40 easy DIY tips to make an old home look new

If you bought an older home because of limited financing or you bought your home years ago and it’s starting to see a little wear and tear, it may be time for some upgrades. Whether your cabinets need a bit of paint, your ceilings need an upgrade, or your flooring needs some pizazz, making a few simple improvements can bring the spark back to your home.

And the upgrade process doesn’t need to cost a fortune either. In fact, there are some easy do-it-yourself projects you can do that will be less expensive than hiring a contractor to do them for you. Plus, they can be fun to do by yourself or even as a family project.

The following are some and fun easy DIY tips that will help you can make your home look new again.

1) Upgrade the doorknobs

Whether you upgrade your doorknobs to a vintage or contemporary style, the results will be impressive. If you choose to use reproduction knobs, check local salvage yards to help reduce cost. Otherwise, you can check sites like Etsy for some creative know designs.

2) Paint the cabinets

If your cabinets are looking a bit bleak and maybe even the paint is chipping off, just apply a new coat of paint. All you need is a can of paint of two, depending on how many cabinets you want to paint, and some paint brushes.

3) Try a container garden

Landscaping a yard can get extremely expensive and timely. So try this instead: strategically place a few containers here and there in your yard. Your new container garden will help brighten up the yard.

4) Add tile to countertops

Whether your tile grout has gotten old and unsightly or you’re just sick of dated tile, tile over it. Here’s a DIY project that doesn’t require a saw. The results will definitely surprise you.

5) Paint the tile backsplash

If the basic white tile backsplash in your kitchen just isn’t cutting it anymore, paint it. Create your own geometric pattern, and have fun with it. You’ll need paint brushes and some paint.

6) Paint old kitchen and bath hardware

Give tired-looking kitchen and bath hardware a new look with some new paint. All you’ll need to do is sand, prime, and paint them. Check out this how-to article on how to spray-paint hardware.

The Weathered Door
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The Weathered Door

7) Install shelving

Adding a few “airy” shelving units here and there can spruce up a room. Plus, you’ll have extra space to display collectibles and knickknacks.

8) Give your pantry a makeover

Aging pantries can look a bit grim, from sagging cubbies to flaky paint. But you can make your old pantry look new again with a few DIY improvements. Add new shelving, if needed, and apply a new coat of paint. You can even include a few add-ons, including wicker baskets on sliders for easy storage and access and a door-mounted hanging tree for extra storage.

9) Use room zones

Older houses sometimes were built with unusual room designs, including narrow, long areas. You can refresh this space by breaking them up into zones. For instance, a rectangular area can be turned into several square zones. This helps increase the functionality of the space while giving rooms a newer vibe. In one zone, you can place an area rung along with open-sided furniture, and so on.

10) Install new light fixtures

Instead of replacing old light fixtures, you may be able to apply a new coat of paint to make them look like new. You may even be able to paint the fixtures without taking them down. See how to do so here.

2 Bees in a Pod
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2 Bees in a Pod

11) Paint tile flooring

For older tile floors that need updating, try painting them. You can get really creative with this DIY project, including choosing fun colors and patterns. Read this tutorial for how to paint a tile floor.

12) Give stone patio tiles some colors

You can make even the oldest, outdated concrete patio look new with this tip. Paint some of the tiles with pops of color to bring the entire patio space alive. Or try a creative painted design to make the area look chic. Here’s how.

A Beautiful Mess
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A Beautiful Mess

13) Paint the fireplace

Painting your brick fireplace helps bring the focal point of your room back to its heyday. A fresh coat of paint can make any living space come alive. Here are some simple instructions on how to paint your brick fireplace.

14) Add contemporary furniture

Spice up your home by adding some modern furnishings. By giving your space a contemporary look, its helps give a traditional home a new vibe. Use soft colors, rich textures, and clean lines as you decorate.

15) Mix modern and traditional furnishings

In a bit of a different twist from our last tip, you can mix modern with traditional furnishings. This allows you to keep the vintage feeling of your home while giving it an air of modernism. For instance, you can place a plush sofa and glass coffee table in your living room, along with a high-backed chair. Check out some ideas here.

16) Accent stained glass

If you’ve got stained glass in your home, there’s a quick and easy way to make it stand out, and at the same time give your home a refreshed look. Paint the walls white. This helps show off the stained glass, even letting them act as artwork in your home.

17) Get rid of wallpaper

Many older homes have wallpaper. And wallpaper can succumb to wear and tear over time. Plus older-style wallpaper can really date a house. You can rent a wallpaper remover/steamer and remove the wallpaper yourself. Then paint your walls the color of your choice to make your house look like new.

