15 Simple Ways to Upgrade Your Home in the New Year for $50 or Less

After the holiday decor is packed away and the excitement of the new year settles in, your home might start to feel a bit dull or empty, especially with the dreary winter weather outside. It’s easy to slip into a post-holiday slump. But don’t worry—you don’t need a complete home overhaul to bring back that cheerful vibe.

With just a few small upgrades, you can make a big difference in how your space feels. To help you get started, I’ve rounded up 15 easy and affordable ways to refresh your home this year. The best part? You can achieve all of these upgrades for $50 or less.

1. Upgrade window treatments

Window treatments are kinda like the secret sauce of home decor. Easy to ignore, but once you upgrade them, the whole room feels different. One quick win? Ditch those boring blinds and go for blackout curtains. They look better and help with light control and energy efficiency.

In the kitchen, café curtains are a chill way to add style without blocking all the sunlight. Even something small like curtain tiebacks can change the vibe and give your drapes that soft, styled look. If you’re up for a simple DIY home improvement project, try mounting your curtain rods a few inches higher than the window frame.

It’s a small trick, but it makes ceilings look taller and rooms feel bigger. Just don’t forget—your curtains should be long enough to hit or slightly brush the floor. That’s what gives custom drapery that polished, high-end finish without spending luxury-level money.

2. Paint walls or furniture

Never sleep on the power of fresh paint. Seriously, it can flip the whole mood of a room fast. Whether you’re going bold with a statement wall or just covering up scuffs with the same color, interior painting is one of the cheapest home upgrades you can do with a big payoff. It’s low cost, high impact, and doesn’t require a full home renovation budget.

If painting an entire room sounds like too much work, start small. Paint a dresser, nightstand, or even an old chair. Furniture painting takes way less time but still gives that “new space” feeling. A quick paint refresh is one of the easiest ways to update your home decor, boost property value, and make your space feel brand new—without calling professional painters or spending a ton.

3. Refresh your throw pillows

If your couch gets heavy use like mine, your throw pillows are probably looking tired and kinda flat by now. Easy fix—swap those sad pillows for fresh, plush throw pillows and your sofa or bed instantly feels new again. It’s one of those small home decor upgrades that takes minutes but makes a big visual difference.

Throw pillows are also perfect for playing with color, texture, and patterns without committing to anything permanent. Want a brighter vibe for the new year? Add bold colors or fun prints.

Going cozy? Stick with neutrals and soft fabrics. And here’s the smart move—buy throw pillow covers instead of whole pillows. They’re cheaper, easy to store, and make seasonal home styling way less work. Simple switch, big payoff.

4. Declutter

The start of a new year is honestly the perfect excuse to do a full home cleanout. Rolling into 2026 with less clutter feels so good—it’s like a mental reset. No extra junk, no random stuff stressing you out. If you’ve been putting off decluttering your home, take this as your sign to finally do it.

Don’t overthink it though. Start small. Clean out one junk drawer, a messy fridge shelf, or that cabinet everyone avoids. Once you see how good that feels, keep going room by room. Before you know it, your whole space feels lighter, calmer, and way more intentional. A proper home organization reset makes your house easier to live in—and honestly, easier to love.

5. Bring in some plants

No matter what vibe your home has, adding a little greenery is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your space. Indoor plants instantly make a room feel fresher, warmer, and more put together. Plus, they bring that calm, nature-inspired feel that makes your home more relaxing without changing anything major.

If you’re new to houseplants, stick with low-maintenance options like a snake plant or pothos. They’re hard to kill and still look amazing. And if plant care just isn’t your thing, fake plants are totally fair game. A good artificial plant still adds color and texture with zero effort. Real or faux, greenery is one of those home decor tricks that always works.

6. Upgrade hardware on cabinets or furniture

One of my go-to home upgrades—especially when I don’t wanna spend much—is swapping out cabinet and furniture hardware. It’s such a small change, but wow, it can totally flip the look of a piece and even the whole room. This trick works great for kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, dressers… pretty much anything with knobs or pulls.

Whether you’re into sleek, modern cabinet handles or bold statement hardware in brass or black, updated hardware instantly makes your space feel more custom. It’s a super affordable home renovation move that gives off big “I planned this” energy. Minimal effort, low cost, and your space suddenly feels fresh, personal, and way more put together.

7. Switch up small accessories

Small accessories are honestly the easiest way to give your home a mini makeover without blowing your budget. Think coffee table books, decorative vases, candles, trays—those little home accents do way more than people give them credit for. You don’t need a full room redo to make your space feel new again.

The smart move? Hit those after-holiday sales. You can score stylish home decor for cheap and swap things out as the seasons change. A few new accessories can make your living room or bedroom feel fresh, cozy, and way more put together—especially when you’re spending extra time at home during winter. Low effort, low cost, big visual upgrade.

8. Upgrade your storage

I’m fully obsessed with those “restocking my kitchen” videos too—and let’s be real, it’s all about the storage. Seeing everything neatly organized in matching, aesthetic containers just scratches an itch. No clutter, no chaos. Just clean, uniform home organization that looks expensive even when it’s not.

