This article was originally published on TheFunPost
For many people, owning a house is one of the biggest dreams in life. Not only do you have a place to officially call your own, but you also have the freedom to customize every inch of said space. There's no doubt that for some of you out there, it's hard to imagine where you'd even start! Most home renovation sites are going to try and sell you some big, expensive, and way-too-fancy floorplan or idea that will likely take too much time or make you go way over budget. We're not going to do that here. We've found that all it takes to completely transform a home into your dream house is just a little bit of creativity. Check out all of these budget-friendly ideas to see which one works best for you, making your house the most envy-worthy home on the block.
Create A Sun Tunnel To Bring In Natural Light And Lower Your Electrical Bill
While most of us would love to have a beautiful skylight in our kitchens, it is not always possible in every home. However, if you want to bring some natural sunlight into a poorly lit area of your home, there is an inexpensive way to do so.
Adding a sun tunnel to a poorly lit room can brighten up any space, and help you save money on electricity bills. Natural sunlight also makes a space feel more open, so this easy installation can completely transform any poorly lit room in your home.
Put Outlets Behind False Drawers To Add Functionality, But Keep Children Safe
The most frustrating thing in any home is false drawers. Why would they waste space with something that has no function? However, we thought of a solution for those pointless fake drawers that typically only serve to frustrate people.
Instead of letting that space go to waste, you can install outlets behind the false drawers to give them some purpose. When you are not using the outlet, the false drawer can cover it and keep your small children safe from electrocuting themselves.
Use Dutch Doors Instead Of Unsightly Baby Gates
When you have babies and small children at home it is always essential to make sure they are safe, but that doesn't mean you have to use unappealing plastic gates that ruin your place's aesthetic. Why have unsightly baby doors when you could install dutch doors instead?
Dutch doors are divided in half, so you can keep the bottom closed while the top is open. They keep your house looking stylish while keeping your children from walking around unsupervised. Plus, you can keep them as your children grow up, and they are also great for pets.
Collapsing Drying Racks Save A Ton Of Space
When you don't have a lot of counter space, it can be hard to find a space to do anything. With dishes drying next to the sink you might have trouble finding space to prepare food. However, this simple idea can save you a ton of counter space.
Instead of keeping the drying racks on the counter, create collapsable racks that fold out from the wall. They will keep the dishes off the counter, and you can use them as a towel rack when there aren't any dishes.
Make Your Long Hallways More Functional
When you have a long, empty hallway, it might seem like a waste of useful space. Although it might be hard to visualize it because it's just a hallway, installing some extra shelves could be a great place to maximize storage space.
If you have ever worried about what to do with those bulky winter clothes during the summer, you can add drawers and clear some space in your closet. Instead of ruining your walls with nail holes for pictures, you can put the pictures and decorative pieces on the shelves to brighten up the hall.
Keep The Paper Towel Roll Off The Counter By Creating A Built-In One Below The Counter
Have you ever felt like you weren't using your kitchen space to reach its maximum functionality? With false drawers and limited counter space, it might seem like there is a lot of wasted potential. Instead of ignoring that unused space, make the most of it with this easy installation.
Sometimes it might seem like it is impossible to find the perfect spot for the paper towels, but this built-in nook keeps them out of the way and dry. Instead of a bulky paper towel holder that takes up valuable counter space, this makes unused space functional.
Create A Book Exchange In Your Neighborhood With An Old Bird Feeder
If you love reading and lending books but don't live close to a public library, this is the perfect solution for your neighborhood. All you need is a birdfeeder and whatever books you want to exchange. People can take and leave books as they walk by, and it will bring the community together.
This works best if you live in a neighborhood with a lot of foot traffic. If you ever wanted to get to know your neighbors better, this is the perfect way to start a conversation. You can also find books you might not have been interested in based on your neighbor's reading preferences.
Adding A Half Table In The Bathroom Can Add Much Needed Storage Space
When you have a small bathroom, it is hard to find space to store everything from towels to toiletries. Instead of stuffing things into cabinets, adding a half table can give you some much-needed counter space to roll up towels like a spa.
It's great how something so small can make such a difference in your bathroom space. It's even more useful if you can find one with shelves for even more storage. Why wouldn't you want to maximize your space wherever possible?
Adding Drawers To The Wall Of The Bathroom Will Give You Much Needed Storage
You can find extra storage space pretty much anywhere in your home. For anyone who has a small bathroom and no room for added shelves, there is a way to find necessary storage. While drilling into your walls might seem like a bad idea, it is actually a great place to put drawers.
You can install low-impact drawers between the studs in the walls to give your small bathroom a storage upgrade. It keeps clutter out of sight, and you can never have too much storage space in your home. It is also easier to organize your things in drawers.
