Is your home starting to feel dated, but a full remodel isn’t in the budget right now? Here’s the good news…you don’t need to gut your kitchen or knock down walls to make your home look more current. There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to upgrade your home.
In this post, I’m going to walk you through 10 high-impact ways to update a dated home without remodeling — but more importantly, I’ll show you where to start, what actually makes the biggest difference, and what to save for later.
If you’re craving a home that looks more beautiful and feels more modern, without the stress and cost of a full renovation, you’re in the right place!
Our Story
Before we get into the specifics, I want you to know this isn’t just theory.
Our first home was very dated. Floral wallpaper, pink tile, green shag carpet…the works. We didn’t have the budget to remodel everything at once, so we had to be strategic. Every update mattered, and every mistake cost time and money we didn’t have.
You want to see dated? Just look at this picture of the kitchen from our first house. Ah, it makes me nostalgic to look at it, knowing what it would someday become.
Over several years, we slowly transformed that house — not with one big renovation, but with a series of smart, intentional updates. The difference was dramatic! People couldn’t believe it was the same home.
That experience is exactly why I’m such a believer in updating rather than waiting for remodeling. And, why the order and specific changes you make, matters so much.
### Start Here: What Actually Makes the Biggest Difference
Before you dive into the list below, it helps to understand one important thing: not all updates are created equal.
Some changes will dramatically modernize your home, while others are more about polish and finishing touches. If you’re overwhelmed or working with a limited budget, this section will help you prioritize.
Here’s a quick overview of the most impactful updates, ranked by cost, effort, and visual payoff:
High-Impact Updates to Modernize a Dated Home
| Update | Cost | Effort | Visual Impact | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint (walls, trim, cabinets) | $ | Easy–Moderate | High | Whole house |
| Replace light fixtures | $$ | Easy | High | Entry, kitchen, baths |
| Update window treatments | $$ | Easy | High | Living areas, bedrooms |
| Change hardware (doors & cabinets) | $ | Easy | Medium | Kitchens, baths |
| Replace baseboards / trim | $$ | Moderate | Medium–High | Whole house |
| Replace outlets & switch plates | $ | Easy | Medium | Any room |
| Update faucets | $$ | Easy | Medium | Bathrooms |
| Replace old carpet | $$$ | Moderate | Medium–High | Bedrooms |
| Add moulding or wall trim | $$–$$$ | Moderate | Medium | Dining rooms, halls |
| Paint tile, floors, or counters | $–$$ | Moderate | Medium | Short-term fixes |
#1 – PAINT
If there’s one update that consistently delivers the biggest transformation for the least amount of money, it’s paint. There’s no doubt about it, paint is your most powerful weapon against a dated house…and I don’t say that lightly.
Paint doesn’t just change the color of something. It changes the entire look and feel of a space. When a home feels dated, the color of your surfaces or walls is almost always part of the problem — and part of the solution.
Why paint works so well
- It instantly refreshes walls and surfaces that visually dominate a room
- It can modernize finishes you’re not ready to replace
- It creates cohesion between rooms and materials
But here’s the part most people miss – what you paint matters just as much as the color you choose.
The 3 Places Paint Makes the Biggest Difference
If you’re overwhelmed, don’t try to paint everything at once. Start with these areas first.
1. Walls (Always the Foundation)
Painting the walls sets the tone for the entire home. It affects how your furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and trim look, which is why choosing a wall color before making other decorative decisions is so important.
Designer tip:
If your home feels choppy or disconnected, chances are the wall colors aren’t working together. A cohesive wall color strategy can make even older finishes look more cohesive.
From my own home:
In our first house, painting the walls, trim, doors, and kitchen cabinetry was the very first update we made. Nothing else had changed, not the layout, not the cabinets themselves, but the house immediately felt cleaner, brighter, and more current. It was the moment we realized we could make meaningful changes to the house without remodeling.
2. Trim & Doors (Small Change, Big Payoff)
Trim and doors frame your rooms, and when they look outdated or inconsistent, they quietly age the entire house. Painting your trim and doors:
- Creates a cleaner, more modern backdrop
- Brightens dark or heavy spaces
- Makes ceilings feel taller
Changing out your front door can be expensive, so painting your exterior door is a great way to save money and give your exterior a more modern appearance. Painting the inside of your front door is also a great way to add a little drama to your entry.
I happen to be a big fan of painting interior doors, as well, to add a bold pop of color and some character into your home. Check out my post on painted doors for some inspiration.
There has been a long-standing debate about whether or not you should paint stained wood baseboards and trim. Many people adore the classic look of wood trim, and would never consider hiding its natural beauty by painting over it. Others prefer the fresh, clean look of bright white trim throughout their homes. Whether you keep stained wood trim or paint it white is a personal decision, but if your goal is maximum visual transformation, painted trim will deliver that faster.
Designer Viewpoint: There is no right answer, because it’s your home, and you should do what you like to create a place that reflects your style. I will say, however, that painting your wood trim white will completely change the look of the space. So, if transformation is what you’re after, painting the trim will deliver results.
Take a look at this next before and after pic to see how dramatic the change can be, and then make the decision that feels right for you.
3. Cabinets & Vanities (When Replacement Isn’t an Option)
Painting kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities can dramatically update a space without the cost or disruption of a full remodel.
That said, this is where a little judgment matters.
Paint cabinets when:
- The cabinet doors and boxes are in good shape
- The layout still works
- You want a cosmetic refresh, not a full redesign
Don’t paint cabinets when:
- The doors are warped or low quality
- The layout is the real issue
- You’re trying to “fix” a dysfunctional kitchen with color alone
Designer note:
I’ve seen beautifully painted cabinets still feel wrong because the wall color, flooring, lighting, or hardware wasn’t considered first. Cabinets are a good starting point , but they’re part of a bigger picture when it comes to the overall look of your kitchen.
Just like with kitchen cabinets, paint can bring new life to your outdated bathroom vanity. Take a look at this pretty little bathroom makeover – the vanity looks amazing!
Need some cabinet paint color inspiration and ideas, take a look at our posts about kitchen cabinet colors that aren’t white.
