Is your home feeling a little stale? Has it been years since you last gave it an upgrade, or are you simply in need of some new ideas? If so, don’t stress. There are plenty of interior design projects that cost less than you’d think and can easily be done in two weekends or less. That means you could have a brand-new looking home without the hassle of straining your budget. To prove it, here are 6 home upgrades that can make your home feel newer in just one weekend!

Get New Windows

If you have old rickety windows, not only is it making your house look old, but then chances are they’re letting in a lot of your precious heating or cooling out. That means you need to run your air conditioner and heater for longer than is necessary- which wastes energy and costs you extra money in the process.

You can change this by replacing all those old drafty windows with newer, more efficient ones. If you factor in that the cost to replace windows is not outrageous there’s no reason to stick with single-paned windows, as today’s double-pane windows offer far better insulation so that less heat escapes from the house during winter months and just as much protection during summer. If such new windows sound like too big of an investment, large vinyl window makers offer many different styles that resemble traditional wood-framed windows but without the extra maintenance and added expense.

Upgrade Your Appliances

While replacing all major appliances might be too much for some people, there are other smaller appliance upgrades that can still make an impact. Replacing older light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs is one place to start. Replacing the showerhead in your bathroom can also make your home feel new. A regular shower with an outdated head wastes up to 10 gallons of water per minute; when you upgrade to a modern high-efficiency model that number drops down to 4 or 5 gallons. Replacing old appliances and updating old fixtures can easily save you 20% on your energy bill each month so the payback period is quick and the added expense is gone in no time.

Add New Flooring

Even if you don’t do a total home remodel, upgrading your carpet or flooring to new tile or hardwood floors can make a huge difference and add value to your home when it comes time to sell. Not only does it let people know that someone has been taking care of the house; but it also makes them feel like they’re walking on something clean and new. Flooring is one of those things that you really get what you pay for so just because it’s more expensive doesn’t mean that it’s not worth the investment. Replacing worn-out flooring is one home upgrade that can make a world of difference in the overall appearance of your entire house.

Add New Countertops

If you have an outdated countertop with cracks or chips, not only does it make the area look older but if it’s an area where food is prepared there are health concerns as well. Whether it’s wood, laminate, stainless steel, or stone, new countertops are easy to install and will give your kitchen appliances a whole new shine while adding extra functional space for meal prep or just extra storage. When dealing with countertops choose a material that is easy to maintain and won’t show every little scratch. If you don’t want the hassle of unusual maintenance, choose a safe choice like plastic laminate as it’s durable and affordable as well as easy to clean.

Add A New Coat Of Paint

Paint is one of those things that can fix so many problems at once. If there are small nicks or scuffs on the walls, painting over them prevents dust from collecting in empty holes and makes even an older wall look fresh and new again. Even if you just do one room, choosing a brighter color or more contemporary color scheme can make your home stand out over others.

Add A New Outdoor Area

Adding an outdoor living area to your house is one of the least expensive renovations you’ll find (while adding an addition will easily cost hundreds of thousands, repairing older decks or building new ones costs much less). Whether it’s a fireplace, grill island, or patio dining set that inspires you; there are many ways to expand what you can do outside. You don’t even need to take out any walls if you’re limited on space as adding an outdoor living room at ground level by replacing old concrete pavers with interlocking wood planks makes a big difference and spices up the average backyard without major construction work. 

A home is a place that you grow up in and eventually raise a family. It’s the place where memories are made for life and it should be filled with things that make everyone feel happy and comfortable. Upgrading your appliances, counters, floors, or outdoor space makes the house look newer and more modern while still feeling like home to anyone who enters it.

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Many Brits are looking to sell up and move to a new home this year. You need to make sure you are maximising the value of your existing property before you put it on the market. You might be able to earn more money from your home so you can move to a nicer area. There are plenty of ways to make your home look more attractive to potential buyers. You just need to take a step back and use a critical eye. By increasing the value of your home, you can have more money in the bank for future renovations, holidays and emergencies. It’s difficult to move home – especially if you raised your children there. You need to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Here are a few ways you can add value to your home:

Convert your Cellar or Loft

A loft or cellar conversion will add a lot of value to your home. It gives you extra space and often doesn’t require planning permission. Just make sure there is enough head height in the space you are renovating – your loft space may be quite narrow. You could renovate the loft into a master bedroom and en-suite with some smart space planning. Use sliding doors, stylish tiling and filament bulbs to make your loft an ultramodern bedroom.

