These are my ten favorite ways to improve the appearance of your home, inside and out!
Over the years, I’ve discovered some easy decorating changes and changes that make a big difference in our home.
I could make an endless list of ways to do this with larger projects like crown molding, wall trim, and built-ins, but these examples are much simpler and less complicated.
Most of these things can be done in a few minutes. A few of them are projects that will take a little longer, but fortunately I have tutorials that will help you if you decide to tackle them. 😉
I’ve always believed that a few more subtle changes make a big difference in a home, especially when repeated all the time.
It’s the little touches that give your home a sophisticated look!
A few of these things are wasteful, so when I update several similar items around the house, I do so over time. I’ll grab one or two on trips to the store as budget allows.
Some of these projects took me a year to finish, some were never finished and some I just started!
They’re all little details that I think give our home a little something extra. 🙂
1. Replace or paint HVAC floor grilles
For years I’ve spray painted our inexpensive floor vents a darker color that flows with our floors better:
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I did this with all the basic dark brown floor grates we’ve had in both of our homes over the years. They hold up surprisingly well!
Last year I was strolling down the aisle at Lowe’s when I noticed how many beautiful floor ventilation options were available. I tried one of these cast iron metal grates in a room the other day and fell in love with it:
For the past year, I’ve been buying one of these during my trips to the hardware store here and there. Since we only had the floor vents on the main floor, I didn’t have as many to replace as I thought.
There are plenty of designs available, in both metal and heavy duty iron versions that I used. These still work like the previous grilles – we can adjust the airflow without any problem.
2. Change your light bulbs
Now this may seem trivial at first (and frankly, in the scheme of things, all of these things are!):
If you have exposed bulbs or clear glass, it gives the entire lighting fixture an elegant look:
In general, I prefer white bulbs over clear bulbs, and the white bulbs soften the cast a bit, which is nice.
I’ve only added these elements to a few lights so far, but they really elevate the look of the light fixture! They don’t cost much more than regular LED bulbs, so this light won’t break the bank.
They look better, and let in more light.
You can also update your light fixtures with new decorative glass globes or covers, which you can find at most hardware stores.
3. Paint the door (interior or exterior!).
The first time I painted our front door black, I was blown away. In our last house, I painted all the doors in our basement and main floor:
That was probably 15 years ago and I haven’t looked back. 🙂
No, you don’t have to draw them all at once!
It took me years to paint all our white doors black, and I didn’t even touch the upstairs doors.
I’ve started the process on this house, but it’s gone much slower since I’ve been focusing so much on larger projects:
This DIY takes some time but is not difficult. I’ve shared my tips for painting interior doors black – using this tutorial will give you a super smooth finish that looks like it was sprayed!
4. Decorate the base of your indoor plants
This little change is one of the easiest! I have a lot of plants around the house (mostly fiddle leaf fig):
Such plants come with small containers that can look a bit flimsy. I suggest repotting in a large pot and placing it in a simple basket or pretty pot.
This adds some texture and weight to the plant.
I use big, cheap plastic pots all the time! You don’t even notice when they are put in a basket.
The extra width at the bottom makes the whole thing feel larger… which is especially useful if you don’t have a green thumb!:
They are just a nice decorative touch that adds a little something throughout the house.
I used to put rocks on top of the plant’s soil (we have a cat who liked to pee on the bases of the plants and the rocks kept her from doing that), but over the years when I’ve replanted, I’ve left them out.
I recently added something different at the base of the plant. I had a lot of this beautiful soft moss in my craft stash and tried laying it on top of the dirt:
loved it. This is a simple thing, but the added greenery makes the plant look even more beautiful!
I swear this has helped our plants! It seems to help retain water and prevent it from drying out. I can imagine it, but I think it makes a difference.
5. Add outdoor and landscape lighting
I will stand on my landscape lighting hill forever! Ha! It’s always been that exterior detail I noticed about beautiful (and expensive!) homes.