Other Surfaces Paint Can Transform (With Caution)
Paint can also be used to update:
- Built-ins
- Fireplaces (use masonry paint or limewash)
- Tile, floors, or countertops (as short-term solutions)
- Light fixtures (spray paint is all you need)
I’m a huge fan of built-ins, and they can be a beautiful design feature in a room. But, there are plenty of built-ins out there that are contributing to the overall dated look of a home. Your first instinct might be to just rip them out, but before you go down that path, consider painting them!
If you have high-quality, sturdy built-ins, with a nice, clean design, a fresh coat of paint might be all that’s needed to bring those built-ins back to life and update the entire look of the space.
Painting Fireplaces
If you have an older home, chances are you have a brick fireplace. If your brick fireplace is making the entire room feel dark and heavy, then go ahead and paint it to brighten up the space! Tons of people paint over their brick fireplaces, and it’s very easy to do. Just be sure to use a proper masonry paint!
Another option? Consider whitewashing or limewashing the brick to brighten it up, while still keeping some of its character. For coastal and farmhouse style spaces, I happen to prefer the look of whitewashed/limewashed brick over straight-up paint, because I like to see the color variation of the brick shine through. The best paint for limewashing (hands down) is Romabio. Here’s an example of a limewashed fireplace.
A Word About Painting Tile & Floors
Plenty of dated homes come with ugly tile. Our first home had pink tile in the kitchen, and not the cute vintage kind. Changing out your tile can be a big, messy, expensive job, so if the tile is in good condition, you could paint over it. This can be a powerful transformation, but really needs to be done intentionally — especially in high-traffic areas.
If there is ever a poster child for the power of paint, it would be this next bathroom makeover. They painted the linoleum floor, wall tiles, walls, ceiling, tub paneling, and vanity…hard to believe it’s the same bathroom!
Designer reality check:
Painted tile, floors, and countertops can buy you time, but they’re not forever solutions. If you treat them as such, they can absolutely be worth it.
Painting Countertops
Most people think there is nothing they can do to change their ugly countertops. But, just like there is an ‘app for everything’…there is a paint for everything! These paints sometimes get mixed reviews, but they are improving every year, and can really transform the look of your kitchen or bathroom. Just like painting tile or floors, this should be viewed as a temporary fix.
Here’s a project that will make you a believer. They started by painting their dated green countertops, and then painted their kitchen cabinets white. The before and after pics are stunning!
One Paint Rule That Will Save You From Regret
Never choose paint colors in isolation!
Lighting, flooring, countertops, cabinetry, and even the direction your room faces all affect how a color looks in real life, which is why testing and sampling is non-negotiable.
I always recommend testing paint colors in your actual space before committing. My favorite large peel-and-stick samples are from Samplize, because they let you move samples around the room and see how the color changes throughout the day.
Need Help Choosing Paint Colors?
The paint colors you choose for your home will have a major impact on the way it looks, and there are many things to consider, that homeowners often overlook. Plus, with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming. If choosing paint colors feels stressful, that’s usually a sign you don’t need more color options — you need a clear process for choosing confidently.
>> Download my FREE Guide: “5 Steps to Choosing the Perfect Paint Color“
#2 – REPLACE LIGHT FIXTURES
Lighting is one of the most overlooked contributors to a dated home, and ironically, one of the easiest things to fix.
I often tell homeowners this:
If your lighting is dated, everything else will feel dated too — no matter how nice your furniture or paint colors are.
Many homes, especially those built in the 1990s and early 2000s, are filled with generic fixtures chosen for cost, not design. Swapping them out is one of the fastest ways to update a home without touching the layout.
Start with These High-Impact Areas
If you’re replacing fixtures gradually, prioritize these spaces first:
Entryway & Foyer
Your entry light sets the tone for the entire home. If it’s undersized or outdated, the rest of the house immediately feels behind the times.
Designer tip:
Size matters more than style here. The right size light fixture will instantly elevate the space, even if the design is fairly simple.
Dining Room & Kitchen
Outdated chandeliers or builder-grade pendants can make otherwise nice kitchens and dining rooms feel tired.
From my own home:
In our first house, we lived with builder lighting far longer than we should have because it felt “fine.” The moment we replaced it, the house suddenly felt elevated — and we realized how much the lighting had been holding everything else back.
Bathrooms
Bathroom vanity lights are often too small, too shiny, or just plain ugly. Replacing them will make your bathroom feel cleaner, brighter, and more current.
What About Flush-Mount and Ceiling Lights?
Let’s talk about it — those flush-mount ceiling lights (yes, the infamous “boob lights”) date a home instantly! They’re common because they’re cheap and functional, not because they’re attractive.
The good news? There are now plenty of affordable, low-profile alternatives that can dramatically modernize your hallways, bedrooms, and other spaces.
Designer Tip: Before you replace every fixture, swap all of your lightbulbs to a consistent warm white temperature. Sometimes just improving the quality of the light will help determine which fixtures truly need replacing, and which ones can wait.
#3 – UPDATE WINDOW TREATMENTS
Old window treatments are one of the fastest ways to date a home, and one of the easiest ways to make it feel more modern and elevated.
If your windows still have:
- Heavy valances
- Narrow mini blinds
- Outdated patterned curtains
…they’re likely dragging the entire room down, even if everything else has been updated. By removing your old window treatments, not only can you let more light into the room, but you’ll help create a much more current look for the entire space.
Start by Simplifying
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is overcomplicating window treatments. Start by removing any valances, swags, heavy drapery, vertical blinds, cheap plastic blinds, and short or skimpy curtain panels. You may be better off having no window treatments, than something that is blocking light from entering the space.
Designer rule of thumb:
Simple, appropriately-sized window treatments will always look more current than anything overly fussy or trendy.
Modern Window Treatment Combinations That Work
Some of my favorite timeless window treatment options include:
- Floor-length drapery panels layered with bamboo or woven shades
- Roman shades with clean lines
- Wood or faux-wood blinds paired with neutral panels
Designer insight:
Layering your window treatments adds depth and softness — something many dated homes are missing. It’s an easy way to make a room feel more luxurious and “finished.”
