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What are Inexpensive Updates To Transform Any Room?

By July 10, 2020July 13th, 2020No Comments
updates can transform a space, like lighting

We all love inexpensive updates! I especially love the updates that take something from nice to WOW!

When I assist clients, my goal is to help them to accomplish the look they want to achieve when they update a room. Using some items that a client loves, then updating with a unique mix of items curates a room that you can fall in love with all over again! Here are some ideas of inexpensive updates that I have incorporated over the years that can really change the look of a room.

Paint and Color

OK, you have heard me say it before, paint is one of the biggest bangs for your buck! Paint can be used to create an inexpensive update not just for walls but for many things in the home.  

Consider painting your front door in a complementary color that coordinates with your siding, stonework, and roof.

An inexpensive update and one that will have a huge impact to transform a room are to update door hardware. Consider spray painting your doorknobs and hinges in one of the many metal looking spray paints that are now available instead of replacing. Cleaning and prepping the surface will be very important to make sure the paint holds up.

Painting cabinets is an inexpensive update for kitchens and bathrooms. When choosing a color consider the hard surfaces already existing in your room.  It is very important that if you plan on taking on this update, prep your cabinets well. If you do, the look will be very professional.

A popular trend right now is painting fireplace brick. Before you venture down this path though, do your research. I have recommended doing this to update a room, but the color and the application of what you use is very important. Keep in mind once your brick is painted there is no going back.

Got ceiling fans in your house? Consider painting the blades and if you have a light, change the globe and light bulbs to give it an updated look.

Other Inexpensive Updates

If you are not ready to pull out your paint brush consider some other inexpensive updates.

For floors and walls, you can look into peel and stick products. There are now peel and stick tile products that are not only inexpensive but are great for a new look. They are also great products if you rent and want to jazz up your space, but need to leave your place looking as it did when you moved in.

Wallpaper is becoming more popular and a great choice is to look into is the peel and stick type because it is easy to put up but also remove. You can also add this type of wallcovering in various other updated projects such as back of bookshelves, inside cabinets, let your imagination run with it.

Another application to consider updating floors and walls is to use a stencil and add a pattern.  Doing the pattern in a contrasting color similar to the popular “modern farmhouse” style. To give the stencil look more of a wallpaper feeling consider doing the stencil in a similar color as the background, tone on tone, sophisticated looking.

Lighting

One of my favorite inexpensive updates is lighting. When you remove those builder-grade light fixtures and add a new light fixture that is more current today the whole look of a room transforms. Keep in mind updating your old lights can save you money in the long run if you choose LED light fixtures.

Lighting even if you spend a little more can really make a difference in the appearance of a room. It also can create an ambiance in the room too. For example I could do a school house light in a kitchen which would give it a nice casual feeling, or I could find a more chandelier type light and the kitchen would be transformed to a more formal feeling. Lighting really can make a difference in updating a room.

Let me know some of your tricks and inexpensive updates that have transformed your rooms.

Karen GP

Author Karen GP

Karen GrayPlaisted is the principle owner of Design Solutions KGP. She is a graduate from Pace University and The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Her marketing background and design sense are a perfect combination for home sellers. In the first year she began her staging business, she won the ‘Rising Star’ accolade from RESA, selected from all North American stagers, USA and Canada. In 2016 she won top Occupied Stager in the USA. Karen’s ability to educate and empower clients using simple solutions allows homeowners to transform their spaces with desirable affordable decadence.

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