No electrical knowledge needed!:
I’m telling you, it will make your home look amazing at night. I hear from readers all the time who are amazed at how easy it is to install.
It takes some time, but it’s not difficult!
I also fell in love with the beautiful cafe lights hanging over the patio or deck:
We know how much difference the right lighting makes indoors, and I believe it makes double the impact outdoors!
6. Replace the switch/outlet caps
These are other small details that overall have a bigger impact than you think!
You will need a flat head screwdriver and about a minute to change each one.
And the outlets and switches in our kitchen backsplash as well:
I haven’t done many other port covers yet, just because they’re not as noticeable. You can definitely take your time with these little updates!
The covers I used have an insulated backing that helps retain heat and keep cold air out. Have you ever felt the amount of cold air entering through the vents in the winter? This is madness.
There are quite a few decorative keyboards available at most hardware stores, and most of them come with all the configurations you’ll need. Our products come in multiple switch options, GFI outlet/switch combinations, etc.
7. Change the exterior door handles
Updating your door handles is a great way to update your home! If you have basic door handles, changing them will be easier than you think.
I had to cut (or tap) where the door latch is on each door. But it was worth it!:
If you don’t have to do this, it’s a much faster task! Once you get the hang of them, each one should only take about five minutes.
When we picked out all the details for our current home, I chose these simple black knobs instead of knobs:
I liked having the handles, they are especially useful when your hands are busy. 🙂 You can push it down or up to open it so it’s a little easier to maneuver.
Not only do newer door handles look better, they also look more substantial. It’s an easy change that definitely makes a home feel top-notch.
8. Update or add cabinet hardware
This is one of the easiest upgrades in the kitchen! If you don’t have hardware on your cabinets, adding knobs or knobs is like adding beautiful jewelry to your drawers and doors:
The hardware will reduce corrosion in your tanks too!
This can get expensive if you’re starting from scratch, but there are so many great options at great prices now! You can buy them in bulk for less, too.
These are just over $2 each when you buy a set!
As with many finishes in your home, spray painting will give your cabinet hardware a quick update at a lower cost! If you like the design of your appliances but not the color, spray paint is a great solution.
Learn how to paint your cabinet hardware to easily update it:
9. Update curtain rods and add pleats
The window treatments are huge! Hanging them a little higher and wider than the window frame will make your windows appear larger.
Earlier this year, I tried out a new window treatment update that made my store-bought curtains look much more expensive:
They went from chaotic and fluid to completely spaced out and beautiful:
I still have another set of curtains I’d like to add this pleat tape to. I love the look!
But curtain hardware makes a big difference, too. When we moved in, I bought the cheapest, sharpest curtain rods I could find.
Not only is it a little thicker, but that leather covering on the finish gives it a unique little detail.
By the way, don’t think your curtain hardware needs to be identical throughout the house!
10. Add fixtures for recessed lights
I like to add decorative lighting where there are recessed lights. I think beautiful fixtures go a long way in updating a space and making a home look more expensive.
You don’t even need to turn off the breaker – it’s almost as easy as replacing a light bulb!
These kits allow you to adjust the cord length and everything.
I had a hard time with one version of these adapter sets, so be sure to check out this post before trying this product.
Both options allow you to hang a beautiful light where there is none!
Notice those beautiful round lamps? 😂 I love them!
They look more streamlined, won’t turn yellow over time and save money on our electric bill!
Bonus idea! Place your products in beautiful containers
Now I know this can get out of hand, but after a few years of putting our most used products in beautiful glass jars, I absolutely love their form and function.
Not only is it cute, but I can easily see when we’re running low on produce. They are just as accessible (if not easier) as the containers they come in.
Anything that makes cleaning the house more fun is a win for me! 🙂
Have you added any of these DIY decor and updates to your home? Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Take your time as your budget allows.
I promise no one will notice that your keycaps don’t match in every room. 🙂