Curtain Placement Matters
Hanging drapery panels correctly can completely change how a room feels. For best results:
- Hang panels high and wide (4-6″ below your ceiling, and wider than your window)
- Let them be long enough to lightly kiss the floor
- Use additional panels for large windows, so they don’t look skimpy when closed
#4 – UPDATE INTERIOR DOORS
Interior doors are one of those things in a house that most homeowners stop noticing…until they’re updated. Then suddenly, the entire home feels more modern!
When we bought our first home, all of the doors were hollow-core, flat wood doors with shiny brass knobs (just like in the picture below). We replaced all of our doors with white, paneled doors, and you know what? That one change made a HUGE difference! The hallway suddenly looked clean and bright…and the entire house felt updated!
Let’s talk about four options for updating your dated doors, from simplest to most transformational.
Option 1: Paint Existing Doors
If replacing doors isn’t in the budget, painting them can make a huge difference. It can instantly brighten up a dark hallway, and modernize an older home.
Designer tip:
For the most updated look, paint the door, frame, and casing the same color. This creates a clean, modern look that works beautifully in both traditional and contemporary homes.
Option 2: Upgrade Door Hardware
Sometimes it’s not the door that needs updating…it’s the hardware. Swapping out dated knobs for modern knobs or levers in a consistent finish can instantly upgrade your home. This is one of the easiest DIY updates and delivers great results for minimal effort.
From my own home:
When we updated the doors in our first house, the hallways suddenly felt brighter. The entire house looked more modern and expensive. It was one of those “why didn’t we do this sooner?” changes.
Option 3: Add Some Trim Details
You may not have to replace all of your doors to achieve a similar look. You can also just paint your existing doors and add some custom trim details (moulding) to the door to totally change its look. Here are some great examples.
Option 4: Replace Doors
Replacing doors is more of an investment, but it can be very transformative, especially if:
- Your existing doors have a plain, hollow-core dated look
- You want a more luxurious and timeless look in your home
- You’re updating trim at the same time
A simple, paneled door painted white is always going to be your best bet for a timeless look.
#5 – UPGRADE THE BASEBOARDS & TRIM
Baseboards and trim don’t usually draw attention, unless they’re outdated or undersized. Then, they let everyone know that your home hasn’t been updated. Upgrading your baseboards and trim will go a long way toward making your entire home look more current. There are several options for updating your trim:
Option 1: Paint What You Have
If replacing your baseboards and trim isn’t realistic, painting existing baseboards and casing can really give your home a fresh look — especially if the trim is currently stained.
]Many dated homes also have baseboards and trim that are painted off-white or ivory, which can make the entire space feel dingy. Giving them a fresh coat of a crisp, clean white paint color will brighten the room, and create a more modern overall look in your home.
Option 2: Make Trim Look Taller
One of my favorite budget-friendly tips for changing up the look of your existing baseboards is to make them look larger by:
- Adding a small strip of trim an inch or two above the existing baseboard
- Painting both the trim and space between them white
This creates the look of taller, more substantial baseboard without a full replacement. Check out the example below.
Option 3: Full Replacement
When is replacing your trim worth it? You should consider a full replacement if:
- You’re also replacing your doors
- You want a more modern or timeless look
- Your trim profiles are inconsistent with your decorating style
Our first home had small, oak baseboards…not bad, but nothing to write home about either. They were the same stain color as the floor, so they just kind of blended in. When we replaced all of our doors, we also replaced all of the trim around the doors, and the baseboards. We added taller baseboards, and painted them white – what a huge difference!
If you already have simple, white baseboards in your home, then you probably don’t need to do anything about them. But, if you have really small baseboards, like we did, or a style that looks dated to you, I highly recommend you replace them. Simple, clean trim profiles tend to age far better than overly ornate styles.
#6 – UPDATE FLOORS
Flooring has a huge visual footprint in a house, which means dated floors can overpower even the best paint and decor choices. At the same time, flooring is one of the more expensive updates — so knowing when to replace, when to refresh, and when to wait matters.
When Floors Are the Real Problem
Your floors may be holding your home back if:
- The carpet is worn, stained, or heavily patterned
- The flooring clashes with your wall color and furniture
- The material feels outdated for the style you want
The typical lifespan of carpet is 10-15 years old, so if your carpet is older than that, it needs to be replaced…period. In many homes, especially those built in the 80s through early 2000s, old carpet is the biggest contributor to a dated look.
Start by Seeing What You’re Working With
Before replacing carpet, check to see if there’s hardwood underneath. Lift a floor vent or peek under the carpet in a closet. Sometimes there’s a hidden gem waiting to be revealed!
From my own experience:
Discovering hardwood floors under old carpet feels like winning the renovation lottery — but it’s still a bit of a gamble. Before you move straight on to ripping up that nasty old carpet, it’s important to keep one thing in mind. Most floors can be refinished beautifully, but in some cases the hardwood might be water-damaged and require replacing.
If that’s the case, you can go with new hardwoods, luxury vinyl, or even new carpet (though I recommend going with hardwood or luxury vinyl if you want a more updated look). Luxury vinyl can be a smart choice for durability — especially in homes with kids or pets.
Designer Reality Check: If replacing floors isn’t in the budget right now, don’t panic. A well-chosen rug, updated lighting, and cohesive paint colors can buy you time, and often make floors feel less noticeable until replacement is possible.
#7 – ADD MOULDING
Adding unique details to a room, like crown moulding, new window trim, and wainscoting, is a great way to amp up your living space and add some character to your home. Even though these tend to be more traditional elements in a home, they bring a sense of quality and beauty to homes that are otherwise lacking character. This is especially true of homes that were built between the 1950’s and 1980’s.
Where Moulding Has the Biggest Impact
Even simple moulding details can dramatically elevate a space by adding depth and dimension, and visual interest beyond your furniture and decor. It helps give your home personality and adds wow factor!
You don’t need to add moulding everywhere. Start with:
- Dining rooms
- Entryways
- Hallways
- Primary bedrooms
Simple applications, like picture frame moulding or board and batten wainscoting, go a long way.
