Affordable Ways to Refresh Any Room in Your Home

We all want to live in a beautiful space that reflects our personality, and even if we love exactly how our home looks right now, we can all agree that it's fun to change things up every now and then. Good news: There's no need to remodel to achieve that updated look you're striving for. "You can make small investments in décor for a big impact," says Rebecca Zoet of This New Old House. "Think refresh! Use items from around your home, or in storage, to give a room a new look. Shop flea markets and garage sales for inexpensive finds. Updating with paint and DIY projects pack a big punch for a small price."

Changing trends and seasons also inspire us to renew the look of our homes. "I like to start with neutral pieces that I can easily update with a few new pieces here and there," Zoet says. "A great way to build a seasonal décor collection is to shop deep discounts after the holiday and save them for next year." Stock up on neutral table runners, metal lanterns, and white ceramic pieces, all of which are easily paired with wintery holiday motifs or fresh springy colors.

Another great way to change up the vibe of your home is to move things from one room to another. "I love to shop my own home first," Zoet explains. "A basket in the dining room may work well on the coffee table in the living room. Moving things around brings attention to items that have been overlooked elsewhere. And it saves you a bundle from having to buy all new décor."

For the price of a gallon (or two) of paint, you can transform the feel of any room. "I love Sherwin Williams' 'Collonade Gray' because it is a warm gray with no undertones," Zoet says. "It looks great in virtually any space!" For a modern farmhouse vibe, Zoet suggests Sherwin Williams 'Agreeable Gray,' since it allows you to go light without going white.

With a little elbow grease, you can DIY your way to an updated kitchen or bath. Painting cabinetry takes some time and effort, but the payoff is huge, Zoet notes.

Pump up the color palette in your living room or bedroom with new decorative throw pillows and blankets. "You instantly update your room and add a cozy layer and texture when you add pillows and throw blankets to furniture," Zoet says. "Keep a unified color palette to pull a great room together. Mix and match patterns, solids, and fabrics to add character."

"Adding or changing out your rug in the living room can be an easy way to update the space—and there are so many affordable options," Zoet says. "I like to shop for rugs on Wayfair. It's an easy way to update the room without spending much."

You can change the entire atmosphere of a room with new lighting, so go ahead and update your supplemental sources, like floor or table lamps. In a kitchen, you can easily swap out pendant lights or install an LED strip under the cabinets.

Another easy and inexpensive addition to any living room space? Catch-all trays. "Decorate the tray with a pop of greenery, an object of interest, or even a small basket for remotes," Zoet says. "It adds one more layer of style—and it's functional!"

"The dining room tablescape is one of my favorite areas to update with the change of seasons and holidays—and it does not need to be expensive," Zoet explains. Start with a base layer, like a neutral runner, that remains constant throughout the year; change out your accent items with the seasons.

Lanterns are another great item to keep on the table, since you can easily adorn them with timely motifs. Add neutral placemats and chargers to each place setting for balance. "Chargers are my favorite inexpensive way to make your table look fancy, even on an ordinary day," Zoet notes.

Combine the pretty and the practical in the bathroom. "Even in a small powder room, you can add personality with some greenery or a decorative piece," Zoet says. "Then add pretty baskets or glass jars to corral cosmetic items."

Updating your bedroom is as simple as creating a focal point above the bed. "It doesn't have to be an expensive work of art," Zoet says. Add interest with a variety of decorative pillows. A new lamp on the nightstand is another quick switch that will easily brighten the space.

Decorating your stairwell "adds big impact to an area that is often ignored," adds Zoet. "Decorate the stairway with large vintage pieces for a refreshed look that won't cost a fortune." Shop antique shops or flea markets for unique objects, vintage windows, or baskets—all will add visual intrigue to the space.