https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 11 Aug 2026 03:19:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-590706 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:55:23 +0000 ModernDayJibarita 590706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>PAINT! We closed on our house 2 weeks ago and have finished painting 90% of the house. It now looks like a completely different space. Next on our list is spray painting all the brass doorknob and hinges, changing out cabinet hardware and putting in new light fixtures. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587611 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:59:52 +0000 sunny 587611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for painting the trim! Our house had the trim painted white and it looks so much better than the same house with the original medium brown trim.</p> <p>I'd also look at replacing the doorknobs, doors (6 panel looks so much better than flat), light fixtures. </p> <p>If you have the time/money I'd remove the popcorn ceiling if you have that. If its old, it probably has yellowed over time and a new coat of white paint on a flat ceiling looks so much better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587569 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:49:08 +0000 Bao 587569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: The cabinets we have are already white...but OLD...I wonder if another color would look good, or maybe new hardware. I LOVE that tutorial though, it is very detailed and the cabinets looked brand new! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587541 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:44:11 +0000 mrs. bird 587541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i agree, paint on the walls and fresh paint on the trim really make a huge difference. also hardware can really update things, but when you have a ton on knobs/handles/light fixtures etc to do, they add up, so if you just want to repaint them all with a metal spray paint, you can make them look much better and will have spent less then $10 on it =) painting cabinets makes a HUGE difference, i pinned a great tutorial for doing a 'pro' job, it's a lot of work, but if you have the time, totally worth it! my mom repainted her's (not with this method), and it made the kitchen so much brighter!<br /> <a href="http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2012/08/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2012/08/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587434 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:23:00 +0000 blackbird 587434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All the light fixtures! there was a lot of bright yellow brass in our house. once we updated to more modern light fixtures, everything took on a more neutral/modern look. The brass definitely dated the place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587266 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:23:29 +0000 Bao 587266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: The hardwoods are actually the only thing that do not need work :) We planned on painting too, actually...every single wall needs painting. I bet the ceiling does too...but I didn't look as closely to those! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587261 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:22:12 +0000 MsInformation 587261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @lazylightning on refinishing the floors before you move in, if possible. And paint definitely makes a huge difference in a room. Those are pretty much the only big improvements we made to our house when we moved in 1.5 years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587224 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:13:41 +0000 LazyLightning 587224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>PAINT absolutely. Makes a huge difference and it's cheap to do. Don't forget the ceilings. They get dirty/yellowed. Fresh ceiling white is a big room-lightener. </p> <p>If you have hardwood floor in poor/questionable shape, and have the money for it, have them refinished BEFORE you move in. Also makes a huge difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587146 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:50:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 587146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Knobs, lighting, flooring, window treatments, and kitschy molding, appliques </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587120 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:42:48 +0000 mrskc 587120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: We paid a painter to paint them... I didn't want to deal with it. We painted the kitchen cabinets white and the bathroom cabinets a dark brown. I think it was around $800 to have them painted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587111 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:40:23 +0000 loveisstrange 587111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We own a 1940s bungalow back home and we're going to be launching into renovating it this summer. We're starting small, tearing out nappy carpets, painting, removing dated light fixtures, demoing the unfunctional built-ins. I think a good place to start is repainting everything to make it look clean and fresh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587083 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:33:50 +0000 PurplePumps 587083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We painted, then changed lighting fixtures. Next up is painting the bathroom cabinets and changing the tops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587070 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:30:14 +0000 mediagirl 587070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Paint is probably the cheapest thing. In my first house, we painted every single wall!! Start with the rooms that mean the most to you. Is it your bedroom? Is it the kitchen or living area? Paint those first, wherever you feel you spend the most time. Leave the areas people hardly ever see (guest room)? until last. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587038 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:22:45 +0000 Pirouette 587038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i agree with paint and changing out hardware (in the kitchen and the bathrooms). we changed the knobs recently on all our built ins and closets and stuff, it made a HUGE difference (for almost no $). also changing the lights is great - finding light fixtures that enhance the room, make it brighter, etc. and maybe window treatments that allow for the most natural light and a nice flow to the house? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587012 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:14:46 +0000 Bao 587012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: Was it easy to paint the cabinets? What color did you paint them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-587000 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:11:35 +0000 mrskc 587000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Paint and changing out hardware can make a huge difference. We also painted kitchen and bathroom cabinets until we can afford a renovation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586997 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:10:41 +0000 avivoca 586997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Paint, definitely, and we changed out the doorknobs and had the carpets cleaned while we save for hardwood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586966 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:03:43 +0000 Chillybear 586966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Changing the ceiling light fixtures, adding high hats, window coverings.</p> <p>flooring can be expensive but adding area rugs to not so great hardwood floors hides alot </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586958 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:01:24 +0000 Mrs. Pen 586958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Paint!!! I agree with PP about trim - white trim is definitely very chic.</p> <p>And probably flooring - new carpet - mostly because I hate the idea of living in other peoples filth and carpet houses so much crap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586954 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:00:46 +0000 Smurfette 586954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far all we have done is some painting, nursery and the living room. Next big thing is replacing the front door and lock. I think the orginial lock is past it's time, 60 years, had a good run. Then touch up painting everywhere else. I think once we get the marks on the walls covered I will feel better till we figure out exactly what colors we want in each room. The first big upgrade will be granite counter tops and replacing knobs in the kitchen. All the doorknobs in the house need replacing, but we are going to do one at a time till all the ugly gold is gone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586948 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:59:28 +0000 Alivoo01 586948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We repainted the house, changed the carpet, replaced kitchen appliances (stove, fridge, microwave, and dishwasher) and removed the popcorn ceiling. New carpet and new kitchen appliances was a huge difference maker! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586937 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:56:38 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 586937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Swapping switch plates and outlet covers from beige to white made a huge difference in our home. Painting the trim did as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586930 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:54:19 +0000 Bookish 586930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with small things. We painted the rooms the colors we wanted, then started with small upgrades. For example, we replaced the cabinet knobs in the kitchen, and dang, it makes my kitchen look good. This month our goal is to update the front of our house, so we will be painting the front door, getting a new light fixture for the entry, spray-painting the existing fixtures on the garage, replacing the door knob with a fancy black one, and giving the trim a fresh coat of paint! Total cost? About 300$. We have lots of big things we want to do (new floors, new counters) but these little things really perk up our house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-updates-that-make-the-biggest-difference#post-586862 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:43:46 +0000 Bao 586862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are buying an older home, and it really needs some updates/TLC. We plan on painting first thing, and fixing the issues but as far as updating, we have no idea where to begin! We want to do things slowly, and not do any major renovations right away but we are having a hard time figuring out where to start. </p> <p>What updates (that are reasonably priced) did you start with when you bought a house?</p> <p>ETA: this house needs just about everything so all ideas are helpful ;) </p>