The obvious fact is that a home upgrade requires money. You'll need loads of cash to make elaborate and beautiful changes to your house, but understandably, it's not always easy. If you're strapped for cash, there are ways to keep home upgrades budget-friendly.
Below are some ideas:
1. Paint the room in bold and attractive colors to give it new appeal. Painting can dramatically improve a room and it's also a good way to increase the value of your house, according to Forbes. Paint averagely costs $30 a gallon, and based on the size of the house or rooms, you can spend less than $500 for the upgrade, according to Porch. Ideally, you can paint furniture to upgrade it, too.
2. Change lighting fixtures. Replace dull lighting that doesn't highlight the room's appeal and character. Also consider placing decorative lamps in parts of the house that are bare. Shop for these at Circa Lighting, Lamps Plus or Ikea.
3. Add interesting pieces to a room. If you've collected some on vacations or other trips, find places to display them around the house. If you don't have a souvenir collection, you can use favorite items and mementos. Your grandmother's old sewing machine, a bowl given to you as a wedding gift, a collection of stamps you had as child, your children's old toys and clothes - these may be used as decorative pieces. Refurbish them or have them framed so that you can display them with pride.
4. Decorate with flora. Blooms bring life and soul to any room. Buy flowers regularly at the grocery store or market and place them in beautiful vases. Put indoor plants strategically around the house, such as ferns in the living room or hallways, or a row of herbs in the kitchen. If you really want to push it further, it may be a good idea to get into gardening, so that you don't have to buy as often. You just cultivate plants and flowers in your backyard and pick them seasonally to decorate.
For additional ideas on upgrading rooms, check out these tips on decorating a blank wall or tips on displaying decorations on a coffee table.
