Collaborative Post
We can often get tired of our own home surroundings, whether we own the property or not, it can get a little monotonous. However, there are always changes that you can do to your home, even for those who are still renting. These changes don’t need to cost the earth or anything at all for that matter. Some can also be done without having to do any additional work or change to the decor or property at all. Here are some helpful tips to transform your home on a budget.
Give Your Doors & Windows A Wipe Down
The doors and windows are both inside and outside of your home and that means they’re going to be subject to some degree of dust, debris, and dirt. As an exterior element, it’s one of the first things your guests will see as they approach your home, and therefore, it’s important to give your doors and windows a bit of TLC every so often. One of the ways you can work on them without needing to replace them or paint over them is to give them a simple wipe down. It might be that you go over them with just a damp cloth, or you might need to go a bit further and use some hot soapy water or chemical cleaning product in order to remove the really stubborn stains or dirt that’s stuck on there.
You should also get your windows cleaned every so often, but if you want to save money, a bit of glass cleaner or soapy water and a squeegee is all you need for nice clean windows! With your doors, again it could be wiping it down with a damp cloth, or if possible, you may want to paint over them if they’ve become a little too worn or the paint on it has started to come away from the door itself.
Remove Anything That’s Broken
Broken furniture or decor isn’t nice to look at, and it can immediately make your space look a lot more untidy. It’s worth looking around your home and trying to fix whatever you can. There will be things that are easily fixable, but then there are also things that aren’t. You may want to try and take these into various repair shops, depending on what it is you’re trying to fix. For those items of furniture or decor that aren’t looking too great and perhaps are beyond repair, you may want to simply remove it. There are plenty of services out there that can help with getting rid of broken things from around your home. For example, there’s a fridge removal service that’s likely local and available to you if you’re putting in a new fridge. There’s pretty much anything and everything that can either be taken apart and reused in some way or recycled.
Make sure you do your due-diligence where necessary by recycling anything you can first and then only taking it to a skip or rubbish lot as a last resort.
Dispose Of Clutter
Disposing of clutter is important because when it comes to your home’s space, you want to free up as much of it as possible. The last thing you want is to be tripping over anything or causing hazards in your home. We all collect clutter to some extent, and for those who don’t, you might not realize what’s sitting in some of your cupboards, crammed out of sight and perhaps maybe out of mind? In order to get rid of your clutter, make sure you go through it as a household. There are going to be things that your kids have that they don’t need anymore and your partner has. It’s only fair that everyone gets involved with the decluttering and it’s not simply left to just the one person to do.
Start going room by room so that you can focus on each room with the same amount of attention. Separate the belongings into three piles, one to sell, one to donate, and one to chuck or recycle. If you can, it helps to set a challenge and see if you can fill up X amounts of bags by the end of the day. It also makes it fun for the kids too!
Refresh Walls With Paint
Your walls are likely to get bumped and scuffed on a daily basis, and it would take someone very careful to not damage their home with general wear and tear over the years. It’s likely to happen, especially with young ones running about too. If that’s the case and you’ve got quite a selection of scuff marks and chipped paint, then it’s worth going around the home to give them a refresh. It might be to simply repaint the walls with the same colour that you used previously, or you might want to use a new colour. Whenever you’re doing touch-ups, try to use the same brush or roller that you used last time. For any new paint colours, make sure you swatch the paint and leave it so that you can see it during the day and night. The colour may change slightly according to the light available.
When it comes to painting, it’s always good to do this during the summer as this is when you can leave your windows open for longer.
Free Up Surface Space In The Kitchen
Kitchen surface space is something that’s likely to be limited if you’re the type of household to just have everything on there. However, when it comes to your kitchen counters, you want to try and reduce the amount that’s on there as much as you possibly can. The things that should be on your kitchen counter are those that you use pretty much every day. This can be your kettle, toaster, tea and coffee holders, etc. Anything else can simply go into kitchen cupboards out of the way so that you have more space in your kitchen to prepare your meals.
Try to find space in your cupboards for the items that are taking up too much counter space in your kitchen.
Re-Grout Bathroom Tiles
The bathroom tiles are something you forget about until you see the yellowing and chipping of your bathroom tiles. Most grout can be cleaned to remove any yellow stains or mould that’s built up on the grout itself. However, there are going to be some occasions where it might be a good idea to re-grout your tiles. This can help to freshen up the appearance of your tiles so that they look nicer. It’s a lot more obvious if you’ve got white tiles and a not-so-white grout.
Re-grouting your tiles is fairly easy, and for the most part, you could probably do it yourself. However, if you’re not confident, it’s worth getting in a professional or someone with experience. Ask around your friends and family members first before seeking out a professional.
Don’t Forget About Your Garden Space
The garden space is one area that you’ll likely let go of when it comes to the colder months. Unless you’ve got a nice set-up in place, like decking areas with sofas and a fire pit, you may avoid going outside to enjoy the surroundings. It’s important though that you spend time outside when you can, even if the weather isn’t very nice. If there are any small changes you can do, such as weeding out any dead plants or adding in a bit of outdoor furniture, it can make a big difference. Adding some outdoor lighting can also be helpful to light the space up.
Shop Around For Bargains
Everyone would like to save their money wherever possible and so when it comes to shopping for things for your home, try to shop around. There’s always going to be places that do that particular soft furnishing for cheaper but perhaps still provides the same quality material or product. Don’t just buy from the first place you see, look around and see what you can get. You might surprise yourself by what’s out there and what you might be able to get cheaper. Saving money can be handy and can allow you to spend a little more in your home and in other areas of your life. If you can spot a bargain or two, that’s going to make your home transformation even more satisfying.
Let In More Light
Lighting is important when it comes to your home because if you have nice lighting, you’ll enjoy your home a lot more. It also helps to boost your mood too so try to let in more natural light where possible. Refrain from blocking any windows or doors that let in light and when you need to, buy lighting that mimics natural light so that you’re not missing out. Think about what lighting might be missing from certain rooms too and add that in.
Transforming your home on a budget is very much possible so use these tips to make your money go further.