If you happen to have an older home that already has these great character details, be sure to showcase them or update them with a fresh coat of paint. If not, you can easily add these elements to a room, and really elevate the overall look of the home.
Home Depot has some pre-made wainscoting panels that you can install quickly and easily. Here’s an example that illustrates the beauty of adding simple trim boxes to the walls in a dining room – so pretty!
#8 – REPLACE OUTLETS, SWITCH PLATES, AND THERMOSTAT
This update is often overlooked, but once it’s done, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
Ivory used to be the color-of-choice for electrical outlets and switches, but now that white has taken over, ivory tends to look old and a little dirty. The good news is that these things are easy to change, and you don’t have to be an electrician to do it!
An Easy, High-Impact Fix
Swapping ivory outlets and plates for clean white versions:
- Instantly modernizes the space
- Makes walls and trim look crisper
- Costs very little
This is a simple DIY project most homeowners can easily manage, and it delivers a surprisingly big payoff.
Here’s an example of a subtle change from ivory to white that makes a big difference in the overall look of the room.
Don’t Forget the Thermostat
Old analog thermostats not only look dated, they’re inefficient. Replacing them with a modern, programmable thermostat:
- Improves energy efficiency which can save you money!
- Adds convenience and automation with better tech
- Looks way better and more current
Why This Step Is Best Done After Paint
Once your walls and trim are painted, outdated outlets and switch plates stand out even more. Updating them after you’re done painting will help your new paint job look cleaner, and the entire space look more updated.
#9 – REPLACE FAUCETS
If there’s one update that quietly dates a bathroom or kitchen faster than almost anything else, it’s the faucet.
Faucets are small, but they tend to be very noticeable. When they’re outdated, overly ornate, or worn, they immediately scream “dated,” even if everything else looks decent.
Start With Bathrooms First
If you’re updating faucets gradually, bathrooms should be your first priority. New bathroom faucets:
- Are relatively inexpensive
- Easy to install (no plumber required in most cases)
- Deliver instant visual payoff
Designer insight:
I’ve seen bathrooms look completely transformed with nothing more than a new faucet, updated lighting, and fresh paint. It’s one of the fastest ways to modernize without remodeling!
Check out my post on the best bathroom faucets – timeless styles that won’t date your home!
Choose the Right Style
When selecting a faucet, aim for timeless over trendy:
- Clean, simple lines
- Minimal detailing
- A finish that coordinates with your hardware and lighting
Avoid overly decorative styles or finishes that are overly trendy. Faucets should prioritize function over beauty — you want something that will still look good years from now.
Match the Existing Hole Configuration
The key to keeping this update simple and affordable is to replace your faucet with one that matches the existing hole setup (single-hole, widespread, or centerset).
If you have a single-hole faucet, you’ll need to look for a new single-hole replacement. This keeps installation straightforward.
If DIY feels intimidating, check out this step-by-step video from Lowes on how to Replace a Bathroom Faucet. If you’re uncomfortable with plumbing work, a handyman could get this done for you.
Don’t Forget the Kitchen — Just Be More Selective
Kitchen faucets are used more heavily, so quality matters here. Upgrading the faucet can improve functionality, and also make an older kitchen feel more current. This is one area where spending a bit more for quality and looks is often worth it.
#10 – CHANGE HARDWARE
If your kitchen or bathroom feels dated, outdated hardware is often a culprit.
Cabinet knobs and pulls may be small, but actually make a big style statement. When they’re outdated, your space will feel stuck in the past. Replacing your hardware is inexpensive, requires minimal skill, and can make your cabinetry look much more custom.
It’s one of the easiest ways to modernize a kitchen or bathroom without paint or construction!
How to Update Hardware the Right Way
- Choose one finish per space, and use it consistently on cabinetry.
- Replace knobs with knobs
- Replace pulls with pulls of the same size
Designer insight:
I often see beautiful cabinets undermined by dated hardware. Simply updating the knobs and pulls can make cabinetry feel brand new — even if it’s 20 years old!
SUMMARY
Can you believe all of the clever little ways that you can update a dated home? Now, making all of these changes takes time – it took us several years to make all of these changes to our first home – so it won’t happen overnight. But, I’ll be the first to tell you, the time and effort we put into updating that house was soooo worth it.
The house underwent a complete transformation – how I wish I was blogging and taking pictures back then to show you. And, all of the money we put into the house to update it, we got back (and more) when it came time to sell it.
So, if your home is needing a little help with aging gracefully, or you feel like it’s stuck in a decade from long ago, then try a few of the changes mentioned here! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the hidden potential of your dated home.
Need help creating a clear plan for your home?
If you’re worried about choosing the wrong paint color, updating things out of order, or wasting money on changes that don’t move the needle — you’re not alone. Most homeowners don’t need more ideas. They need clarity and confidence.
That’s exactly what I teach inside my Room Design Recipe program — my step-by-step framework for decorating and updating your home like a professional designer. You’ll learn how to:
- Prioritize updates that actually make a difference
- Choose colors, finishes, and furnishings with confidence
- Create a cohesive plan so your home feels intentional…not pieced together
👉 Learn more about Room Design Recipe here
Need some help organizing your next DIY project?
Check out our DIY Project Planner! It can help you plan your tasks, identify the materials and supplies you’ll need, and create a workable schedule to ensure your next DIY project is successful.
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Great ideas. So informative and much better than yet another “fall tour” of someone’s house. This is actually how people do things, rather than upgrading an entire house, then photographing it and putting it on perfect Pinterest. Thank you for some actual solutions to real problems.
Amen to that!!! I am so tired of the showcase homes that cost a fortune. Well, ANYONE with a ton of money can have homes like that. But it’s the Yankee Ingenuity (no matter where you live) that is more impressive than anything else!!
I agree… Love these tips for the average homeowner.
Awesome article, jam packed with not just great info but resources too! Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful for you!
Great Post been going round in circles with decisions fatigue 😩 this has really been helpful. It feels doable and allowing me to see the beauty in my home without the stress and likely debt I was envisioning.
