Updating and upgrading your home can be an expensive undertaking. However, there are some small upgrades that you can make that won’t break the bank.
In an online forum, people shared minor additions you can add that don’t cost a fortune. Here are 11 of their top home upgrades that can make a big difference but won’t cost you thousands of dollars.
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Phone Chargers
There is nothing more annoying than going to plug in your phone to charge only to find that someone (your kids) has run off with your charger for their own use.
One man said, “Methodically buying phone chargers with long enough cables to not have to ever move one again.” Another said, “I am a pretty mellow dad (benign neglect parenting style for 5 kids) but I have two rules. Nobody messes with my bedside charger and nobody steals my two pillows. I make many, long chargers available for everybody. It costs me a fortune.”
New Shower Head
This upgrade will only cost you $20-$30, and it makes such a huge difference! Renters, in particular, often don’t consider what an easy upgrade this is to make life (and showers) more enjoyable.
One person said, “If you can’t redo the whole bathroom, just replace the head. This also works if you rent, just keep the old one in a box, so you can bring the nice one to your next house.”
Another replied, “I’m a renter and I finally installed a better shower head this year, after just using the default head in all my apartments for almost 20 years. 10/10, highly recommend.”
Curved Shower Curtain Rod
If you want to make a small shower feel bigger, consider buying a curved shower curtain rod. You’ll get more elbow room, and it’s an inexpensive upgrade.
One woman said, “I have a curved shower curtain rod at my new apartment and it is much better! It feels bigger and the shower liner doesn’t ever touch my arm.”
Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains are an inexpensive home upgrade that can help to keep the sun out for sleeping and keep your house cooler during the hot summer months if you get the insulated ones.
One person said, “Blackout curtains for sleeping. Such a game changer.” Another said, “Insulated blackout curtains make a ten degree difference in my living room on hot days.”
Soft-Close Toilet Seat
Soft-close toilet seats are an inexpensive upgrade to improve your bathroom, and you’ll never have to hear the toilet seat slam again.
One lady said, “We have a soft close toilet seat at our home and every time I’m at a hotel, I completely forget that they aren’t usually soft close and the slam startles me.” Another lady replied, “I forget about it every time I go to a hotel or a friend’s house and slam their toilet shut by accident.”
Smart Outlets
Smart outlets are another inexpensive home upgrade that can make your life easier.
One man said, “Smart outlets are one of my favorite purchases. During Halloween and Christmas, we’re using multiple outlets for inflatables, house lights, and tree lights. The smart outlets allow you to have everything synced so they all turn in at the same time.”
Updated Light Fixtures
Updating your light fixtures can make your home look and feel different, especially if you live in an older home with outdated fixtures.
One person said, “I replaced dated lighting fixtures – fixtures are now properly grounded, the interior looks more updated, and there is more/better light.”
Gooseneck Kitchen Faucet
If you don’t have a gooseneck faucet in your kitchen, consider making this inexpensive home improvement. It makes washing larger pots and pans so much easier than your traditional faucet does.
One woman said, “I asked my dad to install a goose neck kitchen faucet as my birthday present last year. One of the best gifts ever.” Someone else said, “Mine is awesome. It’s a gooseneck, and the head is a detachable sprayer nozzle, so I don’t need a separate sprayer.”
Hanging Wall Art
To some people, purchasing art to hang on the walls seems like a waste of money and effort. However, it can inexpensively change the look and feel of your home.
One man said, “Wall decorations. Literally anything at all. I lived my whole adult life without decorating at all because it seemed pointless and like a waste of time and money but man after meeting my soon-to-be wife and helping her move in and put up her decor, its astounding how much my house felt more like a home. The improvement of my mental state and comfort level was unexpected and eye opening.”
Window Film
If you have an odd-sized window or a window in an awkward place, it can be hard to find curtains or blinds that work. That’s when window film comes to the rescue. You can install it in minutes, it looks, great, and offers privacy.
One lady said, “I had a window above the stairs the neighbors could see through, so I went on Amazon and spent $40 on some plastic window film that makes it look like stained glass. It turned out amazing and lasted forever.”
New Kitchen Sink
Double-sided sinks in the kitchen don’t give you much space to work with, particularly in older homes. You can replace that double sink with a deep single sink and not bust your budget.
One person said, “I hated my double sink. It made it impossible to wash anything bigger than a saucepan. I found a bigger single stainless steel sink on clearance at Home Depot for $75. It’s the best upgrade we have done since moving in a year ago.”
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This thread inspired this post.
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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