Save Room By Putting Barstools On Hinges So They Are Not In The Way
Have you ever walked into your kitchen and tripped over one of the bar stools? They always seem to be in the way, and there isn't a week that goes by where you don't stub your toe on them. It's time to get rid of those bar stools and try a more unique solution.
You can save room in the kitchen by putting barstools on hinges so you won't trip over clunky stools anymore. When guests come over, the seat can easily swing out, so they have a place to sit. This might take a little extra effort because the hinges need to be extra sturdy, making the kitchen much better.
Slide-Away Steps In The Bathroom Are Less Clunky That Stools And Perfect For Growing Children
When you were young, you probably remember the struggle of reaching the sink. When there are little children in the house, they need a step stool to use the sink, but it is clunky and takes up useful space in the bathroom.
Instead of moving a stool around the bathroom, create a slide-away step for the growing little ones. It is also useful when you need a boost to change lightbulbs or get something out of reach. It doesn't take up space, and it can be used even after the children grow up.
This Is The Coolest Thing You Will See In Any Home Renovation
One of the most annoying parts about sweeping is trying to get everything into the dustpan. You are always left with a sliver of dust that continues to accumulate over and over again. Vacuums are a much better option, but chordless ones die quickly, and the other ones become a tangled mess as you clean the house.
However, there is a solution to all these problems. One of the most innovative things we have seen in a home renovation is a vacuum built into the baseboard. All you have to do is sweep everything towards that hole, turn it on, and your mess is gone. Every house needs one of these.
Add Heat Sensitive Tiles To Your Shower, So You Know When The Water Is Warm
While it might seem odd, heat-sensitive tiles are a really cool idea to add to your shower. Then you will know when the water is at the perfect temperature without having to stick your hand into freezing cold water. It will also make all your house guests so jealous.
The only downside is that you might be so entranced by the colors that you will stay in the shower for too long. These can spice up any boring bathroom and add a pop of unexpected color when you least expect it.
Kitchen Drawers Can Be Used As Hidden Cutting Boards
Have you ever had trouble storing your cutting boards without them falling out of the cabinet every time you open one? Well, some genius came up with the perfect solution for this problem, and it will even save you counter space too.
Instead of keeping cutting boards in the cabinet, put them on top of drawers. It makes storage so much easier, and you can have extra room on the counter because you won't be using it to cut things. Everyone loves having extra space whenever possible.
Save Trips To The Trash With This Cutting Board Hack
There is nothing more annoying than cutting vegetables and having to go back and forth to the trash to throw away scraps. The cutting board fills up, and there is no space left for cutting until you remove all the trash.
Instead of making a mess and taking multiple trips to the trash, use a cutting board with a hole in it, and place the trash can underneath. As you are cutting, you can scrape the scraps into the trash and keep the board clean the entire time.
Add Outlets to Drawers To Keep Counters Free Of Clutter
While concealing outlets is helpful because it keeps children safe, it doesn't always stop the counters from getting cluttered. However, there is an even more useful way to conceal outlets and keep your counters clear. Kitchens are all about how you use your space, and this will help clear some room.
The best place to hide outlets is inside drawers because you can plug things in and keep them off the counter. It also adds more functionality to a place you might have only used as a junk drawer. We all have one of those, but it doesn't have to be a completely wasted space
A Simple Window Seat Can Make The Stairs More Cozy
While a staircase really only has one function, that doesn't mean you can't spruce it up to make it more inviting. On a cold day, every house needs the perfect spot to curl up, and adding a window seat on the stairs is the perfect addition.
Instead of sitting on the couch or lying in bed all day, someone can curl up here with a good book and watch the rainfall. It is not a necessary addition, but your guests will feel more at home with this comfortable addition to the staircase.
Help Your Guests Find The Bathroom When You Add This Sign
Have you ever had friends or house guests come over, and they can't find the bathroom because all the doors in the hallway look the same? You don't want your guests to end up in the coat closet, but there is no way to differentiate the doors without changing the whole thing.
Those bathroom signs aren't only for public restrooms. You can find cute handmade options online, and it adds a quirky touch to a plain door. It will help your guests find the bathroom much quicker instead of wandering around the hall in frustration.
Use More Modern Fonts For Your House Number To Add A Unique Design Element
This won't add storage space or functionality to your home, but it will spruce up the curb appeal. Sometimes houses start to look the same, and it is hard to make yours stand out on the block, but there is a simple and cheap way to add something fun to the outside of your home.
Instead of having generic numbers on your mailbox, pick contemporary fonts to add a little character to the outside of your house. It is the small details that can liven up the outside of your home, and it won't cost you much.
