5 minor upgrades for a major impact on your home

When it comes to home improvement, a little can go a surprisingly long way. You just have to be strategic. If now isn’t the time for a sparkling bathroom revamp, or a full-on living room makeover, that’s okay. There are plenty of small steps you can take that will yield giant leaps forward for the look and feel of your home. And they don’t even involve large amounts of money , time or demolition.  

Here are five minor changes that can make a major difference in both the appearance and value of your home. 

What if you could dramatically upgrade your kitchen without involving a contractor, or a sledgehammer? Start with the cabinets, and start small – a new paint job can transform them, and your kitchen space, at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets. 

After you’ve revamped your cabinets, turn your attention to the countertops. Depending on your budget, you could swap in marble, quartz or butcher block. The result will add to that “brand-new” look without breaking the bank. Finally, consider replacing your faucet with a more stylish version.

Read more: Home improvements that can increase value

Visitors may not notice this upgrade, but occupants of the house will, and that’s the main goal.  The key here is a new shower head, one that creates a powerful stream of water that falls like a refreshing spring rainstorm. This quick-and-cheap project—think less than $50 and 15 minutes of your time—will pay dividends for years. 

What if you’re luxuriating in the splendor of your new shower head and you happen to notice that the grout is discolored? Well, there's a fairly easy fix. A grout pen eliminates the need to replace grout, making a shower look and feel new with minimal effort.

Window film, also known as tint, can make a significant impact on the complexion and privacy level of a room. If you have a ground floor apartment or a house on a busy street, it’s worth considering. There are plenty of options, from simple privacy frosting that blocks inquiring eyes while letting in natural light, to patterns that mimic stained glass. The added layer may help reduce electricity bills as well because the tint can help a room maintain its temperature. 

Curb appeal is real. Anyone who’s ever sold or shopped for a house knows that a pleasing and welcoming view from the street will increase a house's appeal—and value. You want to be the nicest house on the block, right? You’re in luck, because you can markedly improve curb appeal with a few deft touches.

Adding a series of exterior lights to the front walk is one such touch. It’s a simple move that improves both look and safety. Adding a small flower bed will spruce up your exterior, and so will any variety of a greenery-filled planter. 

Alterations like these take an afternoon’s effort at most: a little work, a little color and a lot of reward. 

Depending on the size and location of your home, repainting the entire exterior can be a big-ticket item, right up there with the dreaded cost of a new roof. But touching up wear and tear on the existing paint job is a manageable task that makes a noticeable difference—all it takes is a can of paint, a brush and a ladder. 

Before you start the touch-up job, rent a power washer and start spraying. By removing dirt and mold from the side of the house, as well as any sidewalks, patios or other adjacent areas, you'll extend the life of the surface while also improving how it looks. (And there are few things in life as satisfying as power washing dirt and grime away.) That’s the kind of low effort, big impact project we can get behind.