also, layering window coverings can be very stylish too and add real depth to your room. 

That's all for now, I'll add to the list should I think of any other ways to revamp on a budget.

Peace and Love ☮ ♥