How to make your house look new for under $500

When your house starts feeling tired or outdated, you don’t have to gut it or drain your savings to make it feel fresh again. With $500 or less, you can make big visual improvements that instantly make your home look newer and more put together.

The key is focusing on changes that make a strong first impression — cleaner lines, updated finishes, and fresh surfaces. A few smart upgrades in the right places can make your home feel like it got a facelift, without a contractor or a massive budget.

Paint the Front Door

Your front door sets the tone for the entire house. A fresh coat of paint in a rich, welcoming color can instantly make your home look newer. Black, navy, or a deep green tend to look high-end and hide dirt better than lighter shades.

Spend the extra few dollars on good-quality exterior paint — it’ll last longer and resist fading. Add a new doormat and clean the hardware while you’re at it, and you’ll notice the difference the second you walk up.

Upgrade Lighting Fixtures

Old light fixtures can make even a clean house feel dated. Swapping out builder-grade lights for something modern or timeless instantly changes the look of a room. Amazon, Lowe’s, and Home Depot all have stylish options under $100.

Stick with warm, soft white bulbs to make everything feel cleaner and more inviting. Replacing just a few key fixtures — like the entryway, kitchen, or bathroom vanity — can make your house look years newer.

Add New Cabinet Hardware

You don’t have to replace cabinets to give them an update. Changing the handles and knobs can completely change the look. Matte black and brushed brass are the easiest finishes to modernize with.

Hardware sets are affordable and often come in bulk for under $50. Make sure you measure the existing hole spacing before ordering so installation’s quick and easy. It’s one of those little details that instantly upgrades the space.

Pressure Wash the Exterior

Years of dirt, pollen, and mildew can make your siding and driveway look older than they are. Renting or borrowing a pressure washer for a day can make your home look brand new again.

Focus on your siding, walkway, and patio areas. Even cleaning the mailbox or porch ceiling makes a difference. It’s a low-cost way to give your home’s exterior a huge refresh.

Replace Old Switch Plates and Outlets

Yellowed or cracked outlet covers and switch plates can age a room fast. Replacing them all with clean white or matte black covers instantly modernizes your space for less than $50 total.

It’s an overlooked detail, but in rooms with fresh paint or updated lighting, old plates stand out in a bad way. This fix takes minimal effort and makes your home feel more finished.

Refresh Trim and Baseboards

Scuffed trim and dingy baseboards make walls look older than they are. A quick coat of semi-gloss white paint can brighten the whole room. Focus on high-traffic areas where marks and dust build up fast.

You’ll be surprised how crisp the walls look after the trim’s redone — it frames everything and makes even older paint colors pop again.

Replace Old Faucets

An outdated faucet can make the whole bathroom or kitchen feel tired. You can find sleek, high-quality faucets online for under $100, and most are easy to install with basic tools.

Choose a finish that matches your cabinet hardware to make the room feel cohesive. A new faucet adds instant polish and makes your sink area look brand new.

Update Window Treatments

Old blinds or faded curtains can drag down an entire room. Swapping them for white faux-wood blinds or linen-look curtains instantly brightens the space and makes it feel more modern.

You don’t need custom drapes — even affordable panels hung higher and wider than the window make ceilings look taller and rooms look bigger. It’s one of the most affordable ways to get that “model home” look.

Add New Rugs

Old rugs can make a room look dull and worn. Replacing them with a clean, neutral area rug helps ground the space and ties everything together. Look for budget-friendly options at stores like Wayfair, Target, or HomeGoods.

Even switching to smaller accent rugs at entryways or under sinks can make rooms look cleaner and newer. Rugs are also great for covering up floors that you can’t replace yet.

Swap Out Old Decor

You don’t have to buy all-new furniture to refresh your home. Focus on swapping tired throw pillows, wall art, or blankets for pieces that feel more current. Mixing textures and adding neutral tones instantly elevates the look.

Stick to one or two new decor accents per room to stretch your $500. When everything feels coordinated and intentional, the whole space feels new again — without a remodel or major spend.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.