Guess what!? After a couple months of fixing things up, we listed our rental home and it sold right away, yay! Things moved pretty quick, without any hiccups and yesterday it closed. Double yay! I documented bits and pieces of the process on Stories (saved in highlights if you want to go take a peek), and mentioned our tight budget which lead to DM’s asking if I could share any cost saving tips for updating a home. I answered things as best I could on that little app, but thought it would be helpful to share here too!
5 INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME
- Paint. Exterior, interior, cupboards, furniture, closets, molding, doors, patterns, ceilings, half walls, etc. It’s relatively inexpensive (if you aren’t paying for labor) and is the quickest way to freshen things up. Also, as my mom taught me at a young age, you can always paint over it if the hot pink doesn’t work out (Ha! Thanks mom!) We used Benjamin Moore’s simply white on the interior of the rental (including moldings), railings by farrow & ball (color matched), and rushing river by sherwin williams (there are variations of this one so make sure and get samples!)
- Fill the walls with pretty and or functional things. Curtains, photos, art, bulletin board, chalkboard, flag, etc…. get your bang for your buck (and time, too) and go oversized. Love these digital downloads you can print at costco for under $20.
- Add or swap out hardware + light fixtures — look for dupes, DIY’s or splurge if it’s just a few! Always drooling over hardware from anthropologie and lights from school house.
- Start with a nook or a wall or a closet. Making it more of a refresh than a remodel, but just as effective!
- Price check and don’t be afraid to DIY (youtube is your friend)! I didn’t realize this until we started fixing up the rental, but not everything is as expensive as you think if you’re willing to keep your eyes peeled and are a little flexible with what you want. For instance, we did the entire subway tile backsplash (pictured) for $75 worth of supplies all because we found a pile of boxes in Home Depot with a clearance sign on them. I assumed they were faulty but it turns out the store had just ordered a new brand and didn’t have room for the old one so they were just trying to declutter and move it out. It wasn’t the exact size I wanted but since we were on a tight budget and it freed us up to do other things (like the fireplace), we went for it and don’t regret it one bit.
In the end I would say, don’t be discouraged by a small budget and just get started!
Also, keep in mind a home is where you snuggle and dance and fight and make up and roast s’mores and make dinner and get ready and feel safe and kiss boo-boos and encourage and belly laugh and make plan and take tubbies and…. fart :)
Like Poppy did in the picture sequence below.
And none of those things require a remodeled kitchen, expensive furniture or a rug you can’t afford.
Hope these tips help and please share your tips in the comments below!
xo, Rae
Have you always had two homes, or did you sell the home you are living in? Can you show staging tips? We are in the midst of deciding whether or not to move, and the emotional part of just deciding to go for a change (or not) is so difficult.
Hey Claire! No, we used to live in the house we rented and just sold. Since the house was empty and in at a more “starter home” price range we did minimal staging — a few plants, big art, basket with blankets by the fireplace, tray with drinks in the kitchen, books and pillows in the nook area, and towels in the kitchen and bathrooms… super simple but homey. It is so hard to decide what to do!!! Praying and journalling always help and then just looking at what’s out there on the market in an area your interested in always helps me a little… we’re looking to move sometime in the next year from the home we’re in now so I totally get it! xoxo, Rae