16 Value-Adding Renovations That Won’t Break The Bank

Renovating is an exciting opportunity to bring visions of your dream home to life. Even minor upgrades can transform the look and feel of your home and have major value-adding potential.

But let’s not beat around the bush. When it comes to renovations, it’s easy to blow the budget.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to upgrade your home (aren’t we all?) you’ve come to the right place. These 16 renovation ideas will spruce up your home without leaving you reaching for a renovation loan:

1. Kitchen: Install a kitchen backsplash

A new backsplash can quickly modernize your kitchen, whether it’s mosaic tiling in classy white or colorful glass sheeting. If there’s a blank wall behind your stove, consider this a blank canvas for an affordable kitchen do-up.

2. Kitchen: Replace the kitchen counters

As your counters take up most of the space in your kitchen, replacing outdated countertops with a modern stone or laminate can instantly transform the entire space.

3. Kitchen: Purchase or build a faux kitchen island

Kitchen islands are all the rage…but installation comes with a huge price tag. Faux kitchen islands give the appearance of an expensive upgrade without being very expensive at all. Better still, you can build your own using the same countertops to match the rest of your kitchen.

4. Kitchen: Paint kitchen cabinets

Painting your kitchen cabinets is the easiest way to completely change the look of your kitchen. Cover the wear and tear and bring your cabinetry into the modern age. It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do for a budget kitchen upgrade.

5. Living Room: Replace old flooring with a laminate

Laminate flooring is a cost-effective, durable and long-lasting flooring type that gives a natural wood look to your living and dining spaces. Unlike wood, laminates won’t chip and don’t need varnishing. Yay for stiletto heel-friendly flooring!

6. Living Room: Make and hang new curtains

Whether you’re a first-time renovator or a serious DIYer, making your own curtains is something anyone with a sewing machine and some good-quality material can do. Select your design, measure up and find a good online tutorial. While it may take a little longer than going to a curtain-maker, making your own curtains is much softer on the wallet and adds a stunning feature to your home’s interior.

7. Living Room: Paint or wallpaper the walls

Never underestimate the power of a great paint or wallpapering job. Strip old wallpaper to reveal the canvas underneath and get painting! Painting requires some attention, particularly with prepping your walls but once you’ve got a good base, you’re good to go. If you’re set on wallpaper, make sure you choose a solid color or easy pattern and find an online tutorial before applying.

8. Living Room: Add floating shelves

Floating shelves give space to decorate your walls with features such as indoor plants, books, ornaments and photos. Super easy to find and even easier to install, floating shelves are a quick way to add a special detail to your living spaces.

9. Living Room: Create a built-in entertainment unit

For some serious value-adding potential, create a built-in entertainment unit. While you might need some professional help with this one, built-in units are cost-effective and as simple or as intricate as you want them to be. With space for the TV, sound system, and your book collection, a built-in entertainment unit is an eye-catching and practical feature in any living room.

10. Bathroom: Install decorative cabinets

If you have wall space in your bathroom, install a modern, decorative cabinet for medicine and beauty products. There are some stunning cabinetry options out there that could add a unique feature to your bare bathroom walls.

11. Bathroom: Modernize the bathroom sink

Much like your kitchen countertops, the sink is one of the main features of a bathroom. Purchasing a new bathroom sink is easy and can be done at any major hardware store. Undermount or overmount, you’ll find a new bathroom sink that best reflects your renovation style.

12. Bathroom: Upgrade your bath

Bath looking a little tired? The point of having a bath is to relax and enjoy a good soak, so replace your tired bath with a decent upgrade. While some luxury baths have the potential to break the bank, a good, simple bath is just as glorious and inviting.

13. Bathroom: Upgrade your toilet

Believe it or not, your toilet could be the one thing letting your bathroom down. Gone are the days of plastic toilet seats. Upgrade to a modern ceramic, soft-closed toilet and give your bathroom an instant freshen-up.

14. Bedroom: Add a feature wall

Make a massive impact on minimal materials with this thrifty home renovation idea. Feature walls are an instant bedroom upgrade and a cool pop of color, requiring nothing more than a small pot of your favorite paint.

15. Bedroom: Install decorative light fixtures

One unique light fixture in your bedroom will make a world of difference in modernizing the space. Purchase your favorite light fixture and have an electrician install it correctly. In a matter of minutes, you’ll enhance the look of your bedroom with a unique, stylish feature.

16. Bedroom: Make your own headboard

Channel your inner DIYer and consider making your own headboard. Headboards are a central feature in a bedroom that turns a standard bed into a luxury piece of furniture. Measure up, find and online tutorial and head to the hardware store to get the materials you need. With some perseverance and care, you’ll create a timeless piece that you’ll have with you for years to come.

Conclusion

Home renovations are notoriously expensive, resulting in many homeowners dismissing their dreams for the perfect home. However, as we’ve discovered today, there are a range of budget-conscious home renovations out there that also offer great long-term returns!

About The Author: Justin Jersey is a journalist, stylist and blogger. He is an aesthetician by heart who often writes about Art, Fashion, decorating and DIY ideas. He loves sparking creativity and giving them ideas for their own spaces.  Follow him on Twitter or Pinterest.

Photo by Ashley Byrd on Unsplash