Pat- I Agree with you so much!!
It was Refreshing to read something PRACTICAL!
I love🙌 all the changes are practical and create an amazing atmosphere! Thanks!!
Great Ideas!
Thank you
Completely agree! Couldn’t have said it better myself!
How refreshing to see REALISTIC BUDGET remodeling! Great post!
Thanks!
Great affordable ideas!! Yeah!!!!
I totally agree. Nice to see affordable home ideas. Tanks for a great post.
I love these tips! Thank you!
Really love these ideas and will be starting to implement them.
Love these ideas. Will definitely be using a few. Especially the fireplace whitewash. Thank you
Great job thank you
I love your article, will definitely be using some of your ideas to update our home. Thank you
What kind of paint did you use for kitchen cabinets
Thank you so much for sharing. I am in the same boat as you were in your 1st home. We have completed a full makeover in every room except the kitchen and my craft room. This is very inspirational to read and see. I have put off the kitchen due to being afraid of the cost on a very tiny budget. But I am starting today thanks to you with several paint cans and new cabinet hardware. Bless you.
I’m so glad to hear this post is helping to inspire your home updates! Best of luck on your projects!
Looking good 👍
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I really loved this article about bathroom remodeling! It gave me some new insights that I never really thought of before. https://www.yakimabathrooms.com/
My eldest son wants to have his room decor updated as a birthday gift so we are looking up ways on how to do it without a lot of construction involved. I’m glad you mentioned replacing old carpets it tends to be home to a lot of dirt and bacteria because it’s so hard to clean. I’ll mention this to my son to see if he likes the idea of hardwood floors.
Thanks to the author for sharing such a great post. The article was very well written and how to update a dated home without remodelling. It can be really great for people like me who are looking for grabbing more knowledge about it.
This article provides details about the how to update a dated home without remodeling. I enjoyed reading this article and would suggest others it as well. Thank you for this article! This is really very informative for us and look forward to more such in future for all of us.
I really like your home improvements and renovation tips. You have told me well what should we do at the time of home renovation. It is good advice for me and who wants to renovate the house. Thanks for sharing this.
New doors are a great way to spruce up a home without extensive remodeling! Thanks for sharing
Your Blog gives a thorough and accurate estimate before beginning the job and even helped in design decisions. I am very satisfied after reading this blog post we had general ideas of what we wanted in our new Home but we weren’t sure of the specifics. We really wanted (but weren’t sure how to achieve it) to have more counter space and a more functional layout. Really very inspirational blog. Thanks for posting. 🙂
Great share. It is very helpful and I will save it for future use as well. Thank you. We can change the entire look of the space with simple painting, but if you’re not expertise in this field so let’s leave it to the pro. Some painters waltham ma with more than 5 years of painting experience could transform your home’s living spaces. Keep posting!
This is magnificent. I love the fact that they saw the beauty in this old place and brought it back to life, that’s amazing! I bet the folks who own it now would love to hear more about her memories of it. Very cool!
Great Ideas! Your suggestion is definitely very helpful. I can’t wait to try your idea. Thanks and keep sharing.
Hi, great post! Very practical, love the ideas will be doing many of them in our new house! I just had a quick question though, I really like the idea of painting tiles rather than replacing them but I noticed in the pictures you showed the grout also looks much lighter in the after picture then the before. Do you know if they replaced the grout or just painted it also? Will the paint hold on grout? Thank you!
When painting tile, you can just paint right over the grout, and it will hold well. Can make it look a lot cleaner, too! 🙂
What type of paint would you use for tile and grout?
You’ll want to use a primer first, and then a specially formulated tile paint or epoxy paint.
Thanks for sharing such an amazing and helpful blog. It really helps in maintaining the home beautifully.
This article was fantastic!
You trashed beautiful natural woodwork. Painting white is NOT updating, its cheep, looks cheep and destroys the value of the house. I see painted woodwork I walk out because it looks cheep so the rest of the home is cheep.
Cheap*
Love it!
Thanks for sharing your opinion. The great thing about interior design is that you can do whatever you like in your own home.
I think you meant CHEAP
i bet you could get a great deal on a home with the original woodwork, unpainted. you could definitely lowball the sellers and get it for real cheep.
Super helpful ideas and explanations. I’m excited to get started with a couple of them! Thank you!
This is a great article. I’m working towards enhancing my creativity, and this article gave me much needed confidence. I really believe I can transform my home now with practical steps. Thanks!
I’m so glad to hear it!
thank you! very helpful article. my wife and I used to DIY painting every time we need to retouch and repaint our house.
Thank you for sharing this. It was very resourceful. I enjoyed reading this article!
great read indeed! will repaint our home soonest! this is a sign.
Your blog is very useful. Thank you so much for providing plenty of useful content. I have bookmark your blog site and will be without doubt coming back. Once again, I appreciate all your work and also providing a lot vital tricks for your readers.
Great ideas! Thanks for the information.
Thank you for the great ideas. Painting is such an easy way to update and to let your own personality come through. Also so economical. I especially love the way you made the trim look wider by painting.
Great article. It validated several things we have been doing for a year to update our house we have been in for 27 years. We hope to sell and downsize within next year. I have new lights picked out to replace boob lights and my husband has replaced all the doorknobs. I thought the doorknob replacement was not necessary but you validated it is a good idea!
So glad you found it helpful!
Great article, thank you all these great ideas.
Super awesome and helpful ideas. We completed a hardwood floor resurfacing recently and needed to find some other simple ways to make our house look better and feel more like our home. After reading your article we decided to paint our baseboards. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for sharing information, can you compile it into a pdf file?
We love the look of stained wood, but our 1987 built home didn’t have much natural light. We chose to do a mix of painting some of the cabinets white but leaving touches of the stained wood where we could (such as on our stair case and on countertops of the built-ins), and our house looked so much brighter and updated. We were so thrilled with the results.
It sounds like you found a great balance between painting the wood, and keeping it as-is!
Love your posts! You gave me new ideals.
Love your posts! Thanks for the ideals!!
Awesome post, amazing before and after photos! Our company does a ton of renovations and we love reading articles like this. Thanks for sharing!
