​Best of 2017: 24 low-cost home improvement ideas

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
Storage Solutions , ASPACE ASPACE Modern nursery/kids room
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There always seems to be something that needs doing, fixing or updating around the house, whether it’s that dripping faucet in the bathroom, the crack in the kitchen backsplash, a new table runner for the dining room, or something else entirely (each house is different, you know!).

But don’t stress if your year-end budget is a bit stretched here at Christmas, for there exists quite the number of ways in which to fix up and/or style up your home without selling a child or kidney! 

Let’s take a look at the most popular budget-friendly ways of the past year in which you can DIY some beauty and functionality back into your home…

1. Add extra space and style via floating shelves.

2. Splash a new colour onto those kitchen cabinets.

3. Stick some wooden beading into your front door to create a panelled effect, then paint.

4. Re-polish your wooden floors for some extra shine.

5. With cast iron paint, give the inside of your fireplace a fresh coat – and clean up the tiles and add new grout while you’re down there.

6. Invest in a cute little design with shoe-and-bag storage in your hallway to stop the clutter from spreading.

7. Upcycle old items into new storage, like this old-steps-turned-into-bookcase project.

8. Got enough money to spend on ONE element? Make it a statement light fixture, as that’ll change the vibe of the entire room.

9. Storage boxes can become your best friends in these cluttered times.

10. Add an integrated water filter to your tap.

11. Modular storage fits perfectly into modern designs, plus you can change them up whenever you please.

12. Zhoosh up a front entrance by updating your hardware, buying a fancy chrome number plaque, or adding heritage styling in the form of ironwork.

13. Have a carpet professionally cleaned – trust us, it changes the entire room.

14. Use coffee filters as makeshift drawer divides or place them between your plates to avoid damage.

Miele CM7300 Coffee Machine Hehku Modern kitchen Electronics

15. Use plastic baskets as drawer organisers for expert organisation.

Chest of drawers IMARI e15 Modern style bedroom

16. Use contact paper (or sticky-back plastic) on the ends of your kitchen utensils to jazz them up a bit.

17. Glue Mason jars together to create a desk tidy—perfect for stashing pens and pencils.

18. Bargain spray-paint can add a new look to those pots and potters.

19. Stick glass beads to a mirror and treat it to an eye-catching new frame.

20. Give your modern sofa a Chesterfield look by tapping drawing pins into place with a small hammer.

21. Organise toys in cheap plastic tubs and never step on a Lego again!

22. Use washable placements as fridge shelf-liners – simply throw out the ones with stubborn stains.

23. Create art with permanent markers and old plates, pop ‘em into the oven for a few hours at a low temperature to ‘bake’ on the image, et voilà!

While you’re at it, check out these 6 fun Christmas DIY projects.

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