Blog

Low Budget Home Improvements

February 1, 2021 | By IMMA GIOCOLI

Low-budget NYC home improvement

 

Alt: paint and brushes, symbolizing low-budget NYC home improvement

This year has taught us that DIY-ing is the cure to boredom. Many people have tried different projects around their homes - some of them were successful, and some not so much. The latter usually happened if people either had no experience or no money, unfortunately. But, that is not the reason to stop improving your NYC home. There are many projects you can do that are both beginner-friendly and easy on the wallet. Want to know more? Well, keep on reading as that is our topic of the day. Here are some low-budget NYC home improvement tips and tricks.

A Fresh Coat of Paint Is a Staple of Low-budget NYC Home Improvement

Repainting your walls is always a good place to start when thinking about home improvements. It is cheap, and it transforms the home and refreshes everything. So, if you still haven't painted your NYC home, what are you waiting for?

Before you start painting, cover all the furniture with some plastic wrap. Trust us - removing the paint from that sofa will be a nightmare. And, if your apartment is too small and you do not have a place to get your furniture out of the way, you can rent a short-term storage unit and find crew from the neighborhood to help you with moving it. 

Then, choose the right color for your walls. Play around and experiment, instead of keeping your walls plain white. Opt for something different. Pastel and neutral colors all match, so give them a go. 

How About Adding Some Crown Molding too? 

When people think about low-budget renovations, crown molding is usually not on their minds. It is understandable as adding crown molding is generally expensive and requires professional and experienced hands. Nowadays, however, you can get crown molding made out of a lightweight polystyrene foam coated with hard plaster. It looks just like real molding, but it is a lot less pricey and much easier to put on your ceiling.

Crown molding is a great way to update the look of your NYC home. In just a weekend, you can turn your plain room (or your entire home) into an elegant space. Be sure that this will not only add charm to your home but also increase its value!

Upgrade the Look of Your Windows 

Windows define the entire room. So, if they are in bad shape, they will ruin the look of your home. And, no, you do not have to replace them as that is really expensive. With just one coat of color, you can do wonders! Or, if you would rather keep the same color, add a coat of clear finish that will emphasize their original color and make them look as good as new. 

Moreover, do not stop upgrading your windows just yet. Besides painting them, you can make some other improvements too! For instance, you can change the curtains. You can also add shutters, which are great for NYC homes as they lower the noise level and provide privacy. Whatever you do with your windows, make sure they provide you with as much natural lighting as possible! 

Changing the Floors Does Not Have to Be Expensive Either 

If your floors are in bad shape, no rug can hide that. But, do not worry; you do not need to get a loan to change your NYC home floors. There is a cheaper alternative - a cork floor. The average cost of a cork floor is around 6$ a square foot. So, as you can see, with little money, you can change the floors in the entire home. 

What is more, this type of flooring is not only really cheap, but it is also resilient, durable, and stylish. And you also get a bonus - cork flooring is softer and a lot warmer than any other floor you ever walked on. You can place it over concrete, plywood, tiles, etc. Moreover, the installment itself is relatively fast. So, this is another project that will save you a lot of time, money, and energy.

You do not need to call handymen to install cork flooring as it is quite easy to do. However, you will need to contact the guys from Best Movers NYC to help you move your furniture someplace else until you finish flooring your NYC home. 

Consider Buying Some Space-Saving Pieces of Furniture 

Most people living in New York City have tiny apartments. If you are one of those people too, well, you are probably all about space-saving ideas. The best way to save space in your NYC home is to use versatile or multi-purpose furniture. For instance, your living room sofa that turns into a bed at night. A dining room table that turns into an office desk when necessary. Or an ottoman that is both a chair and a coffee table. The types of multi-purpose pieces of furniture are endless.

But, besides those, you can also save space in your NCY home and improve its looks by using vertical shelving wherever possible. This not only looks good in any home, but it also saves a ton of space. You can have this kind of shelving custom-made, or you can buy ready-made ones. They are cheap and easy to put together.

Decor is Important 

In many NYC homes, you will not find many ornaments. This is usually because people think they are expensive or simply do not have the nerves or energy to look for something unique and suitable for their home. But, the truth is, you do not have to spend money or nerves on this one. Decor can be anything from photos, pictures, figurines, mirrors, and even plants

You can buy decor pieces from the street sellers, on the farmer's market, in dollar stores, or online. They can be really cheap, too - you just have to look. Once you find the right piece, you will see that it will immediately improve your home's look.

