6 Simple Inexpensive Upgrades That Will Improve Your Home Now
Here at Prosper and Dwell, we love getting creative with the resources that we already have in our home, but it is safe to say: everyone gets sick of their space at some point! When that happens, sometimes it helps to take a step back and take an inventory of the rooms in your home and decide what you do and don't like. Instead of dreaming about renovating an entire house, which we are probably all guilty of, focus on the spaces you spend the most time and brainstorm ways that you can elevate those spaces. Here are a couple of really simple ideas to spruce up your space that will make a huge impact without breaking the bank!
1. Paint
Whether you choose to paint an entire wall, paint a feature design, or simply touch up existing paint - painting will clean up any imperfections and make the entire space feel fresh. You can get pretty creative with paint too - if you want to add a delicate detail or add emphasis to a specific area, paint is a great low cost way to add some character in a space.
2. Spruce Up the Floors
Now, we don't all have the budget to rip out old laminate and replace with hardwood floors; however there are some pretty cleaver ways to add some character to your space without completely changing the floors. One of the easiest ways, is to add an area rug. Adding a rug to a space not only distracts from the flooring underneath (if that is your goal) but is an easy way to add color, texture and dimension to a room. Layering rugs adds even more interest and texture.
3. Update Window Treatments 
If you love your window treatments - good! Even just running those things through the wash will give a fresh and clean feel to your space. If you only have outer drapes, try a bamboo window treatment to bring in some warmth. Or, if you have darker window treatments, try something more light and airy. It will let more natural light into the room and help refract the light throughout the space.
4. Swap Cabinet Knobs 
This one is pretty self explanatory, but there are REALLY cute cabinet knobs out there. Replacing the knobs in your kitchen would absolutely transform the look of the space but even smaller furniture pieces or bathroom vanities can see a drastic improvement when changing out knobs.
5. Make More Space
Now, this sounds like an oxymoron; however, take a look around your house and see what space is underutilized or maybe cluttered. By cleaning and organizing underutilized space - it will be like you have a whole new area to enjoy! One of the spaces that gets an incredible about of traffic for me is our coffee counter. Reorganizing and decluttering the space makes our morning coffee routine so much smoother.
6. Define Your Space
This may sound like the opposite of the piece of inspiration mentioned above; however, maximizing underutilized space is just as important as organizing overly cluttered space. Whether it’s the space under your stairs, the empty area adjacent to the living room seating, or even outdoor space. Focus some energy on how you can transform that unused space into something useful: a mail drop spot, a small office, a reading nook, eating area-- whatever works best for your lifestyle. What's great about this option is that you have the chance to design a new space in your house --if it was underutilized before, it won't be missed once you claim it.
At the end of the day, we want you to love where you dwell. Taking a step back and spending some time re-thinking some of your favorite spaces will help you recognize hidden potential and help to breathe new life into any tired space! We hope these ideas inspire creativity and help you fall back in love where you live.
Photo Credits
2). Pampa; 4). School House
