• There are a number of budget-friendly home upgrades you can make for an instant refresh.
• Replacing kitchen faucets, cabinet hardware, electrical switches, and lighting all go a long way.
• Painting, installing shelving, and installing peel-and-stick tile are also budget-friendly.

It’s easy to get stuck on the idea that all home reno projects will be too expensive and time-consuming to tackle quickly. However, there are a wide variety of upgrades you can do that take almost no time to complete and cost less than $100.

We asked a home reno expert for their favorite home DIY projects you can do for under $100.

Replacing the Kitchen Faucet

Old, leaky faucets don’t just look bad in an otherwise attractive kitchen, they also increase the amount you are spending on your water bills, as well as contributing to needless water waste.

“I don’t think people understand how easy it is to replace a sink faucet (or any faucet for that matter) with a new one,” says Ryan Meagher, Business Development Manager and Lead Estimator with BVM Contracting.

“All you need is a good pair of channel locks or a wrench and you can get your out of date faucet replaced with a new one. As long as your sink supply (hot and cold) has shut-offs this is a very simple project to complete and there are plenty of options online to stay under $100.”

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Installing Shelving

Whether it’s for additional storage space or to add eye-catching decor to the walls, you can put up floating shelves in the living room, bedroom, or even the kitchen for a relatively low cost.

Depending on the existing interior aesthetic and your own decor ideals, you can install natural wood shelving, metal shelving, or you can paint the shelves to any color you want to get the desired look without adding too much time or extra effort to this project.

Lighting Upgrades

Aged lighting systems are inefficient, leading to costly energy bills, and requiring frequent replacement.

LED light bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, but they last much longer, making the slightly higher price well worth the investment.

If you have the skills for it, you can even replace existing lighting fixtures with updated LED fixtures for a relatively low cost, especially if you opt for puck lights, strip lights, and other inexpensive lighting options for the home.

Updating Kitchen Hardware

Updating your kitchen hardware can be a quick, effective way to improve the appearance and functionality of the kitchen, especially if the knobs and pulls on your drawers and cabinets are dated, worn, or bland.

“You can easily get this job done for under $100 and the hardware is available at any big box store or online,” Meagher says. “Just make sure you are getting the correct-sized hardware to allow for the same holes to be used so you aren’t having to patch existing holes!”

Install a Peel-and-Stick Backsplash

Installing a backsplash in the kitchen or bathroom using peel-and-stick tiles is a great weekend afternoon project. These tiles are incredibly easy to use and affordable, allowing you to transform the appearance of the room without needing an extensive budget.

Peel-and-stick tiles are also a good option for renters, since they are relatively easy to remove and don’t generally cause any damage to the underlying surfaces.

Painting

You can paint an entire room, paint the kitchen cabinets, paint the doors, or even just touch up the trim to immediately improve the appearance of the home.

“Painting is a very easy DIY project to complete for under $100,” Meagher says. “All you need is a gallon of paint and some brushes/rollers and you can transform your space.”

Replace Electrical Switches and Receptacles

While the cost to replace electrical switches and receptacles is typically under $100, this project does require a basic understanding of home electrical systems, so it’s not the best option for beginners.

However, if you have the skills and experience necessary, then replacing outdated electrical switches and receptacles is an effective way to update the home electrical system for a low price.

“It is very easy to get this done as long as you have a current tester, know where your electrical panel is located, and have access to a couple of screw drivers,” Meagher says.

“Though, it is absolutely recommended to shut off the breaker for the switches and receptacles that you are planning on replacing, and testing them with your current tester before starting the work so you don’t get shocked.”