How to Cheaply Update an Old House: 11 Good Ideas

1. Repaint the Walls

The easiest and cheapest way to update an interior is to repaint the walls. The owner of this house decided to try giving the interior Scandinavian style elements, so white was chosen as the main color for the walls.

2. Combine Compatible Elements

If the budget for upcoming renovations does not allow spending on expensive finishing materials and designer interior items, try using clean colors and proven combinations. In the kitchen of this house, in addition to white, a rich gray color was used, as well as wallpaper with a white-gray pattern. A simple and safe alliance.

3. Don't Forget Bright Accents

The creator of this interior added vivid color accents—red and blue. This technique is typical for Scandinavian style, but also works well in other interiors. The key is not to overdo it and choose harmoniously matching colors.

4. Keep the Old Furniture

Who said that old furniture can't fit into a modern interior? On the contrary, it's becoming more common for vintage items like grandma's dresser or grandpa's desk to find a place in a freshly renovated room. For example, in this cozy home’s bedroom, a vintage vanity harmonizes beautifully with a modern bed and new lighting fixtures.

5. Restore the Parquet and Stairs

In old houses, wooden parquet and stairs can last for decades after restoration. If the wood is in satisfactory condition, it's much cheaper and easier to refresh it than to install new stairs and lay new parquet.

6. Set Up a Comfortable Kitchen

It’s better not to cut corners on the kitchen! This is exactly one of those cases where, in the long run, it’s more profitable to buy a quality cabinet and pay close attention to setting up functional zones.

7. Don’t Get Rid of the Fireplace

Notice how cozy the relaxation area looks in this small house. The fireplace plays a significant role in creating a comfortable atmosphere. If you are renovating an old building with a fireplace, try to preserve and update it. Usually, this does not require excessive spending, but family evenings by the fire are priceless.

8. Give Vintage Rugs a Chance

Contrary to popular belief, there's no need to get rid of an old rug. If it is well preserved and its pattern and color palette don’t repel you, have the rug professionally cleaned to remove dirt and dust, and find a suitable spot for it.

9. Have Living Plants

Indoor plants are one of the cheapest and most effective ways to refresh the atmosphere, make it cozier, and also improve the indoor air quality. By the way, for those who constantly forget to water their flowers, there is a wide variety of low-maintenance plants.

10. A Bit of Irony Doesn’t Hurt

Don’t take interior decoration too seriously: after all, this is a living space, not a glossy magazine cover. Want to use children's toys in decor or buy a chessboard pattern rug? Do it and allow yourself some irony.

11. Make the Balcony a Relaxation Zone

Don’t treat the balcony as a storage space, because it can become a real relaxation zone. The owner of this little house placed a chair, candle lantern, and potted plant on their small balcony and thus created an incredibly cozy spot for morning coffee or evening gatherings.