This Old Fashioned Bed Is Coming Back In Style
In the 1920s, Murphy beds reached peak popularity and then had a resurgence in the early 2010s. These functional beds fold out of the wall for sleeping at night and go back into the cabinet, so there is more floor space during the day. They save much more space than bunk beds and make cleaning the room a breeze.
If you don't have a lot of room, these beds can transform your children's rooms into a playroom within seconds. They might seem old-fashioned, but they help save you a lot of space, and make your life easier when it is time to clean.
Help Children Feel Calmer At Night By Installing This In Their Room
When children are young, they might have trouble sleeping in their own rooms at first. It's a difficult transition to start sleeping in a room alone, but there are ways to make this easier for them, and it will add a cool design feature to their room.
It is important for a child's development to separate where they sleep and where they play, so you can add colorful tunnels to their room to separate the two. They will have so much fun crawling between rooms, and it will tire them out, so they are ready to sleep at bedtime.
Keep Pantry Items Like Spices In Slide-Out Drawers
Did you know that it is bad for spices to be stored right next to the oven? If they get warm, they lose their flavor quickly, so spice racks aren't the best option. Spice racks also take up valuable counter space and don't look that good.
Instead, store your spices in slide-out drawers so they will stay keep longer and won't be in the way. Most herbs need to be in a dark, cool place, so the slide-out drawers help the flavor last. It also keeps everything organized for easy access.
Multi-Hose Shower Heads Make Showering More Relaxing
Have you ever been bored with just one shower head? Do you ever feel like one shower head doesn't get you as clean as you would like? Well, say goodbye to those problems when you switch out your shower head for one with more hoses like this one.
It will make cleaning time much more entertaining, and it will feel like your shower is a work of art. Bring the spa to your bathroom when you switch a few simple appliances for a more relaxing shower experience. Add some essential oils for an aromatherapy experience, and you will never want to get out of the shower.
Spruce Up The Curb Appeal With Your House In A Few Simple Steps
The way your house looks on the outside is just as important as how it looks on the inside. The curb appeal can make all your neighbors jealous and raise the value of your home, so it is important to keep it looking just as nice.
You can make the foundation of your home shine by adding different bricks or stones. Doing something simple like this can liven up the outside of your home, and it doesn't take much work. In towns by the beach, some people even use seashells to decorate the foundation.
Make Appliances Look More Expensive With A Cheap Hack
Have you ever wanted to give your kitchen a facelift but didn't want to spend a lot of time or money remodeling? Stainless steel appliances are usually more expensive, but they always make kitchens look sleeker and more professional.
Instead of buying all new appliances and spending a ton of money, buy some stainless steel contact paper to refurbish the appliances you already have. It comes off easily, and it can transform your kitchen within minutes. No one will ever know the difference.
Bringing In Groceries Could Be So Much Easier With This Hack
What is the one thing you dread most about going grocery shopping? For many people, it is bringing in the groceries from the car because it requires multiple trips, and when you try to take them all at once, your hands hurt.
Instead of running in and out of the house, add a small door where the pantry connects to the garage. It will make unloading the groceries less of a hassle, and it's a unique feature. You can say goodbye to those trips to and from the car when you install one of these.
Recessed Outlets Like These Make It Easier For You To Plug In Electronics
Have you ever tried to plug something in behind a piece of furniture, but it doesn't fit? The plug sticks out from the wall making the wires bend, and you have to move furniture to plug things in. Instead of breaking your chargers or having furniture sticking out, try one of these outlets.
Recessed outlets make plugging things in easier, and your furniture can stay flat against the wall. They are also perfect for behind TVs, and you can plug anything in no matter where it is in the room. It's a simple way to make life easier.
Create A Bedroom For The Dog Under The Stairs
While some people might debate that a dog doesn't need a room, we beg to differ. Although Harry Potter didn't like living under the stairs, your dog will actually find it very comforting. Many pets like cozy spaces where they can curl up to feel safe, and under the stairs will also be quieter for them.
Many people have built these on their own, and it doesn't take much work. This area under the stairs has so much untapped potential, so why not make your dog feel like a king. It can also be a place to keep their toys, so no one trips over them.
If You Are Concerned About Germs, You Need This For Your Bathroom
This might seem a bit ridiculous, but everyone has become a germaphobe in the days of the global pandemic. Even if you are related to someone, it might make you feel better to use a different toilet seat to keep from spreading any kind of germs.
You can have a different toilet seat for everyone in the house, and then you won't have to worry about cleaning up other people's messes. It might seem eccentric, but you can feel so much better about not spreading more germs.
Diagonal Inserts Make Organizing More Efficient
Do you ever feel like your utensil draw is always unorganized? It always feels like a challenge to find places for the longer utensils like spatulas and wooden spoons, but there is a better way to store these things and keep them perfectly organized in the drawer.
