Introduction

When you are on a budget and want to spruce up your home, there is no better place to start than the outside. Home improvement is a great way to refresh your home for less and become the talk of the town. 

In fact, if you think about it, most people spend thousands of dollars on their home additions every year. So why not take matters into your own hands, and save money at the same time? Here are 10 low-cost home improvement ideas that are simple enough for even the thrifty homeowner to do.

10 Low-Cost Home improvement Ideas

1. Paint Your Cabinets

One of the quickest and easiest ways to make your home look nicer is to paint your cabinets. You can buy a pre-made kit at most stores, or you can use household paints. You can find a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, so you will have no problem finding something that looks good. It is also easy to start with a small project, so you can decide if you like the look of your cabinets before spending more money on them.

2. Change the Backsplash

If you have a dated kitchen, you can spruce things up with a new backsplash. This is one of the easiest ways to revitalize your home's look because it takes less than an hour to install and costs only about $100-$200. 

You will need some extra tile that goes above the sink area in addition to several boxes of standard grout for this project. The best part of this project is that you can choose from many different and attractive patterns, so no matter what you have in your kitchen, like with appliances or a window view, the backsplash will complement it.

3. Update Flooring

Flooring is one of the most important aspects of a home. It can be the difference between a house that feels like home and one that does not. There are many types of flooring available on the market today, like polished concrete or epoxy floor, but each has its own pros and cons.

There are many ways to make your floors look great without spending too much money. One way is to do it yourself with flooring materials you can find at any hardware store. Another way is to hire someone else to do it for you, but this may be more expensive than doing it yourself.

4. Change Window Treatments

Nothing can make a room look brighter than some new window treatments. If you have plain old curtains, you may not be able to do much about it, but if your windows are dated, there are so many different options available for them today. From Roman shades and sheer drapes to blinds and valances, there is something out there that will enhance the quality of light coming in from your windows.

5. Install Dimmers

If you are tired of the old lighting in your home, it is time to install some new lights. You can get these at any hardware store, and they will be relatively inexpensive to put in. 

Depending on how many fixtures you have, this could take between a few hours and a full day, but the result definitely makes up for any slight inconvenience that may come with installing them yourself. The best part about dimmers is that the lights will blend in with all of your other furnishings, and it won't be evident unless you are looking for them.

6. DIY Painted Bathroom Tiles

Bathroom tiles can be a great addition to your space, but they are also expensive. If you have never painted them before, it is important that you take some time to read the directions which come with the paint and know exactly what materials will need to be used in order for this process to work properly. 

It might even make sense to buy new ones rather than trying something on your own because there are so many different options out there now that could look amazing in any bathroom.

7. Update kitchen and bath hardware

The kitchen and bath hardware in your home is probably the only thing that hasn't really changed much at all since you first moved into your house. It may look outdated, but it still serves its purpose, so don't be afraid to update these items as well. You can find new hardware at any hardware store or online, and it won't be too expensive to replace.

8. Spruce up your front entry

Front entries can be a little bit boring, so it is always nice to add a few plants or light up the area with some fresh flowers. Make sure that you choose something dark and rich in color, like red or burgundy, and make sure that they are appropriately arranged, so they look great when people walk over them each day. The only way that you can really make this area look better is to change out your front door for something new.

9. Add Interest to Walls or Ceilings

Walls and ceilings are sometimes just not enough to give a room the right amount of interest. You can easily change this by adding light fixtures or hanging art pieces on them but make sure that you buy something well made and won't fall apart quickly. 

It is also helpful to buy light fixtures that match the style of your home because it will help to make everything look more cohesive.

10. Replace light fixtures

Light fixtures are something you probably don't think about very often, but they will be the one piece of furniture in your home that is always changing. Make sure to look at them every six months and replace any bulbs or lightbulbs, especially if there is a problem with them. 

You can also consider replacing all of your lightings, even if it isn't broken yet because this type of change could bring new life into an area where it was previously boring before.

Final Words

The Thrifty Homeowner is an ideal market for home improvement. They have a tight budget and need to make their home look beautiful without breaking the bank. Home improvement is a great way to save money, and there are many ways to make your home look new without breaking the bank. 

You can update your cabinets, paint your walls, change the backsplash in your kitchen, add a new air conditioning unit, or even put in new flooring if you have the space. The possibilities are endless when it comes to home improvement projects! What low-cost home improvement ideas do you think will work best for you?

Guest Contributor: Rituraj