15 Simple Ways to Upgrade Your Home in the New Year for $50 or Less
After the holidays wrap up and the last of the festive decor is packed away, it’s easy for your home to feel a little dull and empty. Add in the gray, chilly weather, and it’s no wonder many of us get hit with the post-holiday blues. The good news?
You don’t need a full home makeover to breathe new life into your space. With just a few simple changes, you can brighten things up and make your home feel cozy and fresh again. I’ve put together 15 easy, budget-friendly upgrades that can make a big impact — and you can tackle them all for $50 or less!
1. Upgrade window treatments
Window treatments are kinda like the final touch your room didn’t know it needed. Easy to ignore, but once you upgrade them, the whole space just hits different. One of the fastest home decor upgrades? Ditch those plain blinds and hang blackout curtains or custom curtains instead. They look luxe and help with light control and privacy too.
In the kitchen, café curtains are a small change that adds a ton of charm. And if you already have curtains, just throwing on some curtain tiebacks can give that soft, draped, designer feel without spending much.
Feeling a little DIY-ish? Try mounting your curtain rods a few inches higher than the window frame. Interior designers swear by this trick. It makes ceilings look taller and the room feel bigger, which is always a win in interior design. Just make sure your curtains are long enough to kiss the floor. That detail alone can make your space look way more polished.
2. Paint walls or furniture
Never sleep on what a fresh coat of paint can do. Seriously, it can flip the whole vibe of a room without draining your wallet. Whether you’re going bold with an accent wall, trying out trendy interior paint colors, or just covering up scuffed walls with the same shade, paint is one of the cheapest ways to get a big home makeover fast.
If painting an entire room feels like too much work (we’ve all been there), start small. Paint a dresser, a side table, or even a chair. A simple furniture paint makeover can give you that “new room” feeling with way less effort and cost.
Paint is one of those DIY home improvement tricks that gives instant results. It refreshes your space, boosts the look of your home decor, and makes everything feel new again without a full renovation. Sometimes, all you need is a brush, a weekend, and a little courage.
3. Refresh your throw pillows
If your couch gets used as much as mine, your throw pillows are probably looking a little tired and lumpy. It happens. An easy fix? Swap those sad pillows for fresh, plush decorative pillows and your couch or bed instantly feels brand new. No big spending, no major effort.
Throw pillows are also perfect for playing with colors, textures, and patterns. You can go bold, keep it neutral, or mix both for that designer look people love in modern home decor. It’s one of the cheapest ways to refresh a space without committing to anything permanent.
Pro tip: buy throw pillow covers instead of whole pillows. They’re affordable, easy to store, and make switching up your seasonal home decor stupid simple. One couch, endless looks. Honestly, it’s one of the smartest little interior design upgrades you can do for the new year.
4. Declutter
A new year just feels like the right time for a full home decluttering reset. Going into 2026 without piles of random stuff stressing you out? That’s freedom. Think of this as your annual home organization moment, not a punishment.
If the idea of decluttering your whole house feels overwhelming, don’t do it all at once. Start tiny. Clean out one junk drawer, one messy fridge shelf, or that cabinet everyone avoids. Small wins build momentum. Before you know it, you’ll be moving room by room and making real progress.
Cutting down clutter makes your space feel calmer, lighter, and way more intentional. It’s basically free home improvement with huge mental health benefits. Once you’re left with only what you actually use and love, your home just works better. Less mess, less stress, better vibes all year long.
5. Bring in some plants
No matter what vibe your place has, adding a little greenery is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your home decor fast. Indoor plants instantly make a room feel more alive, more styled, and way more inviting. Plus, they bring that natural, calm energy that makes a space feel peaceful instead of chaotic.
If you’re new to plant life (or have accidentally killed a few), start with low maintenance houseplants like a snake plant or pothos. They’re basically impossible to mess up and still look great. And honestly, there’s zero shame in going with fake plants. Good faux greenery still gives you that fresh look without any watering stress.
Plants are one of those small interior design upgrades that make a big visual difference. Real or fake, they add color, texture, and that cozy, pulled-together feel every home needs. Simple move. Big payoff.
6. Upgrade hardware on cabinets or furniture
One of my go-to tricks for upgrading a room without spending much? Swapping out cabinet hardware and drawer pulls. It sounds small, but wow, it makes a huge difference. New hardware can totally change the mood of cabinets, dressers, even nightstands, and suddenly the whole space feels updated.
You can keep it clean with modern cabinet knobs, go bold with statement pulls, or mix finishes for that custom interior design look. It’s one of those low-cost home renovation upgrades that feels way more expensive than it is.
Best part? No big tools, no mess, no stress. Just a screwdriver and a little vision. Updated hardware adds personality, style, and that “new home” feeling without a full remodel. Small change. Big impact.
7. Switch up small accessories
Small accessories are honestly one of the easiest ways to refresh your home without spending a ton. Tiny swaps, big difference. After-holiday sales are the perfect time to grab coffee table books, decorative vases, candles, and other home decor accents at a discount.
Switching out a few pieces can instantly make your space feel new again. A fresh candle here, a cool vase there, maybe a new stack of books on the coffee table. It’s low effort but still gives that “I changed something” feeling everyone loves.
These budget-friendly interior decor updates are perfect for winter, when you’re home more and want things to feel cozy and exciting again. You don’t need a full makeover. Just a few well-chosen accessories can totally change the vibe.
8. Upgrade your storage
I’m fully obsessed with those restocking my kitchen videos, and let’s be real — it’s all about the storage. Everything has a spot, nothing looks messy, and those cute little organization containers just make life feel put together. It’s oddly satisfying.
