Looking for some easy updates to sell your home or just want to upgrade? If you are intending on selling your house or just want to update your home a bit, you have two options. First, you can completely renovate and upgrade your home, and the other option is to consider some simple and inexpensive ways to update your property. 

Here are 7 cheap and easy–or “economical” ideas to update your home that do NOT require major construction work.

1. Paint the House

Walls

The first thing many people think about when painting a home is to paint the walls. Appropriately, a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a room. Repainting can erase years of scuff marks and stains as well as restore the walls to its ultimate luster and sheen.

Paint the Front Door

By repainting the front door, you tidy up the exterior of your home and increase your home’s curb appeal. Now, when you drive by and point out your house, your home will look well-maintained and welcoming.

Paint the Kitchen Cabinets

Remodeling your kitchen and installing new cabinetry can be extremely expensive. On the other hand, painting your kitchen cabinets can take outdated cabinetry and give it a fresh new just-remodeled feeling. 

2. Replace Cabinet Hardware

While you are repainting the kitchen cabinets, you may also consider updating the cabinet hardware as well. By spending a few dollars on each handle, you can give your kitchen a more modern upgrade. 

3. Lay Down a Fresh Bead of Caulk

While you may clean your bathroom regularly, caulk has a way of aging and turning brown and unseemly. An inexpensive way to upgrade your home is by laying down a fresh bead of caulk around your bathtub and in your shower.

You’ll need a few essential tools, such as a razor scraper, paper towels, a vacuum, denatured alcohol, bleach, gloves, painter’s tape, and new caulk with an applicator gun. This simple upgrade will likely take about an hour to finish.

(READ: 10 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for a Picture-Perfect Home)

4. Create Open Space

Open floor plans make a home feel larger and more appealing to visitors. You do not necessarily need to tear down walls to achieve this.

Consider getting rid of large bulky furniture that can take up most of the space in a room. Additionally, you can move furniture around to find the best placement to create open space. 

Finally, consider adding mirrors to create the illusion of a larger room. When mirrors are placed opposite windows, it will reflect natural light and add to the illusion of more space.

5. Add New Lighting

Updating your home to feel airy, bright, and larger could be as simple as strategically placed floor lamps. A poorly lit room with dark or harsh lighting can make the room seem smaller and confined. On the other hand, a new ceiling fixture or side table lamps can brighten up your home and make it more welcoming.

6. Update Windows

To make your windows look larger, you can add molding and an apron. Additionally, you can update the window treatments to spruce up the decor or to merely have more privacy.

7. Create an Outdoor Space

Even if you a small deck, backyard or porch, you can still be creative and make it an outdoor “room” or space. By adding an outdoor dining table can increase the amount of seating area on your property. 

If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, you can add a small fire pit and some hanging string lights to make your space more like an extension of your home. Moreover, you could even take a weekend to build a pergola and make your space a comfortable outdoor retreat.

To update and upgrade your home, you don’t need a huge budget to make improvements. In fact, a few simple and inexpensive home updates can produce a more comfortable, attractive, and appealing home.