18) Highlight your front door

You can highlight your front door by painting it a bold color, such as red or blue — whatever matches your color scheme. This helps bring a more modern feeling to the front of your house. For internal doors, paint them a neutral shade or cool grey, which helps compliment other home features.

19) Cover popcorn ceilings with wood planks

While this DIY project is more complex, it’s totally doable with some pre-planning. And the results are stunning. The supplies you’ll need include the wood planks, mitre saw, liquid nails, nail gun and nails, measuring tape, pencil, and ladder. Here’s how to do it.

The Elliott Homestead
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The Elliott Homestead

20) Paint wood paneling

Older houses can have a good amount of wood paneling. So if you want to change up some of the wood panels or even cover all of it, consider painting it. By painting the wood panels a lighter color, it’ll lighten up the room while giving it a new look.

21) Update the carpet

Sometimes all you need to do to make an old home look like new is replace the carpet … or even just clean them. If you have wood floors, strategically place some area rugs around the room for a newer look.

22) Add in-window shades to show off vintage trim

If your home has vintage trim that’s in good shape, show it off! Get rid of any curtains covering it up and install in-window shades. This will give any space a new look while accenting the trim.

23) Cover older windows with drapes

In contrast to our last tip, you may instead want to add drapes to cover up older worn windows. This can help add to the look of the room, helping to give it a soft, polished look. Here are some great ideas.

24) Update old outlets

Replacing old outlets can help make an old home look new again. Remember to replace old, cracked, and yellowed light plates and switches, as well as outlet covers. This upgrade shouldn’t cost that much either.

25) Use chalk paint on a cinder block wall

If you’ve got one of those old-style cinder block patio walls that isn’t very pleasing to the eye, there’s one adorable solution you can try. Apply some cute stencils to the wall using chalk spray paint.

26) Add more lighting

Sometimes all you need to do to make a space look new is to brighten it up with more lighting. So consider adding a few new table lamps, floor lamps, or even overhead lighting to a few areas, including the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms

27) Get rid of old furniture

This may seem obvious, but replacing old furniture with new items will help reinvigorate your home. If new furniture isn’t in the budget, you can usually find high-quality used furniture.

28) Paint or stain furniture

If you can’t buy new or used furniture, update it by painting or staining wood furniture. You could also get a couch or chair cover to make those items look like new.

29) Get new curtains

If your drapes are old and raggedy, it’s definitely time to replace them with new curtains or blinds. Old curtains can definitely date a home, so choose something cheery and vibrant to bring newness back into the space.

30) Paint the trim

Boost the architectural style of your old house by painting the trim inside. Choosing a contrasting color can dramatically give your home a refreshed look. Here are some tips on effectively painting interior trim.

31) Paint the interior one color

Instead of painting the trim a contrasting color, as our last tip suggested, painting the walls, ceiling, and trim all one color may be better suited for your old home, especially if you need to hide any flaws.

32) Get new homewares

It may be time to replace old homewares with new ones. If you’ve got light walls, use colorful wares to accent any space, such as a red vase, floral couch cushions, or any other colorful knickknacks, depending on your color scheme, of course.

33) Refinish hardwood floors

Old, stained hardwood floors can be an eyesore. So, consider staining them to give them a new look. It’s also a lot more budget-friendly to refinish hardwood flooring versus replacing it.

34) Get some new artwork

Add some new artwork to your walls. You can find some great reproduction pieces online, as well as high-quality frames. Then place the new art in your living room and guest rooms. This also helps create talking pieces for when guests come over.

35) Add front yard path lighting

To give your front yard a new look, add some path lighting. Consider using solar-powered lights to avoid having to hardwire them. There are inexpensive solar lights at stores like Walmart and Target.

36) Update bathroom towels and shower curtain

You can make any bathroom look like new by just replacing the towels, floor mats, and shower curtain. This can help brighten up the space without expending a lot of money.

Standard Textile
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Standard Textile

37) Paint the exterior

It might be time to repaint the exterior of your house, including the shutters and trim. While this DIY tip will be a bit more expensive, it will greatly improve the look of an old home.

38) Repair the walls

Making a few wall repairs may be all you need to refresh your house and give it that new feeling. So go ahead and repair and paint all wall blemishes, including any unused nail holes.

39) Rearrange the furniture

Yep! This may be all you need to do to give your home a simple makeover. Move the furniture around to give each space a new feel.

Floor Coverings International
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Floor Coverings International

40) Deep clean

Maybe all your home needs to reinvigorate the space is a deep clean. A good, old-fashioned spring cleaning not only helps give any home much-needed positive energy, it can help your mental state as well.

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Remember that when you’re ready to make your old home look new again, it’s very important to plan ahead. This will help save both time and money. Plus, by planning ahead, you’ll have one cohesive design that will tie your entire home together.