Shake Things Up – Without Spending a Fortune

Small changes to color, fabric, lighting, and hardware give a room new life.

Colorful striped and solid pillows arranged on a cushioned bench.

Occasionally, you just really need something fresh to look at. Unfortunately, there usually isn’t a big budget to achieve the makeover you’re dreaming about. Here are 5 ideas that will do the trick for less.

1. Paint

It’s the fastest, least expensive way to make a BIG change. But you still want to be cautious and test an area, and live with it, before making a final decision.

Colorful striped and solid pillows arranged on a cushioned bench.

2. Change Pillows

This is another quick and easy way to add a new color into a room in a fun way.

Four pleated lampshades in pale colors and striped fabrics.

3. Change lampshades

You’d be surprised how much this one thing can change a room. Keep the base, and if you want to take things a little further, you can either paint or embellish the lamp base.

Dark metal cabinet pull with a decorative curved design.

4. Change your cabinet hardware

For a quick new look in your kitchen, change your hardware. By changing to a completely different finish, as long as it still works with your faucet, you can get a dramatic change without spending a bundle.

Painted chest of drawers beneath a mirror beside a window.

5. Paint your existing furniture

If you have painted pieces, you can change the color and if you have a piece of unpainted furniture that you’re tired of, you can always turn it into a painted piece!