Redoing Your House on a Budget

Because of the current economic conditions, many families have decided not to upgrade their home because it's too costly. If you're in that same financial state, you can rest easy that you can make your home look like new with upgraded features and not have to spend an arm and a leg in the process.

Make Your Budget Go Further

Start with the basics when considering a renovation. Assess from ceiling to floors first. This is the basis for your renovation. If you have a 'popcorn' ceiling, consider either repainting it a bright white or hiring someone to scrape it and re-plaster it with a flat pattern. Don't forget to apply a thick primer before your paint coat! Next, look at the walls and choose a neutral shade that will flatter open and airy tones and will go with any décor. Patch holes and dents in the walls to give the home a finished look. Next, keep going with the floors: are the flooring and baseboards in good shape? If so, repaint the baseboards a nice white color to make everything look brand-new again. If you plan to tear out and lay new coverings on the floors, consider porcelain tiles, because they are easy on your wallet per square foot and look great much longer than carpet does. If you will be putting carpet in, choose a compact pile that is somewhere between brown and beige so that spills won't show as much and the carpet will be resistant to crushing for years to come.

Kitchens and Bathrooms are Key

Remodeling your kitchen and bathrooms are the best investments you can put into your living quarters. If the cabinetry is in good repair, consider either restaining the existing cabinets or re-facing them. If you will be refacing them, get a good cordless drill and remove the hardware from the cabinet doors to release them. If needed, you can buy replacement cabinet doors from your local home improvement store. To save even more, use the cabinets you have and refinish them. Again, take out the doors from the cabinets and then brush on a paint remover to the existing finish and use a scraper made from hard plastic just for this purpose. Once all of the finish has been removed, sand the cabinets the first time with a sander using medium-grade sandpaper. A final sanding should be done with a fine-grade sandpaper after that. Remove all of the wood dust and then spread a wood conditioner to the cabinets. To conclude, stain or paint the wood and complete it with two or three clear coats to protect the new finish from water splashes.

How to Make an Impact Through Design

Improving your furniture and home décor is an uncomplicated, but significant way to make your surroundings looking sharp. You can find great deals at garage sales, thrift stores and on the Internet which will save money. For even better savings, create your own piece of furniture. You can make a unique headboard, for example, with nothing more than two over-sized splindles or posts of wood, a woodworking lathe (you can borrow this from someone), and a large rectangle of wood. Cover the wood center portion with some batting, fabric, and unique upholstery pins for a new headboard that is truly stunning!

It doesn't matter whether you've recently moved into a home that needs TLC or if it's your existing house. Either way, these helpful hints for getting the most out of your home will help your living quarters look like new without spending all of your savings in the process.

Frank Stewart writes about home remodeling, including tips on how to buy cordless tools, soldering equipment, and many other useful tools. This is a great resource for DIY home owners out there.