12 simple ways to refresh and update your home
- Gabrielle King
- Consultant
In short
You can bring a dated home up to date without major construction or a big budget, and many of these jobs are DIY-friendly. Paint is the biggest-value change (walls, cupboards, even floors), small swaps like handles, light fixtures and fresh grout make a quick difference, and updating your curtains and blinds transforms a room. For more impact, add crown moulding, stainless appliances, a new splashback, a custom headboard or a spruced-up outdoor area.
If your home is looking a bit dated, the good news is there are plenty of ways to bring it up to date that do not involve major construction or a huge budget, and many are easy enough to do yourself. Here are twelve, grouped to make them easy to tackle.
Table of contents
Paint refreshes
Nothing gives more value than paint, and you do not need to be a pro. Invest in good brushes, prepare surfaces properly, and do not rush, allowing for a primer and two top coats.
Paint the walls, or freshen things up with wallpaper, where the patterns available today are stunning.
Paint the kitchen cabinet doors and handles for an easy refresh.
Renew tired wooden or concrete floors with floor paint, in one colour under a rug or a creative pattern.
Quick fixture and hardware swaps
Replace door, cupboard and cabinet handles for a modern touch and often better function, especially in older homes.
Update light fixtures, and the faceplates on sockets and switches, which crack and discolour over time.
Clean and touch up tile grout and replace mouldy silicone to revive a worn-looking bathroom for very little.
Update your window treatments
Your window treatments can make or break a room, so updating them makes a huge difference. New curtains or blinds introduce a more modern pattern or colour and let you fix any light-blocking issues. More light in a room always makes it feel fresher and more modern.
Bigger-impact updates
Add crown moulding for charm and elegance; with the right tools it is a manageable DIY job.
Invest in stainless steel appliances, which modernise an older kitchen and are more energy efficient.
Redo the kitchen splashback with easy sheet or peel-and-stick tiles in a unique pattern.
Custom-make a new headboard, a relatively simple project with plenty of tutorials online.
Spruce up the outdoor area by water-blasting the deck or patio and applying a fresh stain.
If new window furnishings are top of your refresh list, request a free in-home consultation and one of our consultants will bring samples and help you choose a fresh, modern look.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to update a home?
Paint gives the most bang for your buck, on walls, cupboards and even tired wooden or concrete floors. Swapping door handles, light fixtures and switch faceplates, and refreshing grout and silicone, are also low-cost, high-impact jobs you can often do yourself.
Do new curtains and blinds really make a difference?
A big one. Window treatments can make or break a room, so updating them introduces a more modern colour or pattern and lets you fix any light or privacy issues. More light always makes a room feel fresher and more modern.
How can I modernise a kitchen without a full renovation?
Paint the cabinet doors or handles, swap in stainless steel appliances, and redo the splashback with easy peel-and-stick or sheet tiles. Each is a manageable update that brings an older kitchen back to life.
Can you paint floors and cupboards?
Yes. Cabinet doors and handles take paint well for a quick kitchen refresh, and old wooden or concrete floors can be renewed with floor paint, in a single colour under a rug or in a creative pattern.
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