You can love your home without loving every piece of it. No matter how much you may enjoy your location, layout, or size, some aspects of your home may seem unappealing.
It might be that old countertop you’ve been dying to get rid of or that old linoleum in your bathroom you can’t stand any longer. While looking at it may be an eyesore, you also don’t want to start renovating your home just yet.
Remodels can be costly, time-consuming, and often messy. It’s a big reason many people put them off for so long. However, fixing up areas of your home you’ve come to dislike doesn’t have to be complicated. You can do many minor updates that will completely transform your space without the added headache of a renovation.
Here are some cheap home improvement ideas that can make your home feel luxurious without causing any homeowners insurance rate increase.
1 – Transform Your Counter With Contact Paper
Contact paper may be your perfect solution if you’ve grown tired of your outdated kitchen counter but don’t want to spend the money on a brand-new one. Rather than gutting your kitchen and undergoing a total renovation, contact paper allows you to give your kitchen a serious facelift without any demolition.
Contact paper is also highly affordable. Most options will run you for less than $30 a roll. Depending on the amount of counter space you have, this update could easily cost you only a few hundred dollars — much cheaper than an entire counter replacement.
How Contact Paper Works
Contact paper works with an adhesive on one side and a design on the other. Once ready to apply, you will peel back the protective layer to reveal the sticky side underneath. Then, just spread it across your counter for a brand-new look.
You may want to have a smoothing tool on hand as you apply because bubbles in your contact paper may be noticeable or allow moisture to seep in as time goes on. Creating a smooth adhesion to your counter is essential for a flawless look.
Contact paper doesn’t have to be limited to your kitchen, either. You can use it for bathrooms or any counter space in your home. It’s easy to give multiple rooms in your home a luxurious-looking upgrade with this simple tool.
The best part about contact paper is changing it when you please. If you’ve grown tired of your current look, remove the contact paper with a heat gun or blow dryer and add a brand-new design.
2 – Update Old Flooring With a Peel-and-Stick Alternative
Flooring can be expensive and time-consuming to replace. If you want to change up your floors without undergoing an entire renovation, peel-and-stick flooring can give you the look of brand-new floors without the headache.
Much like contact paper, peel-and-stick floors work with an adhesive on one side and a flooring design on the other. This easy update can be applied to your existing flooring and come in various options.
This easy update can apply to any room in your home since there are many patterns to choose from. You can find everything from decorative tile to wood designs to fit any theme.
You can conveniently complete this upgrade yourself to save money. When applying, be sure to have an Exacto knife handy. This tool will help you cut flooring pieces to fit in corners or line up with walls.
Though peel-and-stick flooring isn’t necessarily a long-term solution, you will be able to get quite a few good years out of your update. Once it’s time to remove, you can choose to change up your floors with a different tile design or replace them altogether.
3 – Refresh Spaces and Surfaces With Paint
Painting can give any room in your home a beautiful upgrade for minimal money. You can even apply paint to items you may never have thought of, giving you a brand-new look without needing to renovate.
Paint Cabinets for a Fresh New Look
Rooms like kitchens and bathrooms can quickly be dated by their cabinets. While replacing these items can be expensive and complicated, there is a cheaper and quicker solution.
Adding a fresh coat of paint to cabinets can give them a brand-new appearance without the high price tag. Whether you opt for a new shade of stain or stunning new paint color, you can give your entire room a new look with just a few coats of paint.
To complete this project, it’s often easiest to remove doors from cabinets rather than attempting to paint them while still attached. Find a well-ventilated space, such as a garage, to apply your new paint color.
Be sure to strip and sand your cabinets before applying your color choice to ensure it sticks and does not chip. Once your cabinets are dry, rehang them and enjoy your refreshed room.
Refresh Bathrooms With Painted Tubs
If you have a bathroom with an outdated or unpleasantly colored tub, consider painting instead of replacing it. Though it may not be your first thought, painting a bathtub can be a much cheaper alternative.
You’ll need to use specialized paint for the project when painting a tub. Most tubs require either acrylic paint or epoxy, so ask an expert based on the material of your bathtub.
Once you’ve purchased the right tools and paint, you can begin giving your bathtub a much-needed makeover for only a fraction of the cost of a replacement. Depending on the previous color, some tubs may take two to three coats. Once you’re done, you will be amazed at your bathroom transformation with your stunning new tub.
Updating Your Home Without Breaking the Bank
You can love your home without loving every feature it contains. However, renovating can be expensive and challenging.
Even if you’re not ready to commit to a complete remodel, you don’t have to live with the aspects of your home you don’t like. Contact paper, peel-and-stick flooring, and paint can help you update your home cheaply and easily.
You can also upgrade your insurance policy to increase coverage for more expensive parts of the house that you are not ready to renovate or replace, such as the boiler.
By choosing to complete any or all of these upgrades, you can enjoy your home’s new luxurious feel.
Alexandra Arcand writes and researches for the insurance comparison site, Clearsurance.com. She has spent a lot of time renovating her own home and enjoys sharing her favorite updates with others.