As you can see, there are many low-budget NYC home improvement ideas you can use to transform your living space in an instant. Since we are locked inside most of the day, you already have some extra time on your hands, which you can use to add some spark to your home.

 

Paint Brushes Bucket - Free photo on Pixabay

 

NYC - Low Budget Home Improvements

April 2, 2020 | By IMMA GIOCOLI

Pimp up your brand new New York place with our simple and low-cost home improvement tips. Alt text: a two-story house in Queens, NY with a pretty yard in front of it.

Finally, you have found a perfect home for you and your family in New York City. Finding a great property in NYC is truly like looking for a needle in a haystack. Of course, there are many great options. However, the demand is always present, and all the great properties get picked up almost instantly. Since you were lucky and found what you needed, it is safe to assume that you dropped a nice bundle of money on your real estate purchase. Properties are by no means cheap in the Empire State. Therefore, you will be in desperate need of low-budget home improvement ideas. Your NYC home improvement doesn’t need to be expensive to be efficient. We have some great ideas in store for you.

NYC home improvement is a must

Buying a property in NYC was a great challenge and you handled it like a champ. So, now it is time to move to a different challenge. Your NYC home improvement should be the next challenge on your real estate agenda. What you need are low-cost NYC home improvement ideas that will turn your home into an even more attractive place to be in.

Make or fix your pathways in your yard

This is a great idea for all of you that live in a home that has outdoor space. There are many stone options that you can choose from if you are looking to dive into this project. Stone pathways are very cheap to make, and it will take you only a weekend. Yet, they look very sophisticated and they will give your yard a whole new look. In truth, the first thing somebody sees when they visit your home is the outside. So, by doing this home advancement you might even increase the attractiveness of your property. You will possibly increase the value of your home. We all know how important those first impressions are, even in the real estate game.

 

Make your garden look chic and sophisticated by adding are renovating your current pathway. Alt text: a woman walking on a garden pathway that spreads between many tulips.

When somebody makes an entrance impress them

Now that your yard is impressive, it is time to move inside the house. If you want to keep the good impressions going, take care of the entrance to your home. Make the area next to your front door cute and practical at the same time. When you walk into your home the first thing you want to do is unload and drop your keys, cellphone, scarfs and other things that you were carrying around all day.

There are many furniture pieces that can help you do just that. Everything from hangers to benches can help make this area more attractive. The good news is that you do not need to spend a bunch of money on this type of furniture. Very often, you can find great pieces in thrift stores and vintage stores for practically pocket change.

Install a programmable thermostat

There are many things we know about real estate and one of them is that we should always strive to keep our place upgraded. This NYC home improvement idea will barely disrupt your budget, but it will also save you money in the long run. When switching from a manual thermostat to an automatic one, you are giving yourself the opportunity to save energy. Hence, lower electrical bills. Since this home improvement idea will cost you a hundred dollars or less, it truly is a no brainer.

A little paint touchup can make a world of a difference

When you move into your new New York crib it is very likely that you will not have the means to purchase all new furniture. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t have to. Sometimes all it takes is a small fix or a little touch up to make your old furniture look brand spanking new. Kitchen cabinets are a great example of furniture that can be easily brought back to life.

 

Your kitchen cabinets are the heart of your kitchen, so make sure they always look the part. Alt text: White kitchen cabinets with colorful decorations stored in them with a lot of light shining within them.

Your old packing supplies are necessary for such projects. Hopefully, you saved some from your move. Cardboard boxes and paper can be great for protecting other surfaces while you work on your cabinets. In no time your kitchen will look like it just got delivered to your home from your favorite furniture salon. The best thing about this home improvement is that it will cost you some effort, time and a smidge of cash.

Don’t neglect your bathroom

We added something new to many rooms of your NYC home. So, it is only natural that we cannot neglect your bathroom. There are a few add-ons that you can incorporate into your bathroom décor. The best part about this process is that you don’t have to do it all at once. Even the slightest addition can make your bathroom look like an entirely different room. A new mirror is a great change. Simple but elegant mirrors can sometimes cost only around 20 bucks. With a new paint color on the bathroom, shelves will leave your bathroom unrecognizable. Add some piece of art or a few candles in your favorite scents and voila. Your work is done!

Bathroom furniture with wooden details tends to look fabulous as part of your bathroom decor while not doing significant damage to your bank account. Alt text: light and white bathroom with wooden furniture and a large wooden mirror.

 

By:Betty White