Great! Because replacing your front door can be costly, painting your external door is a cost-effective option to update your home’s appeal. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your comment!
I agree with the ten zillion other reviews that thoroughly enjoyed these real life fantastic updates! Very manageable with even the smallest budget for home repairs! And so many of these ideas anyone can do!! Thank you!!
It was so refreshing to read about your ideas regarding painting instead of ripping everything out. When I see all the material going to the landfill in a time when we are supposed to be so eco-conscious, it breaks my heart. I’m a senior and my husband and I have been buying property, living in them, updating them and eventually selling them and I do it all with paint and a little creativity. I paint everything and nothing is off the table. My cousin told me that if my kids stood still, I would paint them too. LOL. Anyway I would love to share my pics and ideas with you for your blog if you are interested. I’m not an artist or professional painter. I’m just passionate about design and our planet. I hope through more inspiration like yours, people will see that not everything is deemed for the garbage.
I would love to see your pictures! You can send me an email at info@welshdesignstudio.com
Fantastic ideas! I am forwarding this to several friends.
Such practical advice! Great tips for first time home owners who don’t want to add to their debt by going overboard with costly remodeling. Not everyone can (or should) spent a lot of money on a fixer upper. This is probably the best post I’ve seen on Pinterest about updating on a budget! Thanks for the voice of reason.
You’re so welcome! Glad to hear it was helpful.
Great ideas! Can’t wait to get to it!!!😊
Very informative. I’m so tired or white doors and trim. House was built in central texas in 2010. What are your thoughts on trim painted a darker shade than walls are?
I like the look of it, especially when the trim color is just a few shades darker than the walls. I do think it’s a trend that won’t always be popular, so sticking with white it a more timeless option, but it’s only paint, and we should all do what makes us happy in our home!
Great ideas and have done many of them prior to reading your post. However, I would not suggest painting the door hardware. We followed the instructions, exactly (from another post), and in a year’s time we were back to the paint wearing off.
We just moved into a dated home and will definitely give these tips a try along with our handyman service! Thank you!
Great suggestions. Definitely putting some of these in my “home work” book. I have an older home that I have been in since 1992. Lots of room for updates. Thank you
Glad it was helpful for some ideas!
Great tips on revamping your home. As a local contractor, I specifically love updates using tiles and painting. These two can totally change your entire room’s or home’s ambiance.
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Really like the blinds in the last photo – where could I find these? Thank you for all your great ideas!
Great ideas! There are so many things on the market these days that don’t require a complete remodel. If you have and skills and intellect, the sky is the limit.
A ton of cool tips on home remodeling, and when i say a ton.. wow good job! I like your preference for limewash fireplaces. It defintely gives the brick fireplace a rustic yet clean look. I personally like stucco fireplace finishes. Something about the smooth texture always looks great in a home. Thanks for your article ^_^
Thank you so much for sharing! We just had our cabinets refinished and now we’re looking to make some more, small updates. We will definitely be following your advice!
We really wanted to update our home. Our foundation was being damaged by water, so we got a gutter repair in logan Utah to solve the problem. It worked great and it’s now time to focus on other updates. Thanks for the tips.
This is a really good article with a lot of great ideas. I am an interior designer and help many folks who are preparing their homes to put on the market. Many do not have the time, finances or wherewith-all to make extreme changes. But they could have time to do some fairly easy DIYs and reap much more from the sale of their home. Any one of these ideas will add far more to the bottom line than is spent. Thanks!
Good read! Thanks for sharing a lot of Home Improvement tips.
These are great tips! We are looking to remodel our home including a garage door installation. Our home was built in 1979 and has had minimal updates. We are super pumped to get started!
Most of these ideas sound easy and inexpensive, but when you look into the real cost and expertise required it’s more of the same – $$$$$
You have to paint cabinets perfectly or they will look awful. It takes weeks and you need special tools, the exact paint for your cabinets, and if you make a mistake it will cost you.
We replaced one door and learned it costs 4-5 times the cost of the door to have someone come and hang it. Another thing that requires skill and can’t be done by most DIYers.
Painting your tile????? Test a hidden area first.
It’s not that simple.
Wish someone would be talented enough to update homes without all the expensive and high risk projects.
Yes, it’s not easy to paint kitchen cabinets. However, if you priced out replacing cabinets, the $200 or $300 it cost to help my daughter paint her cabinets was MUCH more cost effective. She painted the lower cabinets one summer (she’s a teacher) and then did the uppers the next summer. It was a job, with sanding, priming and painting, but wow it looks amazing!
This is very nice and inspiring!! Love all of your ideas for the future! Wishing you much enjoyment!
Hi,
Mwelsh you nicely helped us to learn how we can update home without remodeling expenditures. I think it is great favor for us because you have given best guide for free. Thanks buddy sharing the great information.
Hi,
Mwelsh, you deserve great praise because you nicely covered the entire details in single page. I would like to send the link of this page to all my friends because it certainly helps them. Thanks for the cooperation dear,
Hi,
Dear Mwelsh, you penned impressive piece of content for us. I loved your logic highlighted how we can the update home without hiring remodeling team as well as its cost. Thanks for the sharing….
Great article. Do you have some great examples of how to paint ugly vertical woodpaneled walls? I’m in an apartment that has it in every room except the bath and kitchen. The walls also have matching ugly scalloped woodpsneled border at the top. *sigh* help! Need pics for an actual visual? I’m ready and willing to share for the sake of a quality smile paint to save it before I cringe another day!
Just prime and paint right over that paneling with a flat paint sheen, and you’ll be surprised how much better it will look. Removing the scalloped border would help, too. Here’s a great video about painting wood paneling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1pD5EgdExQ Good luck!
We did a lot of these things in our first home back in the early/mid 80’s. Pulling up the nasty sculptured olives green (we thought) carpet that turned out to be filthy dirty gold carpet (color beneath floor vents and 1 wall built on top of carpet) we were lucky enough to find gorgeous hardwood floors. What a difference! Lots of wall paper removal, fresh paint throughout, new faucets, hardware, lighting, etc. it didn’t look like the same home! Great to know young people are still doing these things!
