10 home makeover tips that won’t break the bank

Home makeovers can cost tens of thousands of pounds if you get the professionals in to do a top-to-bottom refurb.

But you don’t actually have to spend a fortune to give your home a fresh, new look that’ll make you fall in love with it all over again.

While you might like to hire a professional for some of these upgrades, this list of budget home makeover ideas was put together to be achievable by anyone with even the most basic DIY skills…

1. Declutter you mess

Clutter can make a home feel cramped and uninviting. Whether you’ve piled a few too many boxes on top of each other in the garage, or the spare room no longer has much room to spare, getting rid of anything you don’t need can breathe new life into your home.

Apply the waste hierarchy to the things you want out of your house. Donate or sell unwanted items, think up another use for good-quality things like containers, and if you really can’t find them a home, recycle.

Cost: The only cost involved in a good clearout is the skip you’ll need to do things the efficient and sustainable way. SunSkips hires skips from £223 (price correct at time of publication, but is subject to change).

2. Give the walls a lick of paint

Painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a room.

When choosing a paint colour, consider the overall style of your home and the mood you want to create.

Light, neutral colours make spaces feel larger and brighter, while bolder shades make a real statement for feature walls and add personality to your space.

Cost: Factoring in all the tools you’ll need and the paint itself, expect to pay around £210 per room to do it yourself, not including the ceiling or skirting.

3. Upgrade your lighting

Thoughtfully placed lighting can make a big difference in the look and feel of a room. If your home has outdated or dim lighting, consider upgrading to new fixtures.

Look for affordable pendant lights, chandeliers, or floor lamps to add a touch of elegance and style without a major investment. Add accent lighting to create a more dramatic effect.

The quality and style of the bulbs can also really change the feel of the room. Try both warm or cool bulbs to see which best lifts your interior.

Cost: Ceiling lights from IKEA start from £5.75 ascending to £150 for the more elegant designs.

4. Do a deep clean

You’d be surprised by what a simple weekend of deep cleaning can do for your home.

• Get a small step ladder and dust all the hard-to-reach corners and ceiling lights.
• Pull out all the furniture, including kitchen appliances, so you can get to the dust bunnies lurking beneath. Clean the inside of the fridge, microwave and oven while you’re at it.
• Hire or invest in a textile cleaner to get carpets, sofas, chairs and mattresses looking like new.
• Clean all windows and mirrors and make sure any fingerprints and smudges are completely gone.
• Scrub, whiten or regrout tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.

MORE: How much to renovate a kitchen: Cost breakdown for your home

Cost: Assuming you’ve got at least a few basic cleaning things in the cupboard, invest £10-20 in a few quality cleaning products that’ll really get the grime off. Baking soda and vinegar are also effective low-cost solutions.

5. Boost your Feng shui

For an essentially cost-free home makeover that can make a big difference, experiment with different furniture arrangements to maximise space and create a new flow.

Start with a pen, paper and tape measure (or CAD software if you’ve got the skills) and make a plan before you rope in your friends and family to move sofas around.

• Decide on a focal point for each room – such as a TV, fireplace, large window, or piece of artwork – and arrange your furniture around it to create a sense of balance and harmony.
• Think about the best seating placements for people to gather and have conversations.
• Consider how people move around your home and make sure there’s plenty of room for them to get through.
• Mix and match furniture of different sizes and heights to create visual interest.
• Angle furniture to add drama and create a more dynamic arrangement.

Cost: A few beers and pizzas for your helpers might be all you need to pull off this home makeover hack.

6. Pick up a few plants

Choosing the right plants for your home can enhance its aesthetics, improve air quality, and create a more inviting atmosphere.

When choosing plants, consider the amount of sunlight your home gets. Most indoor plants fall into one of these categories:

• Bright, indirect light: Suitable for plants that thrive with filtered or indirect sunlight, like many tropical plants.
• Direct sunlight: Ideal for sun-loving plants that need several hours of direct sunlight each day.
• Low light: Perfect for plants that can thrive in minimal or artificial light, such as snake plants and peace lilies.

Bear in mind that some plants require a lot of care and maintenance. Your home makeover might take a turn for the worst if you end up filling it with half-dead flora.

Cost: Decent house plants start from around £10 each.

7. Hang a masterpiece or two

Choose artwork that resonates with you personally, as well as the overall style of your home.

Whether it’s paintings, prints, photographs, or sculptures, the art in your home should bring you joy and reflect your taste and interests.

Art is more than simple decoration to fill empty walls, it can really set the mood for a room. In creating the right look, don’t be afraid to mix different types of art to create an eclectic and personalised gallery wall.

MORE: 11 loft conversion ideas you’ll completely fall in love with

Cost: Poster prints are available from as little as £10. For the budget decorator, pick up frames from a second hand shop and fill them with prints of your favourite artwork.

8. Install some fresh handles and knobs

Updating door knobs and handles gives your home a new look without having to splash out on brand new cabinets and furniture.

All you need is a screwdriver to swap out your boring, old hardware with something that will make a better impression.

This is best done after any other home makeover renovations you do like painting, so you can best choose designs and colours that fit the rest of your home.

Cost: Pickup a set of six ornate knobs from Etsy from around £15.

9. Tidy up the front lawn

You don’t need to embark on a complete garden makeover to make a difference to the curb appeal of your home. A simple tidy of your front lawn and hedges gives the impression of a well looked after home – and it won’t drain your wallet.

Add a new doormat, knocker, or ornate house name/number to freshen up the entrance too.

But while you don’t need to spend a fortune, investing in a proper landscaping job like the example above can add significant value to your property.

MORE: DIY waste disposal: How to get rid of renovation rubbish

Cost: If you don’t have a lawnmower and can’t borrow one from a neighbour, it’s worth the £50 to £100 investment for a basic model that’ll keep your front lawn looking fresh.

10. Upcycle some furniture

Before rushing out to buy new furniture for your home makeover, give a second thought to what you already have.

Old pieces can often be repurposed or upcycled by sanding them down, adding primer and a fresh coat of paint, as well as some additional creative tweaks. You might also want to apply a sealant or topcoat to protect the finish and make it more durable.

Upcycling furniture not only saves money but also reduces waste.

Cost: A tin of quality chalk paint for furniture will set you back around £15.

SunSkips is here for any home makeover waste you need to get rid of efficiently and sustainably. Get in touch with our team to discuss the best option for you, or book your skip online today.