If there’s one thing we have all become pro’s at during lockdown it’s decorating and updating tired decor. I managed to update my living room and spruce up my kitchen whilst we were stuck indoors, and a lot of it was done on a budget and with minimal effort (keeping lazy even during lockdown amiright?!). With the property and rental market becoming more competitive at the moment it’s the perfect time to invest in setting your property apart from others if you’re trying to rent out or sell, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on renovations. Here are some quick ways to update and brighten up in prep for new rentals.
First and foremost, make sure you have good insurance! As someone who is having insurance issues at the moment, I cannot stress how important it is to find a trusted provider. Make sure to look around and compare landlord insurance if you plan on renting out and always read the fine print for any policies.
Kitchen Updates
One of the first things I wanted to update in my kitchen was the cupboards. They were looking a little dated and in need of modernising. Sadly, I couldn’t afford to replace the frames and doors, so I settled on a budget friendly update by changing out the handles. I found some more modern looking handles on eBay and after triple measuring the handle holes, I set about removing the old ones and adding in the new ones. It made such a difference and really made the kitchen look up to date and fresh, all for £30 and less than an hour’s work!
Bathroom Basics
Bathrooms are another area where you could spend a fortune updating; fixtures, fittings, tiles, plumbing etc all add up quickly and heftily. One of the simplest ways to get a bathroom looking brand new and sparkly for new tenants or owners is by keeping the existing basics and giving them a lick of paint. You can buy some really great tile paints that will last well and won’t cost the earth. The tile primer and paint from Wilko’s always gets great reviews and is very budget friendly. Tile paints mean you can change the colour of tiled areas to fit the latest trends or cover unsightly patterns from yesteryear – the 90s blue dolphin patterned tiles spring to mind.
You can also update the fixtures to be more trend led by using specialist spray paint. I’m all about black bathroom taps and accessories at the moment, as is half of Pinterest, so using specialist spray paint is a cheap way to get the look without having the expense of replacing them fully – you can even do the edging of shower doors.
The Best of the Rest
Bathrooms and kitchens are generally the higher cost areas to update, and others areas in the home can usually be brought back to life with a lick of paint and a good clean. But there are still some little updates you can do/add to add the value…
– Change out any heavy upholstery or curtains where possible as they can really drag down the look of a room. Bamboo blinds and soft linen voiles add a much more modern and expensive look.
– Styling storage in the kitchen adds so much in terms of functionality and style. Instead of hiding away spiced and stapled like pasta display them in glass jars on shelves. This frees up valuable cupboard space, makes cooking easier as everything is on show and in reach and looks Hella stylish. I bought some cheap spice jars from Amazon and a label maker from eBay and it made such a difference to the vibe in my kitchen and looks a lot more expensive than it was.
– Speaking of kitchen shelves… Reclaimed wooden looking shelves are all the rage at the moment but they can be quite expensive – I fell foul to that expense. Instead of forking out a small fortune for rustic looking shelves head to your local builders merchant or check eBay for sales of old scaffold boards. Grab some wood stain and some metal up brackets (I paid £8 for my up brackets on eBay) and voila, you have some very expensive looking shelves for less than £15)
What are your top tips for updating the home or a rental on a budget?