Absolutely! Those changes make a huge difference in any decade. 🙂
I love your ideas. If I were to do a home renovation, I would consider your thoughts because it is beneficial and enhances your home’s quality and appearance. Great post!
Great tips! Going to follow these!
Lots of fairly easy to do projects/ updates. Thank you.
Question on old counter tops…. What do you think is the best , inexpensive way to update without having to replace with marble/ granite, etc. until the time is right to do so. Especially when painting to update walls, cabinets and replacing hardware?
So so many great ideas, I want to try all of them! My husband and I decided that 2023 will be the year we finally start renovating our 1970’s home in Elmendorf, TX. The very first thing we checked was to see if we hardwood underneath our blue carpets, and we struck GOLD! We hired some floor refinishers to come and restore it and it looks as good as new. The next step is to now change out doors and hardware. And after reading your article, I think I’ll also update our light fixtures at the same time! Can’t wait to see it all come together.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
I completely agree with you! Upgrading a dated home may take time and effort, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. It’s amazing how even small changes can make a big impact on the overall look and feel of a home. And, as you mentioned, investing in these upgrades can actually increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell.
I appreciate the suggestion of using a DIY Project Planner. Planning and organizing a project can definitely make the process smoother and more successful. Thank you for sharing your experience and tips on how to update a dated home. I’m now feeling inspired to tackle my own home improvement projects!
I agree with everything except painting brick.
Who do you do that
Great tips to update a home!
Thanks for reading the post!
Such great tips!! We recently bought a fixer-upper and have been so overwhelmed as to where to even start. I decided to try seeing if there was hardwood floor under our carpet like you suggested, and we hit the JACKPOT! My husband is tearing up the carpet as I type this now, and I’ve already scheduled a hardwood floor refinishing service. Thanks for the direction!
I’m glad you highlighted that paint is a powerful weapon against a dated house since it’s an effective way to completely change the look of our house and transform it to suit our taste and style. My grandma’s house is quite old now, and since I’ll be staying there starting this fall, I was thinking of giving it a makeover first before I decide to settle permanently. I’ll keep this in mind while I look for a remodeling contractor to hire for my new home soon.
We are interested in upgrading our home, but everything is getting in the way. We’ve had our garage door break on us and need it repaired and our car is having some trouble. These tips are great and as soon as we get everything fixed we will use this inspiration!
An amazing post with great tips as always. Anyone will find your post useful. Keep up the good work.
I love the transformation. We have a lovely but outdated home with everything wood which my husband built. Kitchen cabinets oak (orange now), all walls in dining room and living are pine placed diagonal around floor to ceiling River rock fireplace. But he won’t agree to paint 😩
Great tips! I will give them a shot the next time we need to remodel our home.
Thank you for all of these tips. We just purchased a great but outdated home this week (I’m talking flower wall paper and brown paneling.) I’m planning to use these ideas (Lots of paint!) to transform our new home, as we are on a tight budget!
So many good tips! Thank you. The only thing I think is a better idea is to paint switch plates the same as the wall color. I’d rather they be camouflaged rather than stand out and disturb the flow of the painted walls. Why have cheapo plastic covers get attention against the rich or creamy wall color. We always paint ours the same as the wall. It’s so easy to do. I even paint the outlet itself although some say not to). Anyway, my two cents. 🙂
Great comment! Painting your plate covers is a great way to mask them, or have them blend in better with your walls.
Great ideas! I use many of them when discussing putting a property on the market for a client/seller. Some easy fixes that makes the world of difference. We, as in me and my hubby are tackling adding trim to all our den/lower level doors for an elevated look. Thank you for creative ways to do some minor and upgrades on a budget
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I’m so glad you found the post helpful! Some of these small changes can make a really big impact, especially when getting ready to sell.
Thank you to the author for sharing such a helpful post on how to update a dated home without remodeling. The article is well-written and informative, and it provides a variety of practical tips for homeowners of all budgets.
Thanks for reading the post!
Updating a dated home without remodeling can be a game-changer, and your post lays out some fantastic ideas! Paint, in particular, is a powerful tool for transformation, whether it’s on walls, cabinets, or even floors. Swapping out light fixtures, updating doors, changing baseboards, and replacing old carpets are all impactful steps. The tips on outlets, switches, and thermostats are practical too. Faucets, molding, hardware, and window treatments can add that finishing touch. Thanks for sharing these home improvement ideas – they’re sure to inspire many to refresh their spaces!
Thanks for reading the post! Glad you found it helpful.
Great tips! I will keep these in mind for our home’s next appointment with the handyman for remodeling.
Thanks for reading my post!
My house is a ranch style built in 1967. Why try to make it into something it isn’t. The character of the period was wood. We’ve remodeled or shall I say refreshed and made additions but always tried to keep continuity with the period of the original home. I feel this will be the future of someone’s dream to own an “authentic” 1967 ranch style home.
1950s ranch…not mcm, just a regular old 2000 sf ranch with an addition. Updated over a period of 70 years by original owner. We updated some things–paint, stripped carpet, stripped most wallpaper, took down heavy drapes and hardware, changed some light fixtures, appliances… but with some things that are considered “dated”, we just went with the flow and the feel…and what was, and is, practical with 5 pets and semi rural tracking in of dirt and mud, etc. Takes time and money, both of which are short in an area where normal homes are almost out of reach to many. As with even the newer homes, there’s always something that a self appointed expert on the internet will criticize, but practicality came first with us and fortunately, we like some of the stuff considered dated by others.
I did most of these things but I also remodeled/redecorated my entire home. I love soft teals, pinks, greens and whites. Rewallpapered EVERY room as I love wallpaper and it so protects walls. ( I have 14 grands ). New Etsy pulls on my wraparound cabinets in pink/gold/ivory ceramics, handcrafted teal mermaid tail tile backsplash which goes amazingly with my swirled brown granite, blush chairs, stools, oversized teal Anthro sofa at dinette and ivory table. A peacock chaise sofa faces an Anthro CURVED teal’flora sofa, Burger chairs in pinks and ivory, boudoir watercolor magnolia walls in master bed/bath with lace and rose border ( all rooms have a border with wallpaper), whimsical Mackenzie reindeer abound along with jeweled trinkets for the children to find. Lace and velvet are draped over railing, chairs, lamps. I get raves and entertain more now. Romantic, whimsical, elegant .
