13 Ways to Improve Your Home Decor on a Budget

 
No. 1:  Start with the entrance of your home, take a step back (perhaps take a picture) and update the appeal of your front door. Does the paint need a new coat? New color? Potted plants? Door Knocker? Lighting? Check out my post: DIY Home Improvement Projects on a Budget: Front Door Fancy.
 
No. 2:  Paint or replace your mailbox. Paint the post, replace the box if necessary and if you want to go the extra mile go ahead and plant some flowers around the base.

No. 3:  Install new switchplate covers - the covers on light switches and electrical outlets. These cost about $1 each for a basic white cover at major home improvement retailers, and they're easy to install.

No. 4:  Rearrange your furniture and de-clutter. Clearing the clutter gives the home a more welcoming appeal. Put the kids toys away (or hide them in the storage ottoman.)

No. 5:  Change your lampshades, this is one small detail that makes a HUGE difference.

No. 6:  Repaint your walls or change your wallpaper. Alternatively, paint your ceiling a new, fresh color. Some people are experimenting with soft neutral colors on the walls and a bold color on the ceiling, like white walls with a bright yellow ceiling, or light beige walls with an eggplant/purple ceiling.

No. 7:  Install crown molding, baseboard trim, doorway trim and other trim accents to your home. Trim and moldings go a long way towards making a home look upgraded. 

No. 8:  Change up the accessories in your kitchen. Don't have any? Go to TJMaxx/Ross/Target and get a kitchen rug with matching hand towels in bright vibrant colors.

No 9:  Update your kitchen cabinets. Cheap alternatives to replacing cabinets would be to paint/refurnish them or add hardware. Be careful with the hardware they can be really expensive if you shop on-line you can find some good deals with reasonable pricing. Use shelf paper to line the inside and cover stains or wear.

No 10: Update your countertops, there are several DIY projects and tutorials on Pinterest for cheaper alternatives to granite.

No 11:  Update your bathrooms - Frame the mirror, get new towels or shower curtain, consider upgrading your light fixtures or add some decorative sconces.

No 12:  Get a new area rug - if you hate your carpet but can't afford to replace it, then just cover it for now. Ikea has some really great area rugs for peeps on a budget.

No. 13:  Window Treatment Update: Blinds, valences and curtains are all inexpensive ways to change the appearance of the windows. Can you sew? Do you know who someone who can? Save major money by making them yourself.
 
No 14:  Re-purpose and Re-Use one of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck is to make something old new again. The woman who runs this blog: My Repurposed Life has taken it to another level, but you can get some good ideas!

This list of ideas also includes ways to increase the value of your home. Which project idea will you do first? I have a hard time focusing on one DIY home project at a time so I usually have three or four going into rotation but I would like to update an old tv stand in the immediate future.
 

Thanks for looking!