Refresh Your Home On A Budget

Home is the place you should feel most comfortable. It should reflect who you are and what you love. But those things tend to shift through different periods of our lives. Since people continuously evolve, their homes will eventually have to do the same. No matter how much you once loved your design choices, there will come a day when you’ll want to update your space.

And now, with people having spent most of last year at home, that change is more than welcome. Granted, it might not be the best time for major renovations, given the financial uncertainty many households are facing. However, a simple refresh could do wonders in making a home feel more pleasant and inviting. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, especially for those willing to get their hands dirty.

A few small changes can revive your interior and get you as excited about your space as you were when you first moved in.

Updating your home doesn’t have to become a full-on renovation project. It could be as simple as rearranging spaces after a good declutter, and adding a few new elements to suit evolving needs.

A few small changes can revive your interior and get you as excited about your space as you were when you first moved in. Let’s take a look at some easy and affordable ways to breathe new life into a room and update any space.  

Move things around

This first refresh suggestion will cost you nothing but a tiny bit of time and a little bit of muscle. To give your space a new look, move a few things around. Changing the layout of a room can really transform a space. If you’ve got an open space living area, consider switching the living and dining zones. If that doesn’t make sense for your layout, you might think about changing the orientation of your sofa or armchairs.

When moving furniture around, don’t get stuck in one room. Are there any pieces that could be moved out of one room and into another? Perhaps a side chair in the bedroom could be moved into the living area to create a reading nook? Why not swap a side table and lamp from one room with a floor lamp from another?

Of course, it doesn’t always make sense to move furniture around, so if you already have the perfect layout, congratulations! Luckily there are still plenty of other ways to refresh your space.

Add a Splash of Colour

Ok, so it might take a little more than a splash…but you get the point. The easiest way to completely transform any space is to paint it. A fresh coat of paint can instantly and entirely change the mood of a room for minimal expense, especially if you do the painting.

Even just repainting your scruffy walls in the same colour will freshen up your space. If you’re feeling brave, go for a new colour scheme, and if that seems like too much work or too expensive, pick one wall and make it a feature. A striking colour could do the trick or even a few different yet complementary ones! A bold colour-blocked wall is a great way to update a space.

Use stencils to add pattern to a wall, or create visual interest by colour-blocking. If you’re looking to zhuzh up your walls even further, peel-and-stick wallpaper might be the right choice for you. If you’ve already got wallpaper, but aren’t a fan any longer, paint over it. Don’t worry if it’s textured wallpaper, even better! The texture will add interest to the fresh coat of paint beyond its colour.

Switch Out Accessories

This next tip is probably one of the easiest to pull off in any space. Change the entire vibe of the room by switching out decorative accessories. This could include anything from wall art to cushions, to plants and other decorative elements. Depending on your budget, it could also include area rugs or curtains.

If your wall art is starting to feel stale, pick out some new prints to fit your existing frames, and you’ve instantly updated your space. For one-of-a-kind yet affordable wall art, order professional prints of your own photos or graphics.

Cushion covers and throws are a great way to add colour, texture, and renewed interest to a room. They can be inexpensive and are easily swapped for a fresh look to any sofa or bed and a quick update to a space. Plus, they don’t take up a lot of room when not in use, so if you can’t decide between colours or patterns, don’t! Buy a few options and alternate between them once in a while. Talk about a simple and instant mini-makeover to your living room or bedroom!

Making a small change to your space can make a big difference in how you experience it. 

Other decorative elements, such as vases, candles, or figurines, are also easily swapped for a new take on a space. Go through what you already have and see if it makes sense to switch their positions. Search your attic for old pieces you thought you’d never be able to display, or just forgot you had! If you don’t strike gold there, purchase a couple of new pieces that speak to who you are today. (And while you’re at it, sell, donate, or recycle any items that no longer suit your style.)

Breathe new life into your space

Of all the decorative elements that can liven up a room, living décor is my favourite! If you don’t have any plants, get some! They brighten up any space and purify the air as a bonus. Indoor plants come in many shapes and sizes and are a wonderful way of adding interest to ‘wasted’ areas in the room such as odd corners that can easily be beautified with tall, sculptural plants.

If you already have plants included in your décor, swap their positions (considering lighting requirements first, of course), and change out their pots for an added touch of colour or texture.

Make the old new again

Many of us have at least one piece of furniture that’s perfectly functional but no longer matches our style. No need to get rid of it! Dressers, closets, and tables of all sizes can easily be upgraded, especially wooden ones. A little bit of sanding and a fresh coat of paint may be all your boring old console needs. Cabinets and dressers could benefit from a change of hardware as well, for an even more complete transformation. Sofas and chairs can be reupholstered to fit with a new colour scheme or style. Refreshing a focal piece of furniture can instantly update your space without the need for new furniture.

If you’re happy with your furniture as it is, but want to bring in some new (old) original pieces, flea markets are a great place to look. Flea markets, yard sales, and second-hand shops aren’t for everyone but often contain hidden gems. If you’ve got the patience to search the often-uncategorised piles of stock, you may well be awarded a treasure or two. Sometimes that treasure is disguised as trash, but that’s where upcycling comes in! Most things can be refinished and restored to their former glory or transformed into something entirely new. All it takes is some creativity and a trip to the home improvement store.

Find a bargain

Patience is a virtue, or so I’ve been told. If there is one thing we can count on in retail, it’s seasonal sales and bargains galore. Depending on where you are in the world, exact timing could differ, but there are bound to be several of these each year. Unless you absolutely need a specific piece of furniture right away, you might consider waiting for prices to drop. Timeless designs will not, by definition, go out of style, so there’s no need to worry your picks will no longer be on-trend.

If you don’t mind purchasing second-hand items but aren’t a fan of flea-markets or fixer-uppers, head to Facebook’s marketplace or other online second-hand sales groups for a bargain. Popular items can often be found in as-new condition but marked down considerably because a seller needs to relocate suddenly, or because they purchased the wrong colour item but can’t return it because they’ve misplaced their receipt. It happens more often than you’d think! I once furnished my entire kitchen for peanuts because an ex-pat had to relocate on a short timeline, and basically needed someone to empty out her apartment.

No matter your budget, there are myriad ways to make your home more comfortable and suited to your current needs and tastes. Making a small change to your space can make a big difference in how you experience it. So if your home no longer matches the current you, that means it’s time for a refresh. And what better time for one than now?