Create a home that reflects your personality and style with our remodeling touch.
I’m glad you found the home improvement post helpful! The tips on decluttering and organizing seem to be particularly useful for you.
In the realm of home improvement, innovation meets functionality, as homeowners explore creative solutions to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and overall livability within their living spaces.
Awesome ideas! This will be a major help
Introducing pops of color through accent pillows, rugs, and artwork can breathe life into neutral spaces, infusing personality and charm.Norstone Inc
Such valuable advice for updating a dated home without the need for a full remodel! Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference. For those looking to refresh their space with expert guidance and attention to detail, I highly recommend consulting with professional home renovation company. With their expertise, they can help you achieve a stylish and modern look without the hassle of a complete renovation.
I have always enjoyed your posts, Melissa! Our living room has been in need of a little TLC in the form of remodeling, but the ideas that you’ve shared have opened our minds to some other less intrusive ideas to get the look that we want.
Glad I’m not the only one to call those ubiquitous cheesy ceiling fixtures boob lights! Got rid of those right quick and replaced with flush dimmable LED lights. It really does make a big difference.
Yes! Away with the boob lights! 🙂
We are interested in upgrading our home, but everything is getting in the way. We’ve had our garage door break on us and need it repaired and our car is having some trouble. These tips are great and as soon as we get everything fixed we will use this inspiration!
In the process of looking for my 1st home and this made me feel so much better, because it has been hard finding a good home that I like. These tips and ideas will help me make my home fit more me
We just purchased a pretty dated home that we’re planning to update. We’ve had some pretty bad issues with our bathroom sinks leaking, but thankfully we got a plumberout pretty quickly. With that out of the way, we are really excited to start planning some improvements! This is a great list of suggestions, and I think there are some small, inexpensive improvements that will go a long way! Thank you!
It’s crazy how much lighting does affect color choices, the people we hired for our cabinet painting project brought over samples for this exact reason and I’m so grateful they did. The color I originally wanted to go with looked so sad in our kitchen and we opted for a brighter sage color which I am so excited about! I didn’t even think about painting the tile!! I love the look of that stencil, that’s now on my list, thank you so much for sharing!
Boob lights!!! My husband hasn’t stopped laughing since I told him we need to replace them!!! 🙂
Great tips! Renovating a home is really expensive. Finding resources like these can help homeowners upgrade their homes without breaking the bank. I agree that doors can really give a fresher and a more modern look.
Thanks for your comment!
This is a great article with some clever ideas for making a dated home look more modern! The tip about painting cabinets is a great one – it can completely transform a kitchen or bathroom.
I also like the suggestion of replacing outdated hardware. New light fixtures, door knobs, and cabinet pulls can add a touch of polish to any space.
In the article, it is mentioned that painting countertops can update them. I’m curious to know more about the durability of painted countertops. Are there certain types of paint that work best for countertops? How long can I expect a painted countertop to last?
Painting countertops should be considered a temporary solution. Be sure to use a paint specially formulated for countertops, and you can also apply a clear sealing coat on top to improve its durability and longevity.
Great post! Thanks for sharing this with us.
We were thinking about a full kitchen remodel, but thankfully, our friends recommended their handyman, who does fantastic kitchen cabinet refinishing. It’s incredible how a fresh cabinet color can completely transform a kitchen! I’m so glad we went this route—I used to not like our kitchen at all, but now it’s one of my favorite spots in the house. Highly recommend this idea!
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Some good ideas, but if I’m going to go to all that work to upgrade things, it will be added on to the price of the house. We have lived in and sold 6 homes. We have gotten our asked price for them and we did not do any of those things except maybe paint. If people can’t see the home for what it is when they walk in to it, they will miss out on a possible bargain. I don’t redo my home to sell it. Some have asked for a reduced price but knowing the market, location and what you can move into without doing anything to it at the moment
we have left the prices as they are and have gotten the asking price, two of the homes, we got over the asking price because of the homes location there was a bidding war. Not a thing done to them. But we sold them all ourselves and pointed out what was great about the house, possibilities and also any changes we had made since we moved in. It is possible to sell your house without any changes. Let the buyers make the changes.
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This blog is so helpful! Every point is true , updating a dated home doesn’t always require a full remodel. Simple changes like new paint, updated lighting, and fresh decor can make a huge difference. If you’re looking for easy and budget-friendly ways to refresh your space, you can check more sites :- https://bennichomes.com.au/
This article is packed with practical and budget-friendly ideas! I love how you break down each update, from the power of paint to swapping out hardware and light fixtures. The step-by-step approach makes refreshing a dated home feel totally doable, even without a full remodel. Thank you for sharing such inspiring tips – I’m feeling motivated to tackle a few projects myself! https://offermaids.com
Thank you very much for the information. This website is very helpful for me as a beginner.
Great ideas! Updating a dated home without remodeling is such a smart way to refresh the look, add value, and make the space feel modern without major costs.
Great ideas! Updating a dated home without remodeling is such a smart way to refresh the look, add value, and with the right estimating consulting, make the space feel modern without major costs.
Loved your post. So refreshing to see common sense used!!
This is a really helpful article. I like how you show ways to update a dated home without doing a full remodel. The tips on color, lighting, and small styling changes make the process feel much more achievable. Thanks for sharing such practical ideas.
Such a refreshing take on updating a home without a full remodel. The ideas around paint, lighting, and small styling changes feel realistic and effective. Great inspiration for making a space feel current without major work. Thanks for sharing.
This was a really practical and motivating read. Updating a home without a full remodel feels much more achievable with tips like these. Small improvements can truly transform comfort and efficiency, especially when working with a trusted Lakewood insulation company to enhance energy savings. Great ideas for homeowners wanting affordable, impactful updates.
good article