If you put diagonal dividers in the drawer, it will create more space for those longer utensils that always give you problems. You don't have to sort through a mess in the drawer because everything will be neat and tidy. You can grab whatever you need in seconds.
Keep All Your Bulkier Kitchen Tools Organized With This Trick
Lately, everyone has been obsessed with air fryers and instant pots; however, what do you do with those bulky appliances when they aren't being used? They might sit on your counter and take up space, or they are in a high cabinet where you have to climb to reach.
If you want to store those appliances more efficiently, you can install these pull-out cabinets so you can find things quickly. They will be out of the way, and your counter will be clutter-free, but you won't have to stand on chairs to get them out of tall cabinets.
Chandeliers Add A Sophisticated Touch To Any Porch
As we said before, the way your house looks on the outside is important. When you have a house with a porch, you might want to try sprucing it up with a decorative lighting fixture like this one.
Chandeliers are no longer only for the inside of the house, but they can also be used outside. It gives the porch a classy antique vibe, and you don't have to spend a lot of money on it. You can find nice ones at estate sales or second-hand stores.
Add Storage Space Under The Stairs
The area under the stairs has so many potential uses, so we had to include more than one idea. One of the biggest problems people find in their homes is that there isn't enough storage for all of their family's things. Also, the house gets quickly cluttered when there isn't a place for everything.
Instead of throwing random things all over the place, drawers can be built under the staircase for an easy storage solution. Instead of having a bunch of shoes by the front door, they can go in these pull-out shelves and keep the walkway clear of clutter.
Extra Space In The Kitchen Can Be Used For Storing Cleaning Supplies
If you are like us, you might put off cleaning because the supplies are on a different floor of the house or not where you need them. However, there is a simple way to maximize your kitchen space and create more storage for the things you need.
The easiest way to have cleaning supplies right where you need them is to use the extra space in your kitchen to create a small closet like this one. It's an easy and affordable solution, and it will encourage you to clean more often.
Install Outlets Underneath Cabinets To Avoid Ruining Your Backsplash
We love hidden outlets, and besides putting them in false drawers and inside drawers, there is another way to keep them out of sight. When you put outlets on the wall, you might ruin the backsplash, and it is not as sleek-looking as you would have hoped.
Instead of having them in plain sight, put plugs underneath cabinets. They are necessary for the kitchen, but they won't be so obvious this way. The only downside to this is that they require longer chords. If you use short chords, they might not reach the plug.
Sliding Doors Can Hide Appliances When They Aren't In Use
We love it when our kitchen looks modern and clean. Clutter is not appealing to the eyes, so we try to find a place for everything. Even the coffee maker can have a place, so it is not taking up counter space. By installing sliding doors, you can hide appliances when they aren't in use.
When you are cooking a big meal, you need all the counter space you can find, so you don't want a coffee maker in your way. These cabinets can also organize all your coffee supplies like mugs, tumblers, and sugars. It will make your home feel like a hotel.
A Bookshelf Under The Stairs Saves Space And Adds Color
We love to read, but when we finish books, there is never a good place to put them because we don't have a lot of shelf space. If you are like us, you might find yourself with boxes of books shoved into closets because there is no place to store them properly.
Instead of taking up space in your closet, you could create a bookshelf under the staircase. This way, you can easily see what books you have to read, and it adds some color to a neutral space. It's like having a mini library in the comfort of your home.
Take Advantage Of The Baseboard Space In Your Kitchen
When it comes to kitchens, everyone always needs more storage space. Every inch of a kitchen can be used for a better purpose than decoration. When you have a lot of baking pans, they can take up space where you need it the most.
Instead of wasting valuable cabinet space, add drawers to the baseboards of your kitchen cabinets. This area is perfect for adding more storage, and all those flat items will fit perfectly in these spots.
This Laundry Room Addition Will Save You A Ton Of Time
Nothing is more frustrating than spilling something on a piece of clothing but having nothing else to wash with it. You don't want to waste water by running a load just for one item of clothing, but you don't want the stain to set in. That's where this appliance comes in hand.
The best addition to your laundry room is a sink with jets in it. You can use it as a small washing machine when you only have one or two items to wash. It will also save you a lot of water instead of running the washing machine for a small load.
Chores Just Got Easier With This Hack
When it comes to chores, our least favorite one is taking out the trash. It smells, and we always feel gross after touching it. However, there is a solution to this chore that most people dislike, and it will help you get better at recycling too.
By installing trash shoots in your kitchen, you can easily separate recycling from the regular trash, and it will go right into the can so you don't have to touch it all the time. It also makes putting things in the garbage more fun.