12 Trendy Home Upgrades You Can Actually Afford

Adding trendy improvements to your home doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. With a bit of creativity, you can transform your dull and drab living area into a chic, personalized space, even on a small budget.

Whether you're a Do-It-Yourself enthusiast or a complete novice, you can learn how to update your home without breaking the bank. These easy tweaks can give your home the facelift it needs at little or no cost.

Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint

A fresh coat of paint on your wall or a complete makeover can change the complete tone of your space. Painting remains an easy and cost-effective approach to jumping into home trends without spending a fortune.

Which wall painting design is currently in vogue? Charli XCX's ”Brat Summer” lime green is having the time of its life in the sun, and this shade in your foyer or entryway could be a fun way to add a trendy touch to your home. Metallic accents and monochromatic wall paints are some other prevailing painting ideas you may want to consider.

Use Peel-and-Stick-Backsplash

Your kitchen and bathroom may not need a fresh coat of paint. A peel-and-stick backsplash could, however, give those areas of your home a classic look. Apply a peel-and-stick backsplash that mirrors the look of traditional ceramic, glass, or just about any kitchen or bathroom decor design at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

Besides adding a trendy touch to your bathroom and kitchen walls, a backsplash is a preventive cover that stops dirt, water, and grease from damaging your wall. The ease of removing a backsplash also makes it a great option if you'd like to change decor frequently to keep your home updated.

Replace Your Old Shower Head

Your no-frill fixed showerhead can't compete with the trendy needs of the time, but a quick replacement with newer, more creative models shouldn't come at cutthroat costs.

Replacing your dribbly shower head with an adjustable shower head can transform the look of your bathroom and the bathing experience. Multifunctional shower heads, for example, come with sprays that allow you to focus on specific muscles when showering. You may also opt for ones with a pause function, mist spray, and adjustable height feature to give your bathroom the facelift it needs.

Decorate With Mirrors

Decorative mirrors are making a comeback for all the right reasons. Whether you hang one above your fireplace, in your sitting room, or in your entryway, a decorative mirror can create the illusion of a brighter and larger space. I add full-length wall mirrors to our guests' bedrooms. Guests love them.

When deciding which decorative mirror best suits your home, contemporary styles almost always work. You may, however, choose to add a distinctive look to your room with vintage or antique mirrors. Decorative mirrors also come in all sizes and shapes, making finding the one that perfectly blends into your space a breeze.

Add Indoor Plants

Strategically placing plants and flowers indoors is an inexpensive way to add color. Plants always top the trend chart because they bring texture and vibrance into the dullest of spaces while improving air quality.

If you're low on budget and can't afford to buy potted plants, you can start your plants from seed!

Add Greenery to Your Outdoor Spaces

Besides indoor plants, adding some greenery to the exterior of your home is one way to upgrade its look without expending a fortune. A green outdoors creates a refreshing and inviting ambiance, especially around your backyard, patio, and cozy balcony.

If you have a small space, consider investing in container and vertical gardens. Window boxes and raised garden beds will also bring your home into the trend chart without emptying your wallet. If you have ample space outdoors, you can opt for green walls and garden pathways to give your home that welcoming, expensive look.

Replace Traditional Bulbs With Smart Lighting

Nothing transforms your home into a trendy apartment more than smart lighting. Unlike your regular dull bulb, which requires manual input to function, smart lighting interacts automatically with your space and other smart devices, allowing you to adjust brightness, set mood, or change light color from your phone or through voice commands.

While some smart lighting devices are high-end, others from lesser-known (but equally dependable) brands cost only a few dollars. Besides giving your space a modern look, smart lighting also saves on energy costs in the long run.

Create a Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is an affordable and personalized way to showcase the photographs, artwork, and prints you love. Gallery walls do not require a lot of space to come to life; however, you may need some creative input to create a wall that makes your home feel fresh and modern.

Mixing different frame styles and sizes to create an eclectic look is one trick that works well when creating a gallery wall. Keep it cohesive by sticking only with matching frames. Pairing bright frames with darkly lit walls and dull frames with brightly lit walls would help make your gallery wall a stylish focal point in your home.

Replace Cabinet Knobs and Handles

Swapping old cabinet knobs, handles, and pulls for trendier ones is a simple and cheap way to upgrade your kitchen and bathroom. You also get to do it yourself without having to pay anyone.

Choosing new cabinet hardware can be tricky, but popular finishes like warm brass, matte black, and brushed nickel are not only in line with the trend but also tend to complement the existing decor of most interiors.

Experiment With Window Treatments

A window treatment upgrade can dramatically change the look and feel of your room. Windows are our rooms' primary natural light source, but they can also be decorative if you give them the right treatments.

For example, installing new curtains, shades, and blinds can add unimaginable appeal to your windows. Light and airy fabrics and sheer gauzy drapes are some of the most trendy window treatments found in upscale homes.

Give Your Flooring a New Lease on Life

Swiping the card for a brand-new floor upgrade is not cheap, but alternatives exist to help you transform your floor without breaking the bank. If you have a wall-to-wall carpet, you can purchase enough shampoo to have it cleaned till it becomes sparkling new again.

Polishing your wooden floor can lighten its colors. Glazing your tile floor can also bring it alive. Giving your flooring a new life can add spice to your interior needs to keep up with what's considered trendy.

Repaint Old Furniture

Whether it's an old dresser, a coffee table, or a set of dining chairs, you can upgrade it by adding a new color or finish. If you're revamping your entire home, leave your furniture in its original color or experiment with trendier tones to match your new decor.

Your furniture tone isn't the only thing you can change to keep up with trends. Consider using stencils or painter's tape to create patterns and designs. You may choose to recreate popular patterns or add a custom touch that is unique to you.