How to Update a Dated Home Without Remodeling

1. Paint 2. Replace light fixtures 3. Update doors 4. Change baseboards 5. Remove/replace old carpet 6. Replace outlets, switch plates, thermostat 7. Replace faucets 8. Add molding, wainscoting 9. Change cabinet hardware, door hardware 10. Update window treatments

I updated my house for under 1k with these ideas. Both my neighbors spent 100k on remodels. I did all the work myself and it looks like a new house. I was afraid to paint my kitchen cabinets and they look like a professional did them. I still have a few more walls to paint, but I'm almost done.

My kitchen looked like the first picture you showed, brown cupboards, butcher block Formica counters, linoleum floor, old appliances in my 1953 very small kitchen. We went on vacation and came back to new granite countertops. Our neighbors was in this business and surprised us with new countertops. Such a gift! That started our kitchen makeover. Painted walls, cupboards , and had doors cut out and installed glass in the top cupboards,( made the small kitchen feel bigger) new hardware, pulled up linoleum and found wood floors so we sanded, stained, and polyurethane. As appliances wore out we updated them to all match. Love my kitchen now!

We've used paint, baseboards, and new doors in our own homes to really update things. It's amazing how replacing these things can make such a big difference. Great ideas for any budget.

I love the cabinet wall behind you! Paint has its place, but people are often too quick to slap on a coat of paint. Before painting, consider if the item or trim is an antique, in which case you'll ruin its value irreparably by painting it. Some surfaces, like brick, mean you'll now have to repaint them forever after once they've been painted. Painting tile, countertops, tile floors is a specialized and short-term solution, and requires careful maintenance. Know what you're getting into before grabbing a paint brush.

This video is sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. To one person it's "dated",and to another, its "vintage".It's all subjective. I suppose it's good advice if you want your house to look like every other house from the 90s to present day. Remember these interior experts were advising people in the 70s to update their 1940s houses with green shag carpeting and green appliances to give it that "modern" look.

That tile example was EXACTLY my old place!! We kept it for the character and just worked w the colors. They wore amazingly! Back when craftsmanship was a given.

Great suggestions, but oh my goodness pink tile bathrooms are so awesomely vintage. I love mine!! And it’s perfect in my mid century gem of a home. I would never paint over it!!!

My wife and I painted our kitchen cabinets from oak brown to white. We sanded everything down and bought the best cabinet paint and primed it before paining. It has now been 5 years since and we still love it. Looks awesome.

Our fireplace was orange. Orange! 😝 It’s white now, my husband put a beautiful wooden mantle on it, and I stained it a dark walnut. Gorgeous! We’ve done every room, sink, and door in our home. Thankfully, we have beautiful hardwood floors.

Great suggestions. I would add that many owners of older homes don’t realize their door and window hardware is solid brass and can be polished to look new.

As someone who's not into big renovations, this video was a goldmine. The DIY suggestions were easy to follow, and now my home looks way more modern without the stress of a full remodel

For me, it is as much about starting a project as it is about finishing it. What I do now is .. i don't allow myself to start something new until my current project is done. It can be something as simple as cleaning up my closet. This video.does have a lot of good tips, thanks!

Most of the tips are really good, but I miss the look of light colored wood. Too much white seems cold and colorless to me. Not too crazy about the open floor concept either, which leads to more noise, less privacy, and higher heating bills. I've seen attractive homes ruined by developers buying up homes, tearing down walls, and over whitening wooden surfaces. Hope these trends change.

I must have a very bad taste, but I LOOOOOVE lots of natural wood and colored vanities 😄

Appreciate the tips to update a homes look, and for a fraction of the costs to hire contractors and/or remodel.

If the Bathroom Fairy gave you vintage 1920s through 1950s colored tile - go with it! It's so vintage it's back in style. With baseboards, you can add trim above it to get a taller look. Then paint the whole thing the same color. It's faster and cheaper than removing and replacing.

I painted a really bad counter. Lasted five years, at which time we were ready to do more. Stripped and painted the cupboards. Added a section for cookie sheets and cutting boards between the end and the stove. The stove could not be moved closer if you wished to open the dishwasher. So replaced the counter at that time. Built a matching coffee and recycling center on the other side of stove. Thankfully stove had outlets both sides. Tiles can be painted, but you must know what you are doing. Did it in a half bathroom. Will not work in a shower. First paint with glass primer. Dry. Sand when dry. About 24 hours between paintings. Repeat 3 days in a row. Then paint the tile. I used craft paint, creating a copper look, with the green just starting. Matched the copper taps. Seal with 3 layers of varithan. A lot of work, but it will last and can be scrubbed.

I cried when that pink tile was painted.

The pink bathroom was beautiful. Painting over it was a BIG mistake. Someone who loves mid-century modern would love that.