If you wanna upgrade your storage this year, start with clear containers for pantry staples like cereal, rice, and snacks. They instantly make your pantry feel more put together. Add fridge storage bins for fresh produce to keep things visible and easy to grab. You can even take this idea into the laundry room—use containers for detergent, scent beads, and dryer sheets for that tidy, Pinterest-worthy look. And don’t forget the junk drawer. A few small plastic organizer bins can finally tame loose stuff like pens, rubber bands, and charging cords. Simple storage upgrades, big home refresh energy.

9. Change out wall decor

Wall art is one of those things you see every single day, so when your home starts feeling blah, that’s the first place to switch things up. An easy refresh? Take down your old frames and swap in new art prints or updated photos. Even that small change can make your space feel current again without a full redecorating spree.

If you like your artwork but it feels a little tired, upgrading the picture frames works wonders. Higher-quality frames instantly make wall decor look more polished and expensive. And if you’re feeling a little DIY-brave, floating shelves are great for adding extra display space for art, plants, and decor. Hanging a mirror is another smart move—it reflects light and makes any room look bigger and brighter. Simple wall decor updates, big visual payoff.

10. Upgrade your bed

If you want a home project that also feels like self-care, a bedroom makeover is it. Your bedroom should feel calm, comfy, and a little indulgent. If you’re bored of your current setup, start with the easiest swap—new bedding. A luxe sheet set or a duvet cover in a fun color or textured fabric can totally change the mood of the room without much effort.

If you’re ready to spend a bit more, upgrading your headboard or bed frame is a game changer. It instantly makes the space feel more intentional and pulled together. The good news? These small bedroom upgrades don’t just refresh your decor—they help turn your room into a cozy little oasis, which is exactly the vibe you want during cozy season.

11. Refresh the entryway

We all go hard decorating our entryway for the holidays… then totally forget about it the rest of the year. But let’s be real—the entryway is the first thing people see when they walk into your home. It sets the tone. So it should actually look good and feel like you.

An easy refresh starts with a new welcome mat. Cheap, quick, instant upgrade. Then think function. Add a coat rack, shoe rack, or wall hooks to boost entryway organization and cut down on clutter. A mirror is another smart move—it makes the space feel bigger and gives you a last look before heading out the door.

If you’ve got a little extra room, a console table is a solid investment. It gives you a drop zone for keys and bags, plus styling space for lamps, vases, or framed photos. A few simple entryway upgrades can make your home feel more put together the second you walk in—and that’s always worth it.

12. Apply peel-and-stick wallpaper or tile

Now that the holiday chaos is done, it’s the perfect time to finally knock out those home upgrades you kept putting off. If you want a quick, renter-friendly room refresh, peel-and-stick wallpaper is a total game changer. You can create an accent wall in one afternoon and get a huge style payoff without touching paint or tools.

Same goes for a stick-on backsplash in the kitchen or bathroom. Adding color or pattern instantly upgrades the space and makes it feel way more custom. The best part? Peel-and-stick options keep the DIY stress low and the commitment even lower. Just measure your space first so you buy the right amount, then clean and smooth the surface before you start. Easy home upgrades like this make your place feel brand new—without turning into a full renovation.

13. Swap out light fixtures

If you don’t already know this—lighting can totally make or break your home. Especially when it’s dark by like 4 p.m. and everything outside feels gloomy. Cozy lighting just hits different. It makes your space feel warm, calm, and honestly way more inviting.

First thing to go? Harsh lighting. Swap your current bulbs for soft, warm-toned LED light bulbs. They’re easier on the eyes, more energy-efficient, and instantly improve the vibe. Try using table lamps or floor lamps instead of blasting overhead lights whenever you can—it feels way more relaxed and lived-in.

If you’re feeling a little DIY-curious, plug-in wall sconces are such a fun upgrade. Add them in the living room or mount a pair on each side of your bed for that cozy, hotel-style lighting moment. Small lighting changes like this can seriously transform your home without spending much, and during winter… it’s a must.

14. Switch up your home fragrance

Let’s be real—the first thing people notice when they walk into your home isn’t the decor… it’s the smell. And for better or worse, that scent sticks in their memory. That’s why upgrading your home fragrance is such an underrated reset, especially if you’re going for a fresh start this year.

You don’t have to do anything fancy either. Wall plug-ins, essential oil diffusers, or a few good scented candles can completely change the vibe of your space. A cozy, clean home scent instantly makes your place feel more welcoming and put together. It’s one of those low-effort home upgrades with a big payoff—and honestly, it makes your home feel nicer for you too.

15. Rearrange existing furniture

If you want a totally free home upgrade, this is it—rearrange your furniture. No shopping, no tools, just moving things around. Sometimes a room doesn’t need more stuff, it just needs better placement. Shifting your couch, accent chairs, or side tables can instantly make a space feel fuller, cozier, or way more balanced.

If you really wanna take it up a notch, go down a Feng Shui rabbit hole on YouTube. Even small tweaks based on energy flow and layout can make your home feel calmer and more intentional. Best part? You can experiment, move things back, and try again until it clicks. Zero dollars spent, big payoff in how your space feels.