How to Do a Complete Makeover for My House

Redecorate your home for the look and feel of a new house without the hassle of moving.

Over time your house can begin to feel like more of a dungeon than a sanctuary. Mismatched pieces and accessories, stale designs and furniture arrangements that haven't moved in years can keep your home from providing the comforting feel that it should. You don't need a giant budget or a spot on a television show to get a complete home makeover. With some simple steps, you can give your home a refreshing new look with a minimal amount of time and money.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Boxes and baskets
• Scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper
• Mirrors
• Lighting
• Hardware

Instructions

1. Paint the walls. The floors and walls of your home are the largest surfaces. While replacing the flooring will have just as much impact, adding a fresh coat of paint is much more affordable. Fill holes and dents, scrub off stains and give the whole home a new coat of paint. Try a different color than what you currently have, even if you're only altering the hue a little bit. Stick with colors that gently flow from one room to the next for connecting rooms, especially those without a door.

2. Paint or reupholster your furniture. A couch cover can make your old sofa look like new. A coat of paint on wooden chairs, tables and shelves will instantly transform these items. If you don't want to change the entire piece, consider a smaller alteration such as a pop of color on just the back or legs of the table or chair.

3. Collect an assortment of photo boxes, shoe boxes and baskets to keep your possessions neatly stored. A labeled box will look much neater and more decorative on a shelf than a mess of game controllers, CD cases or notebooks. Cover the boxes with scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper to match the rest of the decor. Make brightly colored fabric liners for baskets, or paint the wicker itself for a fresh look.

4. Use mirrors and lighting to change the feel of the room. A mirror placed across from a window will instantly make the space feel larger. Well placed lighting can accent a corner that was previously shrouded in shadow.

5. Update hardware on cabinets, drawers and doors. Add decorative handles and pulls to give your existing pieces an interesting accent. From hand painted knobs to antique handles, there's a style of hardware to match any style.

6. Rearrange your furniture. Moving the couch from one end of the room to the other will instantly make you feel like you have a new space. If your furniture is currently backed up against the walls, pull some of the pieces away. Try setting pieces at an angle rather than parallel to the walls.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in your area for affordable finds that can transform your home. As you browse, keep in mind that you can paint, refinish or reupholster many items. Gather inspiration from home decorating shows and magazines and settle on a color scheme and overall decor for each room of the house before you being your makeover to avoid ending up with a mismatched look. As you rearrange and redecorate, vacuum under pieces that haven't been moved in ages, dust the far reaches of shelves and give the whole home a thorough cleaning for a satisfyingly fresh finish.

References

• Real Simple: No Money Home Makeover Ideas
• Woman's Day: Home Makeover Cheat Sheet