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7 Ways To Upgrade Your Home Without Spending a Ton of Money

Need a little house rehab but don't have a big budget to work with? You can truly transform your space with these tips! (I wish I had done it sooner!)

As I get older, I find myself wanting my space to reflect “me” even more. As a millennial on a budget, my home for the past four years hasn’t quite been decked out the way I’ve always dreamed it would be.

My husband and I recently decided it was time to upgrade our space. Treating myself and making positive changes keeps me motivated and inspired in my daily life. Creating a space that I love waking up to and spending time in helps me thrive and reach the goals I set for myself.

I really wanted to change up my space–I’ve been thinking about it for years now but it has always been put on the back burner in favor of something else. Now that I’ve made these upgrades, I’m wondering why the heck I didn’t do this sooner!

Here are seven ways I upgraded my home without spending a ton of money:

1. Add texture.

Texture adds more dimension to a space and can contribute to the cozy feeling you might want your home to have.

I bought a couple of blankets made from different fabrics and pillow cases with different textures (linen and velvet) and designs to add dimension.

Another tip is to pick fun curtains! I went from deep green and blue curtains to sheer white ones with a design and it added so much light to my bedroom without being too bland. I love it!

When seeking ways to upgrade your home, consider the architectural charm that cedar corbels can bring to your interior or exterior. This is a great way to add some curb appeal!

2. Add life and living things.

Earlier this year I started purchasing flowers every other week and displaying them in my home. It’s such an easy, simple (and inexpensive) way to bring life into your space.

If flowers aren’t your thing, you could go for succulents or other low maintenance plants. Adding groups of candles around your home will bring warmth and life into the space, too.

Tip: Add flowers or plants to bring life into your home!

3. Pick one or two large pieces to upgrade.

We tend to have focal points in our rooms. In your bedroom, it’s your bed. In the living room, it’s the couch. Pick these pieces to upgrade in a bold, stand-out way.

A bright olive green couch or a new sleigh bed frame can add the perfect touch of luxury to your space.

4. Use a duvet cover.

Instead of a standard comforter, use a duvet cover! This way you can easily switch and swap the cover each season to change up your designs.

Did you know different colors evoke different feelings? The colors you choose according to color psychology can have a huge impact on your mood.

I went from dark purple to light blues, greens, and touches of orange and yellow and I find my space to be so much more relaxing and inviting now.

5. Get rid of clutter.

If you’re anything like me, every available surface in your house has something on it. I don’t even know how it happens! If there’s empty space, things just tend to land there.

I combat this by giving everything a home. If it has a place, I’ll always know exactly where everything is and I don’t have to spend time looking for them. A big help for me with this was implementing pillars of the KonMari method.

6. Focus on the things that bring you joy and display them.

There are some things that just bring me so much joy that just by having them around I’m already a happier person.

For me, that’s makeup, books, and my coffee mug collection.

You can upgrade your space so easily by bringing these things to the forefront and displaying them in creative ways!

Transform a small space into a welcoming and inviting room by adding candles to add warmth and life!

7. Refurbish older pieces.

This is a great way to flex your creative muscles. You can upgrade your space by painting your nightstands a bright pop of color, switching out lampshades, or painting your doorknobs or draw pulls.

Quick color switches or some detailed artwork can make such a huge difference in the way your space looks and feels.

I spray painted some desk elements gold to add a more modern, feminine feel to them.

All of these things are easy and straightforward tweaks to upgrade your space. They were so simple but my space really feels like me now–and that’s something I’ve been waiting for.

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About the Author

Nicole Booz

Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.

Website: genthirty.com