Hartford Home Remodeling category interest

01 of 19

In the Kitchen: New Countertops

Cabinets plus countertops plus fixtures can equal a five-digit kitchen home renovation idea. But if your kitchen cabinets are in decent shape, you can indulge in new countertops and upgrade one of the hardest working surfaces in your home. The smaller the square footage you have to cover, the lower your cost, which means you might be able to afford a more expensive countertop material. To save even more: Ask your local stone and tile company about seconds or remnants.

02 of 19

In the Kitchen: Change the Backsplash

Add a punch of pattern by swapping out a tired backsplash for one that freshens up your kitchen and adds visual interest. With options for tile, stone, glass, ceramic, and beaded board, there are many possibilities for a material that's right for your budget. Another economical option is only installing a backsplash that provides the most protection, like behind a range or near a sink.

03 of 19

In the Kitchen: Add a Faux Island

Stand-alone tables or cabinets can be a cost-friendly feature for an island-less kitchen. Just add rolling casters so you can move the piece at will. Of course, the more extras you add (for example, a cabinet with drawers), the more this home renovation idea will cost, so if a super-low budget is your goal, start with a simple table. That is unless you already have a piece of unused furniture ready to turn into an island.

04 of 19

In the Kitchen: Upgrade Cabinets or Cabinet Doors

Paint, wallpaper, peel-and-stick wood products: All are great options to give a new face to old cabinets. Corbels can be added below cabinets or under floating shelves for a classic, built-in look. Removing doors on some upper cabinets offers you easy-to-access open storage without having to add new shelving. Look for ways to refresh your home that not only fit your budget but also how you use the space on a daily basis.

05 of 19

In the Living Room: Update Flooring

Many peel-and-stick flooring options are thin enough that you don't have to remove existing flooring to give your room a budget-friendly upgrade underfoot. Even if the floor must come off because you just can't stand it any longer, a new floor can be a long-lasting project that, on its own, isn't too expensive. Plus, plenty of flooring options exist to help you save on labor for this home renovation idea.

06 of 19

In the Living Room: Change Window Treatments

New fabric, new shades, or a combination of the two is a home renovation idea that can give a pretty facelift to a living room. Plenty of sew-it-yourself options can go a long way to hide older windows (which would be a pricey renovation project). Aim to reuse the existing curtain rods and rings to save a little extra money.

07 of 19

In the Living Room: Install Dimmers

If your home has limited overhead lighting, you might have difficulty getting the right balance of light. This is even more true in older homes with fewer outlets available for floor and side lamps. In these instances, installing a dimmer switch can be your quick and easy home renovation idea: keep it bright when accomplishing tasks, but turn it down for softer ambient lighting that's comfortable for lounging.

08 of 19

In the Bathroom: Add a Medicine Cabinet

You can add style and storage to your bathroom with a simple, budget-smart change: a new medicine cabinet. Replace a plain wall-mount mirror to gain storage and a new look. If you feel crafty, add a corkboard or chalkboard inside the door for daily reminders and affirmations.

09 of 19

In the Bathroom: Wallpaper an Accent Wall

Wallpaper has become easier to tackle, even for a beginning DIYer, which makes it an excellent home renovation idea if you're on a tight budget. You can add pattern and color with wallpaper in a snap, and limiting it to one stand-out wall is fine (and keeps the budget low). But if you're not ready to work with proper wallpaper quite yet, try the temporary, peel-and-stick kind. You can easily remove it if you change your decor style, so you don't have to worry about giving a current design trend a shot.

10 of 19

In the Bathroom: Add Storage

Adding a purchased cabinet or open shelves can make all the difference if you're short on built-in storage. Look for off-the-shelf storage options in various styles, including tiered carts, leaning ladders, and apothecary cabinets, all intended to maximize vertical space. They're a pretty and practical storage option, and you can use them to display baskets or other decorative accents.

11 of 19

In the Bathroom: Swap Out Hardware

Bathroom cabinets can get a modern-day spruce up with new hardware. Pick different styles from the same family (say, long pulls for drawers and small knobs for doors), or mix and match different finishes for a more eclectic look. Look to add backplates if your current knobs lend themselves to a more shapely flair.

12 of 19

In the Bathroom: Safety Updates

Toilet paper holders and towel bars are usually nothing special to look at, but these two overlooked accessories are a chance for you to make your bath a little safer. Multiple companies now make ADA-compliant toilet paper holders, towel bars, and other accessories that can safely be used as grab bars. Whether you're thinking of yourself in the future or someone else now, it's a worthwhile investment at any time.

13 of 19

In the Bedroom: Add Interest to Walls or Ceilings

Even if you don't have a stash of power tools, you can easily add wainscoting or trim to dull bedroom walls or ceilings. You can even get the illusion of wainscoting by applying trim or lumber to an area of the wall as an outline, then using paint to tie the wall and trim together to imitate the real deal. This home renovation idea looks high-end without all the cost. Choose prefinished millwork to cut down on labor time, or finish it yourself to save even more on your renovation budget.

14 of 19

In the Bedroom: Add a Headboard

A guaranteed way to update your bedroom is to add a headboard, whether small and stately or oversize and dramatic. Purchased new, they can get quite expensive, but there are many ways to maximize your style and budget with DIY headboards.

15 of 19

In the Bedroom: Inset Display Shelves

Kids' bedrooms present an ever-evolving home renovation problem: They quickly move from toys and books to collectibles and beyond, and finding where to store them can be difficult. A simple home renovation idea that's easy on the budget is to add narrow, wall-to-wall shelves. They're inexpensive and don't require a huge footprint to fit in various bedroom sizes.

16 of 19

In the Dining Room: Install a New Light Fixture

Dining rooms are often stuck in a light fixture time warp. But a few hundred dollars and some electrical DIY can give your ceiling space (and your room) a game-changing focal point. Go for a traditional chandelier or choose several pendants for a more contemporary approach. For help with the electrical know-how, check out this how-to guide for installing a light fixture.

17 of 19

In the Dining Room: Reinvigorate a Built In

Obscured spaces like the wall or back panel behind shelves don't get much attention. But those are great spots to add color and pattern with paint or wallpaper. Another idea: Swap out the door inserts for glass or apply colored film to existing glass. These little touches can go a long way to making a room feel renewed.

18 of 19

In the Entry: Create a Mini Mudroom

A seat, a shelf, and some hooks are all you need to create a life-changing, budget-smart mudroom, even in a tiny space. You can buy expensive organizers designed for this function or combine reused and repurposed pieces with less expensive newer items that work together as a whole solution. If you have the space for it, a cubby for each family member makes the daily routine easier.

19 of 19

In the Entry: Paint the Stairs

A creative use of paint is a budget-friendly home renovation idea for the path from one floor to another. Pick a pattern or a theme, or choose a solid, attention-grabbing color and make your stairs a showstopper. Once dry, paint them with polyurethane to protect the finish. Do it once and you're set or have fun with it and make seasonal updates to keep friends and family members wowed.