Spruce up your Kitchen

Kitchens get dirty very quickly between food splatters and stained countertops. You add a couple thousand in value to your home by giving your kitchen a new lease of life. Clean and paint the cupboard doors to remove any signs of wear and tear and replace the doorknobs. Give it all a deep clean and see if you need to replace the countertops and hob as well. Hopefully, they just need a good scrub, and they will be good to go.

Add an Extension

An extension will probably add the most value to your home because you are increasing the square footage. You could add a home office or an extra bedroom to the property. Use roofing sheets to protect the extension from any harsh weather conditions. Style up your extension with a natural colour palette and lushest textures.

Upgrade your Bathroom

Everyone loves a new bathroom. You can start fresh and bid farewell to any stubborn mould spots. Make your bathroom as calming and spacious as possible. People like to see bright tiles and large showers, outdated wallpaper and coloured appliances. Just make sure you haven’t already exceeded the street value of your home before you start renovation

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You can overhaul the landscaping, changing the shape of the driveway, path, steps, and natural surroundings. You can refurbish the siding or roofing. You can get new windows and doors. All of these projects are pretty time-consuming and fairly expensive. This article will focus on the little tweaks that can make a big difference in the appearance of your home in an afternoon to as little as an hour or two.

Paint The Front Door

The front door is one of the most symbolically important parts of your home. It is by this entrance that most of your coming or going happens. This is often one of the first things people notice about your home, and it’s something that can change the whole vibe of your space. Think of the door as your statement piece in an outfit. It’s here that you can really play around with a pop of color or choose something that creates the emotion you want people to feel when they come over.

Once you’ve selected your color, purchase the paint. You won’t need too much, but be sure to find something that can withstand the weather in your area. You might also want to take the door directly off the hinges while you work, although you can leave it up on the hinges if you prefer (you just need to be really careful around the trim and the door frame). You can amp up the power of this alteration by seeking out a few other things that could be painted to match, like window shutters.

Reconsider Your Mailbox

In today’s digital world, more of us than ever are ordering packages online. Suddenly, our rusted mailboxes that were designed to hold the occasional bank statement (which now we get in our emails anyway) aren’t able to do the work we need them to. We’ve got more packages, and they’re bigger. If you’re looking to give your mailbox a fresh new look, you might also want to seek out a new shape. A selection of parcel boxes and other alternatives have become very popular as of late (people steal packages left out front all the time) and can give the look of your home a little refresh in the process. When purchasing or building a new mailbox, be sure to think about weatherproofing and how long materials will keep their finish and color outside in the elements.

Plant Vines

You knew there was going to be at least one gardening-related point, right? Vines are plants that climb, and this means that a well-placed vine can become a complete redecoration of the face of your home if you let it. There are flowering and non-flowering vines that can add a ton of whimsy, romance, or class to the exterior of your home. Vines, once they’re given a good start in life with some careful tending and directing (using a vine trellis or similar tool), don’t need much tending or care. Once or twice per year, you might need to trim the vines that are reaching for your windows to keep your view from inside lovely, but for the most part, vines are incredibly independent plants. Of course, you need to be sure that your home is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the vines and not so delicate that the tendrils will be able to damage the exterior. If your home is hundreds of years old or crumbling in places, or has cracks vines can reach through, this might not be the right choice for you.

Think About The Sound

One of the most underlooked aspects of creating a good ambiance is the sound. There are many ways you can go about cultivating a soothing or dreamy, or natural audio aesthetic in your yard. You can start simple with a single wind chime (wood and metal chimes make drastically different sounds) or a bird feeder that is filled with seeds that attract songbirds. Birdbaths or features with bubbling or running water can also result in some gorgeous background noise while you sit out on the porch.

The above four steps can help you quickly improve the exterior of your home. It is worth noting that if you are prepping the exterior because you’re planning on selling, there are several other considerations you need to keep. It’s always best to speak to a real estate agent before doing any alterations with the goal of increasing value or speeding up the sale—what actually results in a home to worth more money is sometimes counter-intuitive.