5 Easy Home Updates for Less Than $25

This is part of our ongoing series on home maintenance basics to help you keep up your home and grow your investment.

You don’t have to break the bank to do some upgrades around your home that will have a big impact. Heated bathroom floors are nice 🛁, but tiny, affordable renovations go a long way, too.

If you’re looking for a weekend project and only have a few bucks to spare, check out these simple tasks for less than $25:

1. Replace outlet and light switch plates 

These get grimy with fingerprints, dirt, and paint splashes over time. At about $1 a plate, this is an inexpensive way to … ahem … brighten up your home. Check out these cool light fixtures on Etsy.

2. Paint your metal fixtures 

(Credit: Bless’er House)

Rather than going through the effort and expense of replacing your locks, doorknobs, faucets, and handles, update them with Rust-Oleum spray paint (~$11 per can) in whatever color you desire.

Extra tip: You can buy a kit to give your bathtub a fresh DIY coat of paint, too.

Psst … Could your kitchen use a little love? Check out our handy guide to kitchen maintenance.

3. Dress up your garage doors

Feeling some garage door envy? You don’t need to spend thousands replacing yours to turn yours from an eyesore to eye candy. These decorative carriage house handles go for less than $15 per package … and no one will know they’re magnetic! 

4. Apply peel-and-stick wallpaper 

Wallpaper can be really cool — it can also be quite a commitment. Peel-and-stick wallpaper gives you the fun without the need to rent a commercial steamer when you get tired of looking at it. Etsy has a plethora of options.

5. Stylize your shower curtain

(Credit: HGTV)

You can change the look of a whole bathroom with a shower curtain. Use a liner for water-retention purposes and go wild with the drapery that hangs outside the tub. For a luxurious touch, use two curtains and part them in the middle to enter and exit.  

Before you hop off, gather some easy home updates inspo on our Pinterest and check out these posts for more helpful tips: 

• Still getting a grasp of this whole smart-home thing? We have tips to use your Amazon Alexa at home.
• With many of us staying home more than usual lately, we’re getting creative with small outdoor spaces.