If you want to upgrade your home organization this year, start with a few aesthetic storage containers. Use them in the pantry for cereal, rice, snacks, all the random stuff that usually comes in ugly packaging. Same idea in the fridge — clear bins for fresh produce make it look clean and make food way easier to grab.
Don’t stop there. These containers work great in the laundry room organization game too. Pour detergent, scent beads, and dryer sheets into matching containers and suddenly laundry feels less annoying. Even the junk drawer can get a glow-up. Toss in some small plastic bins to organize rubber bands, pens, batteries, and charging cables.
It’s a simple storage upgrade, but it makes your whole house feel calmer and more intentional. Plus, opening a perfectly organized drawer just hits different.
9. Change out wall decor
Wall art is one of those things you see all the time, so when your space starts feeling blah, that’s the first place to switch things up. An easy refresh? Take down your old frames and slide in new art prints or some updated photos. It’s a small move, but it can seriously change the whole mood of a room.
If you still love your artwork, no worries. Just upgrade the frames. Swapping cheap frames for high-quality picture frames instantly makes your decor feel more polished and intentional. Same art, better vibe.
Feeling a little more hands-on? Add some floating shelves for extra styling space or hang a statement mirror to bounce light around and make the room feel bigger. These are smart interior design upgrades that don’t require a full renovation but still make your home feel fresh, modern, and put together again.
10. Upgrade your bed
If you want a home project that also feels like self-care, a bedroom makeover is the move this year. You spend so much time there, it should feel good. If you’re over your tired bedding, treat yourself to luxury bedding or a fresh duvet cover in a fun color or cozy texture. Even that one switch can make your room feel brand new.
Want to go a little bigger? Upgrading your bed frame or adding a statement headboard can totally change the look of the space. It instantly makes the room feel more styled and intentional, like a real adult bedroom instead of a placeholder.
These simple bedroom upgrades don’t just look good — they help create that calm, cozy, peaceful vibe you want during cozy season. Better sleep, better mood, better mornings. Worth it.
11. Refresh the entryway
Most of us go all out decorating the entryway for the holidays… then totally forget about it the rest of the year. But honestly, your entryway decor matters. It’s the first thing people see when they walk in, so it should actually feel like you.
An easy refresh? Swap in a new welcome mat, add a shoe rack or coat rack, or hang some wall hooks to keep things organized without clutter. A mirror is another smart move. It makes the space feel bigger and gives you that last look check before heading out.
If you’ve got a little room to play with, a console table is a game changer. It gives you a spot to drop keys and bags, plus extra space to style with lamps, vases, or picture frames. These small entryway upgrades make your home feel more put together from the moment you step inside. First impressions count, even at home.
12. Apply peel-and-stick wallpaper or tile
Now that the holiday chaos is finally over, it’s the perfect time to knock out those home upgrades you kept putting off. If you want something easy and totally renter-friendly, peel-and-stick is your best friend.
Creating an accent wall with peel and stick wallpaper instantly adds color and personality without committing to paint. Same goes for a stick-on backsplash in the kitchen or bathroom. A little pattern goes a long way, and it can make your space feel way more custom with barely any effort.
The key is a little prep. Measure your space first so you don’t overbuy, then make sure the wall or backsplash area is smooth and clean. That’s it. No mess, no stress, no full-blown DIY renovation. These peel-and-stick upgrades are low effort but high impact, and they’re perfect for refreshing your space in the new year without a huge project.
13. Swap out light fixtures
If you didn’t already know, lighting can totally make or break a home. Especially when it’s dark by like 4pm and everything feels blah. Cozy lighting just hits different and instantly makes your space feel warmer and more inviting.
First move? Ditch those harsh bulbs and switch to soft, warm-toned light bulbs. It’s one of the easiest home lighting upgrades you can make, and it changes the mood fast. Try using table lamps and floor lamps instead of relying on overhead lighting. Overheads are fine sometimes, but lamps give that cozy, relaxed vibe everyone wants.
Feeling a little DIY-curious? Plug-in wall sconces are such a good option. Add them to your living room or on either side of the bed for that hotel-style glow without hardwiring anything. Small lighting changes like these seriously level up your interior design and make your home feel extra cozy all winter long. Soft light, good vibes, no regrets.
14. Switch up your home fragrance
Let’s be honest — the first thing people notice when they walk into your home isn’t the couch or the art. It’s the smell. And that first impression sticks, for better or worse. That’s why upgrading your home fragrance is such an underrated move for a fresh start.
Whether you’re into scented candles, wall plug-ins, or an essential oil diffuser, filling your space with a good scent instantly makes it feel cleaner, cozier, and more put together. It’s one of those small upgrades that takes almost zero effort but makes a huge difference.
A signature scent can seriously level up your home ambiance. Warm, fresh, calming — whatever vibe you’re going for, scent pulls it all together. Light a candle, plug something in, or turn on the diffuser, and boom… your home just feels better.
15. Rearrange existing furniture
If you want a totally free home upgrade, this is it. Just rearrange your furniture. No shopping, no tools, no stress. Sometimes a room feels off not because you need new stuff, but because what you already have just isn’t in the right spot.
Try moving your sofa, switching up accent chairs, or sliding those side tables somewhere new. Even small shifts can make a room feel fuller, cozier, and way more intentional. It’s wild how different a space can feel with the same furniture, just placed better.
If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, look up some Feng Shui videos. It’s all about flow and energy, and even if you don’t follow it perfectly, you’ll pick up some smart layout ideas. Best part? You can experiment as much as you want. If you don’t love it, just move things back. Free, easy, and surprisingly satisfying.