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CHEAP AND EASY BANG FOR YOUR BUCK UPDATES
If you are like me you love your house but you don’t necessarily love everything about it.  My house was built in the mid 1990’s and so it is getting that “dated” sort of feel to it.  This is one problem that I have with things that are not “classic” in design, it is the rave of right now, but give it a decade or so and people will be saying “oh, your house was built in this decade wasn’t it?”  And then you will be working through your house to catch up with whatever the new finish or decor idea is.  Two items that particularly come to mind that are extremely popular in today’s new homes or updates are stainless steel appliances and the rubbed bronze finish.  I personally would NOT change out appliances or hardware to these finishes as I think this is going to be a fad and will fade when something newer and hipper come along. I would stick with classic black appliances and nickel/silver color finish.  Both are classy will stand the test of time.  Even if you are not preparing your home to put on the market, you may be itching to just do some updating.  By updating I am not talking the typical $25,000 kitchen remodel, I mean simple things that you can do yourself on a weekend that doesn’t cost a lot and gives you a new feel to a room.

1. Paint: Start by patching any drywall that needs to be repaired.  This can be easily done and supplies can be bought at your local hardware store.  Give a room a fresh coat of paint.  Don’t be afraid to pick a dark or a little bit of a wild color.  If you are hesitant, paint an accent wall.  If even that has you nervous pick a traditional color and paint a random piece of furniture or follow one of the below ideas to compliment it.
2. Light fixtures:  If your house is like mine, it has, those lovely brass light fixtures that have the 90’s written all over them!  Head out to hardware store or even your local walmart and check out the lighting options.  For around $100-$150 you can purchase a beautiful new chandelier for your dining room.  I replaced all of my hall ceiling lights for approximately $50.  I did all the work myself and I am by no means an electrician, but found it to be so easy and did all of them in a few hours (just remember to shut the power!).  Buy some new pendant lights for your kitchen island, a new bathroom fixture, or a new ceiling fan for the bedrooms.  Be sure to look at places like Home Depot as they frequently have things on sale or closeout and you can get them even cheaper. 
3. Blinds: Again if you have the typical metal or plastic mini-blinds that collect dust or are all bent up from your kids and/or pets you are not alone!  Replace them!  You do not have to go to a specialty store and replace them all at once, go to home depot or Walmart and do a room at a time.  Home Depot recently had bamboo shades on clearance for $9.00 a piece.  Don’t feel like you have to replace them with the boring mini-blinds, if you are crafty make a roman shade or buy a standard roll up shade and add some frill to it with ribbon or fabric.  It gives it a custom look and not a custom price.  Don’t forget to check places like Craigslist or the Habitat for Humanity Re-store for deals.  You may have to look a little bit but it may be worth it in the money you save.
4. Curtains:  Buy some updated curtains, that can give a room a whole new look!  Don’t think you have you have to have them custom made, go to Walmart or Target and they have some really great looking curtains for cheap.  Take two and make your own design or stitch them together to again create that custom look.  Don’t be afraid to remove some of your blinds and just put up some curtains.  Blinds are used to shield people for seeing in your house or to keep that sun out when you are trying to sleep.  It isn’t completely necessary to have blinds in your kitchen that backs up your backyard.  Let in that sunlight and enhance that view!  If you are still not feeling the funky curtains try some new throw pillows, a new comforter for the beds, a funky lamp, or even some bright and bold throw blankets.  Adding a little color pop that isn’t permanent is a great way to ease into color.
5. Kitchen and bath: You hear the typical updates of adding updated cabinets, granite  countertops or flooring, but quite frankly maybe you aren’t looking to go all out at this point or just simply can’t afford to but you still want to give it a little oomph.  How about new cabinet hardware, switch plates or simple towel bars? Not only cheap, but easy!  You can look at your local hardware store or try ebay.  Add a backsplash in your kitchen, this is simple to do and many directions/ideas can be found online or at the store.  There are some really cool backsplash tiles nowadays that really will give your kitchen that pop you are looking for.  Replacing the faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen with an updated nickel or brushed nickel is moving your house into this decade and adding a classic style that will not go out.  Try replacing the bathroom mirror with a framed mirror or add a frame to an existing mirror. You probably also have the classic 90’s brass door knobs, add some new nickel colored ones. Those few things with maybe a fresh coat of paint you are set!
6. Moulding: If you or your husband are handy with power tools you can add some crown moulding, wainscoting, or chair rail moulding to a room and it can give that plain, blah room a custom and/or formal look you might be after. 
7. Exterior: Cleaning up outside can give you that fresh look you are looking for.  Power wash the house, replace rotted wood trim, sweep up leaves, and pull weeds all can be done by you and can make your house look fantastic.  Give trim a fresh coat of paint, paint your front door a different color to make it pop.  Add some hanging baskets or window baskets or plant a tree.  Fresh mulch and a good lawn mowing will help keep that neat, updated look.  If you have a deck or fence, replace any broken boards and give it a fresh coat of stain.  If you have a patio, spray round-up on any weeds growing and give it a good cleaning.  Add some flower pots and you have created an oasis.  For outdoor patio furniture add new, updated cushions or even a throw pillow to give it an all new cheap look.  Heck, sometimes just rearranging the furniture makes it look fresh and new!

So I hope I have given you some good, inexpensive, easy ideas to bring your home to 2011.  Keep in mind do these things little by little or room by room.  Pick things you like and are comfortable with that are within your budget.  Pick classic finishes when replacing so that when you do go to sell you do not have replace again with what is new and hip at that time.  When looking for things for your house, don’t just rely on your local hardware store.  Check out places like Craigslist, ebay, the Re-Store, yard  sales, craft stores and typical discount big box stores.  Many of those places have upscale looking decor for a fraction of the cost. 

Happy Updating!