If you live in the United States (or really, anywhere) chances are that you have spent a lot more time in your home than you normally do. We have seen people relocate to the suburbs, move to larger homes, and adjust their must-have lists to include outdoor space, pools, and more. When you have to spend all of your time at home, you want to make sure your home is comfortable for you. Some might be realizing that they want to make some updates but, it’s not quite in the budget to get a full renovation. So, what do we do? We improvise!
4 Steps To Brighten Up Your Home On A Budget
1. Paint
There are quite a few ways to make small changes in your home to brighten it up, the easiest one is to paint. Take a few hours to decide what rooms, trim, or pieces of furniture you want to paint to decide how much you need. If you want to paint the majority of the walls in your home or want one color, a five gallon bucket may be the way to go to stay economical. Otherwise, a gallon of paint at a time is the best option to make sure you aren’t wasting paint or money. Make sure you get some primer to help the paint stick, sanding blocks if you are painting finished furniture, and always ask the experts. Ask the employee who works at the paint counter what you need, they will suggest certain paint types for whatever you have decided to paint. Whatever you are painting, try to make sure the space you are doing it in has good airflow to make sure the fumes don’t stink up your whole house! You can easily do this by setting up fans, opening windows, or if you are painting furniture you can take it outside.
“Check with local groups to see where you can donate gently used items such as furniture, clothing, books, toys, and shelf-stable goods you may not want.”
2. Organizing
Although organizing isn’t always the first thing you think about when trying to brighten up a space, it really can make a huge difference. Getting rid of clutter, making a place for things and even getting rid of things you don’t need can really make a space feel more put together. Whether you’re aware of it or not, clutter in spaces where you spend a lot of time can cause stress because it feels like it is a looming task. Take an afternoon to buy some containers that match your decor (or containers that can be hidden) and categorize your things into piles. One way to help clean out is to ask yourself “have I used this in the last 18 months?” If not, it’s probably time to donate it.
3. Add light
Seems like a simple solution, right? When a room is dark and dingy, it makes it hard to want to spend time in it. If there are windows in the room, make the most of that light by buying sheer or linen, light-colored curtains. The light color will reflect the light and add brightness to the room no matter how many windows there are. If you have limited windows or none at all, try to find a light fixture or a lamp that provides a good amount of light. Avoid lighting that is too bright because that will make it feel harsh – try to get filtered light with a lampshade, or use Edison bulbs which are low wattage and add a style element.
“Plants are a great way to bring some of the outdoors into your home. They can also help purify the air in your home to keep your home nice and fresh!”
4. Plants
Using plants to brighten your space is so cheap and can take very little to no effort. While we know not everyone has a green thumb, there are simple solutions to this. You can look up some plants that offer lots of color or greenery but don’t need much attention or work – like succulents. There are also plant pots that allow you to put water in the bottom and the plant sucks up the water as it needs it, so you really only need to add water to the bottom every other week. A great option is also fake plants. We know what you’re thinking, is that tacky? Not at all! There are great fake plants now that look absolutely real and no one will know. It still adds that bright, fresh aspect to your home but you can of course leave it for weeks and it will still look just as nice.
While we all have this time in our homes, let’s try to make it as bright and cheerful as possible so we can enjoy our time with our families in a nice space. Share these tips with your clients by sending out a postcard – any chance to get your name in front of them is a good marketing opportunity and they will appreciate you thinking about them!
