I’m An Interior Designer: The Best $100 You Can Spend On Home Upgrades

08/05/2024

Happy parents making plans with an architect during home renovation process.

Spring is coming to a close and hopefully, you got all your seasonal cleaning behind you. Now that you’ve decluttered your home and thrown out the junk that’s been piling up over the years, what can you do to jazz up your home, especially if you are on a limited budget?

“Your home serves as a sanctuary, offering respite from the hectic world and providing a space for rest and rejuvenation,” said Amber Mundy, a home improvement specialist at Build and Renovate. Your home is your most significant lifetime investment, making it crucial you take pride in it and design it to reflect your unique style and personality. Embarking on home improvement projects while staying within budget requires careful planning and smart decision-making.”

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Knowing that you don’t want to break the bank, Mundy and a few other interior designers suggested the best $100 you can spend on a home upgrade. Take it from them, the professionals!

Fresh Coat Of Paint

“A fresh coat of paint can transform any room for minimal cost (if you do it yourself), shared Bree Steele, an interior designer at RJ Living.

“With $100, you can buy one or two gallons of high-quality paint to create a statement wall or paint the whole room,” Steele went on to describe. “If you want to really change things up, you can paint a room a new color to change the vibe of the entire room, or you can use the same color and give it a refresh.”

Wallpaper

Not looking to get all down and dirty in some paint? Try wallpaper, even if it’s just on one wall to accent the space and bring your room to life with a little more definition.

“Wallpaper has experienced a resurgence, moving beyond traditional perceptions. It’s an affordable option to infuse a space with character,” Mundy said.

“Modern wallpapers feature improved designs and are easier to install, as they come with a pre-applied adhesive surface, eliminating the hassle of dealing with messy glues and ensuring a smooth application process,” added Mundy.

Replace Cabinet Hardware

“I’ve found that replacing outdated hardware on cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms can really transform the space,” Steele explained, noting how $100 can get handles or knobs “that refresh your cabinetry without the need for a full renovation.”

“If you want to make your home look more modern, look for sleek, contemporary designs to elevate the room’s aesthetic instantly,” Steele said. “If you want to go for a more traditional feel, you can find preloved hardware at a cheaper cost at antique stores or thrift stores if you keep your eye out.”

Replace Bath Hardware

An outdated bathroom typically requires a gut renovation, but that involves a lot of time and money, according to Mundy.

“One small way to add value without a full-on makeover is to change the existing hardware on the cabinets and the sink fixtures to polish up the room,” Mundy suggested. “Swapping from chrome to gold can give the room a whole new vibe. Replacing the shower faucet will also instantly lend the bathroom a spa-like feel.”

Install New Home Accessories

Mundy called home accessories “…the icing on the cake when it comes to changing the personality of a room.”

What Mundy means by new home accessories includes items such as towel racks and toilet paper holders, handles and hinges for cupboards, door knobs, vent registers, and other things of that nature.

Pete Trentacoste, head of interior design at Go Summer, also noted how “accent textiles” can go a long way on a small budget to change the personality of your home.

“Purchasing new textiles such as throw pillows, a stylish table runner, or unique hand towels can add layers of texture and color that make a space more inviting. This type of upgrade is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional,” explained Trentacoste.

“Depending on the brand and quality of each item you purchase to spice up the room you are improving, you can expect to spend between $10 to $100 to get the job done,” Mundy shared.

Plants and Art

Trentacoste recommended, “[introducing greenery, whether through small indoor trees, succulents, or hanging plants, can breathe life into any room.”

“Plants not only enhance the decor but also improve air quality, making them a healthy and beautiful addition,” Trentacoste said.

If you do not want to have the responsibility of taking care of a plant or feel like you don’t have the extra room to spare, there is always space on your walls to utilize with new art.

“Adding or updating wall art can personalize and dramatically shift the room’s aesthetic,” noted Trentacoste. “Whether it’s a framed print, a canvas painting, or decorative wall accents, art is a statement piece that speaks to the dweller’s style and preferences.”

New Light Fixtures

Steele is aware that “Light fixtures might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of changing up your space, but depending on what you buy, they can set the mood of the room and act as a decorative element.”

Mundy advised those in need of some change up in their home’s luminances to “[h]ead over to your favorite home improvement or lighting store and pick out fixtures that will modernize your home and better fit the overall aesthetic you are after.”

There you can put your $100 to good use and stay on budget while making a bold choice to upgrade the light in your home with a new fixture. This could be something like a pendant light or a few wall sconces.

“Thrift and antique stores have nice and cheap options for light fixtures, otherwise stores like Target usually have beautiful lighting choices for less than $100 that can change the feeling of the whole room,” Steele also pointed out.

“If the room you are working on has several light fixtures, or you want to replace all of the fixtures in your home, purchase them over time as you can afford them and tuck them away until you have all the light fixtures you need to do the job,” added Mundy.