Changing the small things is a great first step, and is very simple even on a tighter budget. Throw pillows, accents, lamps, and similar accessories are relatively inexpensive to replace, recover, or paint so that the living/media room gets a touch up without slapping the wallet. Picture frames can be changed or painted as well, giving pictures a new life in a manner of speaking. Much the same, simply replacing or updating accent and accessory pieces can upgrade bedrooms.

In the bathroom, get rid of the old shower curtain and liner, including the rings, and go in a new direction. Add a frame to the mirror if the current one is bare, or paint the existing frame. Bathrooms that appealed to children who are now teenagers can be painted to match a more sophisticated taste. Remove toys and cartoon-related items, and add touches that still appeal to the teen. For instance: take down the frogs and use geometric shapes and matching tile or paint to make the bathroom look more grown up without looking too much like Mom’s taste.

Finally, add some new life to the kitchen by replacing or painting knobs and handles on cabinets and drawers, and replace curtains/blinds. Molding and paint can make a very big difference in this room as well. Coordinate these with a backsplash that matches the room’s décor. Cabinet doors do not have to be completely replaced if they are not broken; take down the doors, sand if necessary to remove shiny finishes, then add a new finish or paint for a new look.

If there is room in the budget, consider adding new molding or paint to each room that needs a renovation. Walls with no molding will look significantly different by adding that simple touch, especially if the molding matches well with the new décor of the room. Paint does not have to be drastically different in order to improve the room. Sometimes the room just needs a new coat of paint in the same shade to look clean and new. If the current shade is a neutral, consider another neutral shade. For example: transition dull beige to a cool shade of gray. Add white molding for a clean, sleek, modern look.

Completely remodeling the room can get expensive quickly, so adding new things or fixing old things step by step is usually the next best idea. Changes do not have to be radical in order to be noticeable. Sometimes, a change for the better is as simple as a thorough cleaning and bringing the room up to date. People go years without changing the décor of a room, so simply changing accessories or paint as a start is going to stand out very quickly, especially if very outdated or broken pieces are replaced completely.

About the author 

Alyssa Davis is a home style expert who writes regularly for Metal-Wall-Art.com. She is especially knowledgeable on decorating with 3d metal wall art and palm tree wall decor.