This guest post is from a home ideas website called Modernize. Read on for some great and practical home upgrade tips.
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While it would be nice to spend tens of thousands of dollars remodeling our homes, this is not something that is realistic for the majority of our budgets. Thankfully, a large budget is not necessary in order to make noticeable home improvements that will drastically change the way your home looks and feels. The following are a few upgrades that you can do for $100 or less.
1. Hang Curtains
Even inexpensive curtains can totally change the way a room looks. The right curtains can take a room that looks cold and functional and turn it into an attractive place that is warm and inviting. Find affordable ones at Target, Ikea, World Market, or Kohl’s. If you have basic sewing skills, you can also make your own.
2. Make Your Laundry Room Fancy
When it comes to home improvements, everybody thinks about the kitchen, the bathroom and the master bedroom. However, very few people think about the laundry room. A perfect way to add class to the laundry room is to install a laundry room chandelier. For right around $80, a Small Capiz Lotus Hanging Pendant Lantern from World Market can be installed that will spruce up your laundry room's appearance.
3. From Closet to Office
Not using your closet space? Well, why not turn it into a home office space? By simply removing the closet door and removing the hanging rods, and then installing two shelves, a narrow one higher up for storage and a deeper one that can serve as a desktop, you can turn unused closet space into an attractive home office. If you do the work yourself, you could purchase the shelves from The Container Store and install them for around $95.
4. Instant Kitchen Shelf
Nothing makes a kitchen feel open like shelving. Instead of installing new shelving, why not simply remove the doors from some of the upper cabinets that get little use. Then purchase acrylic paint that has a semi gloss sheen and paint the cabinets. With just a few hours of work, your kitchens will look like new.
5. An Eye-Catching Exterior
Every person who visits your home will see its exterior. For less than $100 you can make sure that the exterior of your home is something that will impress them. Exterior paint at most hardware stores will run approximately or less than $25 a gallon. With between 3 to 4 gallons of paint you can paint the trim and shutters of an average size home. For added impact, instead of selecting neutral colors, pick bold colors that will make your home catch a passerby’s eye. Obviously, you don’t want your home to be an eyesore. Select colors that match the rest of the home. If you do the work yourself, expect to spend at least one day on the project.
6. What a Difference a Tree Makes
A simple way to add curb appeal to your home while at the same time doing your part to protect the environment is planting a tree. Make sure the tree you plant is the right size for your yard. For example, planting a mango tree in a small yard is probably not a good idea since within 15 years the tree will grow to encompass a good portion of the yard. Most trees can be purchased for around $25. Planting a tree is a simple project that takes only a couple of hours and can drastically improve the appearance of your home and garden.
7. A Ceiling Fan
Install a vintage looking ceiling fan — Lamps Plus has one for $99, and it can not only improve your decor, but circulate warm air during the winter. If the blades are reversed, it can be used to conserve cool air during the summer, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs.
8. Tidy up Your Garage
A disorganized garage is an ugly garage. Why not spruce up the appearance of the garage by removing the clutter and organizing your tools using a simple pegboard rack. Pegboard wall panels can be purchased for about $16 for a 4 foot by 8 foot piece. Throw in a few more dollars for hooks and organizers and you have a garage that even your mother would be proud of.
Tim Smith writes for Modernize.
***************
While it would be nice to spend tens of thousands of dollars remodeling our homes, this is not something that is realistic for the majority of our budgets. Thankfully, a large budget is not necessary in order to make noticeable home improvements that will drastically change the way your home looks and feels. The following are a few upgrades that you can do for $100 or less.
1. Hang Curtains
Even inexpensive curtains can totally change the way a room looks. The right curtains can take a room that looks cold and functional and turn it into an attractive place that is warm and inviting. Find affordable ones at Target, Ikea, World Market, or Kohl’s. If you have basic sewing skills, you can also make your own.
2. Make Your Laundry Room Fancy
When it comes to home improvements, everybody thinks about the kitchen, the bathroom and the master bedroom. However, very few people think about the laundry room. A perfect way to add class to the laundry room is to install a laundry room chandelier. For right around $80, a Small Capiz Lotus Hanging Pendant Lantern from World Market can be installed that will spruce up your laundry room's appearance.
3. From Closet to Office
Not using your closet space? Well, why not turn it into a home office space? By simply removing the closet door and removing the hanging rods, and then installing two shelves, a narrow one higher up for storage and a deeper one that can serve as a desktop, you can turn unused closet space into an attractive home office. If you do the work yourself, you could purchase the shelves from The Container Store and install them for around $95.
4. Instant Kitchen Shelf
Nothing makes a kitchen feel open like shelving. Instead of installing new shelving, why not simply remove the doors from some of the upper cabinets that get little use. Then purchase acrylic paint that has a semi gloss sheen and paint the cabinets. With just a few hours of work, your kitchens will look like new.
5. An Eye-Catching Exterior
Every person who visits your home will see its exterior. For less than $100 you can make sure that the exterior of your home is something that will impress them. Exterior paint at most hardware stores will run approximately or less than $25 a gallon. With between 3 to 4 gallons of paint you can paint the trim and shutters of an average size home. For added impact, instead of selecting neutral colors, pick bold colors that will make your home catch a passerby’s eye. Obviously, you don’t want your home to be an eyesore. Select colors that match the rest of the home. If you do the work yourself, expect to spend at least one day on the project.
6. What a Difference a Tree Makes
A simple way to add curb appeal to your home while at the same time doing your part to protect the environment is planting a tree. Make sure the tree you plant is the right size for your yard. For example, planting a mango tree in a small yard is probably not a good idea since within 15 years the tree will grow to encompass a good portion of the yard. Most trees can be purchased for around $25. Planting a tree is a simple project that takes only a couple of hours and can drastically improve the appearance of your home and garden.
7. A Ceiling Fan
Install a vintage looking ceiling fan — Lamps Plus has one for $99, and it can not only improve your decor, but circulate warm air during the winter. If the blades are reversed, it can be used to conserve cool air during the summer, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs.
8. Tidy up Your Garage
A disorganized garage is an ugly garage. Why not spruce up the appearance of the garage by removing the clutter and organizing your tools using a simple pegboard rack. Pegboard wall panels can be purchased for about $16 for a 4 foot by 8 foot piece. Throw in a few more dollars for hooks and organizers and you have a garage that even your mother would be proud of.
Tim Smith writes for Modernize.
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