6 Budget-Friendly Updates That Will Make Your Home Look Expensive

If you feel it’s time to refresh your home, but fear the cost and work involved, think again: you don’t need to break the bank or hire a professional to revamp your home or a single room. Nor do you have to go on a shopping spree to completely overhaul your home’s decor.

We spoke with expert designers to learn what updates—large and small—homeowners can DIY on a budget while still packing a visual punch.

Barrett Oswald Designs / Photo by Tim Lenz

Painting is one of the top tips most designers, architects, and remodelers have for homeowners looking to update a space on their own while on a shoestring budget.

“It can instantly take a room from boring to rich, bold, soothing, or playful,” Jessica Nelson, principal of Jessica Nelson Design, says. Nelson recommends combining different paint colors whether it's keeping the walls light and using a pop of color on the trim or just the doors—it will help elevate the space.

Casey Keasler, founder and design director of Casework, agrees. “Paint is the least expensive material and has a low threshold for tools and skill but can create a big impact by just changing the color of a room," she says.

She recommends starting with a test swatch before fully diving into a color because it can change dramatically from room to room and is affected by lighting, including natural light.

Similar to painting, wallpapering a room can also alter the style of a room, Barrett Oswald, partner and principal designer of Barrett Oswald Designs, says.

There are expensive wall coverings, but there are also plenty of easy-to-apply peel-and-stick options that are budget-friendly while still eye-catching. Best of all, the latter can be changed on the fly when you get tired of the visuals or colors.

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