Small Affordable Home Upgrades for Big Impact

Home improvement pros and DIYers tout a fresh coat of paint as a favorite among low-cost home upgrades that can make a huge impact. But what else can you do to accessorize and decorate? Sometimes the little things can make a bigger difference than you might think. 

Professionals share the following easy and low-cost home upgrades to add a designer’s touch all around the house. These projects may even help increase your home’s perceived value. 

For the Bathroom

1. Frame It

Estimated cost: starting around $100

That edgeless, builder-grade mirror hanging above the bathroom vanity may be prime for an update. Measure the mirror and choose from numerous frame styles and materials, like wooden walnut or shiny brass. The frame kit includes clips and metal strips to attach to the existing mirror. A once-forgettable mirror instantly looks customized and styled to the space.

2. Infuse Some Green

Estimated cost: $5 and up

Simply adding greenery can liven up bathroom spaces and soften harsh lines from all the heavy fixtures. Try a statement plant on the floor, like the vertical sword-shaped leaves of a snake plant or the feathery foliage from a bird’s nest fern. Or you could incorporate smaller plants, like a mini aloe in a white ceramic planter or an iron fern in a rounded marble vase.

Many renovators say they’re incorporating greenery to update their bathrooms for aesthetics, air purification, and odor-fighting abilities.  Tight on space? Consider topping a shelf or vanity counter with an air-purifying indoor plant on a natural tray (for texture) along with a favorite candle.

3. Modernize Hardware

Estimated cost: hardware starting at about $2 apiece, faucets for $200 or less

Just swapping out the faucets and drawer pulls is a small home upgrade that can refresh an outdated bathroom. Try trendy gold or black cabinet pulls or a modern boxy-style faucet.  Mixed metals are trending right now, like black with brass and brass with chrome.  Check out Build.com, which features a variety of manufacturers and styles.

4. Soften the Lights

Estimated cost: about $100 or less apiece ($40 to $120 per fixture for installation by an electrician)

Wall sconces can really warm up the bathroom lighting.  Try hanging wall sconces on each side of the vanity mirror in a black, brass, or chrome finish. The bulb color’s temperature is important.  Designers suggest between 2700K and 3000K for a soft warm light.

For the Bedroom

5. Add Molding to the Walls

Estimated cost: about $200, including a designer’s input

Installing molding on the walls behind the bed is an impressive home upgrade. If you don't see what you want at the hardware store, designers and woodworking artists are available on sites like Etsy.com (search under “professionally designed custom dimensional accent wall”). They will custom design a 3D digital model of the molding to fit your wall and provide an instruction packet, shopping list, and cutting and installation instructions so you can DIY.

6. Decorate with Mirrors

Estimated cost: $150 to $250

Try adding a statement wall mirror to a bedroom by hanging a new mirror above a nightstand, dresser, chest, or bed. Try a mirror in an unusual shape, like a diamond, hexagon, or square silhouette. If you’re itching for a redesign but don’t want to spend so much, a mirror is the perfect buy.  It is simple, affordable, and light-enhancing.

For the Living Room

7. Texturize and Accessorize

Estimated cost: $50 to $150 to update a few accessories

A room can appear one-dimensional when it’s missing texture. Designers often add texture by incorporating dressers with fluted designs, chunky knit throws, velvet ottomans, or leather accent chairs. You can adapt that idea by scoping out items from other rooms in your house that you can mix in to the living room to add texture and depth. Or shop secondhand stores for small items you can refinish, repurpose, or re-cover. For example, re-covered accent pillows are an affordable way to add texture to your furniture.

One of the best things about accent pillows is they are an easy seasonal item, making your living room feel different without costing as much as a new furniture buy.  Throw pillows are a great and inexpensive way to incorporate new trends or add color to your living room.  Also, functional accents — like a set of three seagrass baskets — can be great for a corner or near a fireplace. Then, place throw blankets in them to give the room a cozy, inviting feel.

8. Wallpaper the Shelves

Estimated cost: about $50 for a small roll

For homeowners who may be too timid to jump on the wallpaper comeback trend, try it in small doses and with less commitment (especially when using a removable peel-and-stick type).  Try adding wallpaper to the inside back of a bookcase or other shelving unit to dress it up.  

For the Kitchen

9. Bring in Some Bling

Estimated cost: starting at $2 apiece for cabinet hardware, $60 to $150 for pendant lighting (extra $40 to $120 per fixture for installation by an electrician)

Don’t let an all-white kitchen become boring.  Try adding industrial or contemporary black hardware and lighting to make a kitchen look more chic. Gold is trendy; or chrome, nickel, brushed silver, and stainless steel hardware and lighting are always safe bets.  Check out sites such as Overstock.com, Wayfair.com, or Amazon.com for affordable, stylish mid-century mod, industrial, or futuristic pendant lighting options. 

Try hanging shiny gold or black canned pendants in an otherwise all-white kitchen to highlight the island. Even just changing out one main fixture or series of pendants above a kitchen island can change the whole look of a room instantly without having to renovate the entire kitchen. 

10. Dress Up the Pantry

Estimated cost: starting at $1 each for baskets and glass jars

Pantries have emerged as a kitchen favorite, so they’re a good choice for a home upgrade. They’re rated as essential or desirable by many home buyers. Retailers such as the Container Store, Ikea, and Dollar General offer baskets and glass jars in all shapes and sizes. 

Invest in a label maker and go to town organizing your pantry so everything matches and looks almost decorative or too pretty to take snacks from. This helps create visual order in the space too.  For example, stow pasta in a glass container, put the packaged bread and other products in shelf-sized baskets, and color coordinate the canned goods.

For Outdoors

11. Accentuate With Flower Boxes

Estimated cost: $150

Boxes filled with flowers along the bottom ledge of your outside windows can enhance your home’s architecture and colors. Flower boxes have a cozy and charming feel that helps homeowners and real estate professionals market exteriors. They can add interest, dimension, and some personality.  Fill them all year-round.  Home designers suggest using three different types of flowers (for example, greenery, a taller plant in the center, and a colorful accent flower). 

The size, proportion, and positioning of flower boxes are important; don’t overdo it. Not every window needs one. Maybe it’s just the large picture window or the windows on a second story. To test placement, try duct taping cardboard cutouts to the windows to view the possibilities before drilling any holes.

12. Swap Out Lighting Fixtures

Estimated cost: $200 to $250

Bring in a statement light above the front door for a functional and dramatic home upgrade. A hanging pendant or chandelier on the front porch isn’t just for extra illumination — it can enhance curb appeal. Designers suggest a fixture that’s about one-third or one-fourth the size of the front door (including the trim) and having it hang about 66 inches from the ground.  So many times, we hang them too high.  Let your front porch light be the loudest. Designers suggest that the lights on the exterior should make a statement. 

If there’s no place for a pendant, upgrade the lights to the side of the door, such as with boxed lanterns in a black or antique bronze.  For inspiration, check out Bevolo.com, which recommends fixtures based on house style (modern, traditional, coastal, etc.).

13. Oversize the House Numbers

Estimated cost: $150 to $200

The home’s address numbers may seem insignificant for the outside design, but can really add a statement and is an inexpensive home upgrade.

The numbers can be in all-black or in colors, like even pink or teal, depending on the home’s style.  Large format, sleek black address numbers can add a modern vibe to a home.  The placement varies too, from the side of the front door to above the garage or anywhere along the front. 

House numbers can become a focal point and really add some flair.  For inspiration check out Modernhousenumbers.com.