10 Home Improvement Ideas: How To Make The Most of What You Already Have!

Based on the reader emails I get each month, I know there are tons of you in older homes trying to figure out ways to improve things. 

 I was in that daunting place just 3 short years ago.  The good news is that YOU can do what I've done. It just takes a little willingness to learn. And the ability to block out all of the people telling you not to paint something. Grab your paintbrush and let's fight the good fight.


So, here are my top 10 easy solutions to update things you might not like about your house, most of which involve paint
Because let's face it. When you need low-cost, high-impact results, paint is your best friend.

So, put on your man pants, and let's go.

#1. Paint Your Trim

We'll start off with the one thing that will give you the most bang for your buck. Painting your old wooden trim. I painted my trim, and it completely transformed my entire house. Nothing will make as big of an impact as painting your trim. All you need is paint and a really great attitude.

because although painting trim is fairly easy, it takes forever and you will likely want to kick and scream like a toddler at least twice. That's just a fact. 

There are very few things that will transform an old house like painted trim will, as evidenced by the below picture. 

#2. Paint Your Tile

Did you know you can paint your tile? This is great news for owners of outdated tile countertops. I found a special type of epoxy paint made just for sinks, tubs, and tile. The results are truly amazing. 

#3. Paint Your Old Furniture

Moving into your new house may be hard on your wallet already which will probably make you realize that shopping for all brand new furniture is not going to be a reality just yet. Instead, think outside of the box and find inexpensive ways to furnish your home. 

 This french provincial dresser is one of my faves and only cost $50.

#4. Spray Paint Your Doorknobs

If you've been blessed with tons of outdated 1980's brass doorknobs, you can easily update them with spray paint. Using the right spray paint will give you a high-end, durable result. And it's much better than paying $20+ a piece for new knobs! 

#5. Spray Paint Your Light Fixtures:
I love a great light fixture. I found an inexpensive way to upgrade old thrift store chandeliers just by using spray paint. The below chandy only cost $5 and really looks amazing. 
See the transformation here.

 #6. Paint Your Dirty Tile Grout
This one product has totally transformed floors.  The best part is that it was only around $10. 
See more info here.

#7. Paint outdated Bathroom Fixtures
Rather than spend hundreds of dollars on new bathroom fixtures, you  just used this silver spray paint and this metallic paint pen (affiliate links) to completely update outdated two-toned fixtures. It's still holding up over a year later.
You can see more details about that transformation here.

#8. Paint the insides of old cabinets
Using a quart of chalkboard paint (affiliate link), you're able to completely update old kitchen cabinets. It's makes a bigger impact on a little kitchen than anything else. 
See more about the kitchen here.

 

#9. Create an Accent Wall:
Adding a fun accent wall is one of my favorite things to do in a room. It's basically like making an entire part of the room into art.

#10. Paint your boring old walls! 

Painting boring colored walls throughout the entire home can make a big difference. Keep the color palette neutral, but vary the color from room to room. The overall effect is a calm, serene, cohesive looking home!

 


#11. BONUS!! Make your own mantel for $30!
If you're blessed with a 1970's gem of a fireplace in your living room, make the most of it! Build your own DIY mantel for less than $30! It totally upgrades the fireplace and ends up being a super easy project! 

So, that's it! Those are my top 10 11 ways to make the most of what you already have! Thanks so much for stopping by! Ya'll are what make this little blog tick, and I appreciate it so much!