When we think of renovations, our minds often go to big and expensive ones. But renovations don’t have to be either. There are lots of small improvements you can make that can have a big impact on your home. Check out our top ideas for budget-friendly renovations for every room in your home.

Prefer to listen?

Kitchens

Replace your countertop. To save even more money, if your space is small, ask your contractor about remnants. And don’t forget about laminate as an option. Laminate countertops have come a long way since your grandmother’s countertop. There are gorgeous styles out there that mimic natural stone.
Add a tiled backsplash or replace your old, outdated one. A simple subway tile is a classic look that will add style to your kitchen. Subway tiles come in many different colours and sizes to add some interest as well. They even come in glass, which adds a beautiful sparkle to your backsplash.
Replace the knobs or pulls on your cabinets. You can go wild and get creative with these.
Want an island in your kitchen but have no budget for it? Consider turning an old table into an island.
Consider a fresh coat of paint! A new colour can completely change the look of your kitchen.
Is it time for a new faucet or sink? This is an easy swap that can make your kitchen more functional and beautiful.

Bathrooms

Replace a mirror with a medicine cabinet to give you more storage space.
Spruce up your bathroom with a fresh new paint colour or consider a jazzy wallpaper behind your vanity for a feature wall.
New flooring has never been easier with vinyl plank flooring that can be installed right on top of existing flooring. With so many varieties and styles to choose from, this option will completely freshen up the look of your bathroom.
Need to hang more towels than you have room to hang towel bars in your bathroom? Consider picking up an old, short wooden ladder at a yard sale. Sand it and put a fresh coat of paint on it. Lean it against a wall in your bathroom, and you can hang a towel on every rung of the ladder!
Change the knobs and pulls on your vanity, and since there are likely only a few to change out, get something blingy and luxurious!
Change the bathroom accessories (toilet paper holder, towel bar, etc.). If you’ve still got the original ones in the house, it’s time for an upgrade.
Got a large, uninteresting mirror in your bathroom? Consider buying some trim (casing from the local hardware store will work) and framing your mirror.
Install a new faucet. Make sure it is efficient and practical, but don’t forget to consider the look. Most faucets come in matte black or even gold!
Change the door! Get a door with a frosted glass insert to let some more natural light in.

Living Rooms/Dining Rooms

Adding crown molding will add a touch of elegance to your living room. You’ll want to hire a pro to do this unless you’ve had experience installing crown molding.
Upgrade the baseboard and casing. If you still have contractor-grade trim, opt for a 5", 6", or 7" tall baseboard. Check out your local lumber store to see what’s available.
Install wainscoting on the walls. You can even create the illusion of wainscoting by installing trim and then painting the trim and walls inside the trim the same colour. This creates a high-end look without the high-end price tag.
Consider a new hanging light above your dining room table. You can even opt for two or three pendant lights over the table instead.
Got some open shelves that hold decorative items? Consider painting the wall behind those shelves a different colour or applying your favourite wallpaper to that wall.
Got floor and table lamps everywhere because you don’t have enough lighting? Then it’s a good time to add some recessed LED pot lights.
Update the flooring. Vinyl plank flooring is our go-to for many of our clients as it’s durable, waterproof, and can be installed on top of most existing flooring. You can even add a throw rug on top to create some softness and luxury.

Bedrooms

Adding crown molding here as well is a great feature to change the look.
Consider a new headboard. Something big and oversized will create a focal point in the room. There are lots of DIY headboard options.
Add some bling to your bedroom with a fancy hanging light over your bed. You can get some really nice crystal-like fixtures at your local hardware store that add that sparkle without breaking the bank.
Changing the paint colour is a great, inexpensive way to freshen up your bedroom. Blues and greens are great colours for bedrooms, as they are calming and help with sleep.
Need more storage space? Add some floating shelving to your bedroom.
Install new window treatments. If you don’t have a big budget, your local discount store (Walmart) will have some great options for every budget.
Create a feature wall in your bedroom. Add some wallpaper or shiplap to the wall to create a focal point.

Laundry Rooms

New flooring can make a big difference here! Go for something bold and creative! This will help make the space a little more interesting while doing a chore no one likes.
Paint the room a fun, bright, and cheery colour! Get creative here. Think of colours like red, teal, yellow, or blue. Consider Tomato Tango, Angel’s Trumpet, Bright Yellow or Bright and Early
Add some upper cabinets or open shelves for more storage. Laundry rooms don’t just have to store detergent and fabric softener. Put up some storage cabinets and put anything extra you need to store in them. One of my clients stored pantry items in her new laundry room cabinets.
Are your washer and dryer side by side? Add a fun countertop on top of them to create a great work area for folding or sorting laundry.
Swap out that old, tired laundry tub that’s full of paint stains for a new laundry cabinet with a built-in sink.
If you’ve got the space on the walls outside of your laundry room, install a barn door. There are many options that can fit any decor.

Miscellaneous

Upgrade the numbers on your house. Make sure you select something that is easily visible from the street, even at night.
Paint your front door for some instant curb appeal.
Makeover your fireplace by painting the brick or applying concrete board over the brick and tiling around it. Add a mantle and some drywall above the fireplace to create a place to hang a TV.

In summary…

Although it’s nice to do big renovations and even whole house renovations, you can accomplish a lot with small changes to rooms in your home. When I first moved into my current house, there was a lot that needed renovating. However, the first thing I did was get rid of the round gold ball door handles and swap them out for brushed nickel lever handles. Not only was it much more efficient to open doors when my hands were full, but it completely changed the look throughout the house for less than $200.

Have a look around your home and put together a list of things you might like to have done. If you need some help, give us a call at 905-259-3344. We understand that big renovations can be expensive, and consequently, we also love doing small jobs and offering our clients budget-friendly options.