You can invest in your home without draining your savings or going into debt. There are many ways to have a significant positive impact on your home with small, cost-effective projects. From painting to lighting, this article will cover some of the 7 best little things you can do to make a big change in your home without breaking your budget.



1. Freshen Your Flooring

Revive old hardwood floors by sanding them and putting down a fresh coat of stain and wax. Start by cleaning the floors. However, if your hardwoods are still showing noticable wear after the stain and wax, try throwing down a new area rug to brighten the room.

Carpets can be professionally cleaned or replaced, and old heating vents should be refitted or even repainted to bring out that original sparkle. If you clean the carpet yourself, be careful not to spray too much warm water into the carpet as that can cause it to bunch up after drying.

2. Paint

Painting a room is a simple way to make a big stylistic change. Try experimenting with different paint finishes or add dimension with textured wallpaper and varying colors.

To make a room seem larger, opt for lighter colors. For a bolder room, choose vibrant colors and a ceiling color that is one to two shades lighter.

3. Declutter

This is the one home improvement task that could actually earn money. Give away or sell your old stuff. Clean out old drawers, storage spaces, basements, garages and attics. Either find an appropriate home for these items or swallow hard and make the decision to throw away things that haven't been touched in years and for which you have no good reason to believe you'll use again.

Get the notes off the fridge and the hair pins out of your desk drawer, because now is the time to upgrade your home by downgrading your clutter. If you have enough junk to warrant the cost, rent a large driveway trash receptacle for a week and have it hauled away at the end. Make a family project out of it and fill that huge trash bin to capacity.

4. Refinish Cabinetry

Update old cabinetry by sanding it down and either painting or re-staining it. Use a neutral color that compliments your countertops and isn't too overbearing. You can also easily update your cabinet hardware with more modern and stylish pulls that will instantly give your kitchen a contemporary feel.

5. Landscaping

Front-yard landscaping can offer a 100 percent return on your investment in terms of added resale value. Invest your money in lawn updates, weed control, low-maintenance shrubbery and easy perennials. Emphasis should be on low-maintenance changes. Unless you love routinely working outdoors, life is already busy enough without adding a lot of required additional care to your lawn.

6. Refresh the Exterior

Have your windows cleaned, clear the gutters, pressure-wash your home's exterior, update your light fixtures and place a potted plant out on the front porch. These are all inexpensive ways to give your house instant "curb appeal."

7. Update your Fixtures

Go through your home replacing old light fixtures, switches and outlet covers. Say goodbye to those outdated, yellowing, plastic switches and hello to clean, modern fixtures. By paying attention to these small details, you'll make a big difference and both eye appeal and those little things that tell a prospective home buyer that you've taken great care of your house.