5 Affordable Home Upgrades That Make Small Apartments Feel Luxe
Written by
Jake Safane
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Even when space and money are tight, there’s often several ways to upgrade your home. You don’t have to do a full renovation, but rather some simple, budget-friendly DIY projects can go a long way toward making a small apartment feel luxurious.
By addressing areas like lighting and paint, you can make a small space feel larger. You can also swap out some hardware to make your apartment feel more comfortable and stylish, maybe even for less than $100. Specifically, real estate experts share the following recommendations.
Upgrade Your Faucets
One of the easiest, most affordable ways to elevate your kitchen or bathroom is to swap out your existing faucets with goose neck or patina faucets, according to Holly Friend, realtor at Corcoran Icon Properties.
“Your sink or hardware around it can be the centerpiece of your kitchen when a high-end stove or quartz waterfall countertops are out of the question,” she added.
You can find a faucet that aligns with your budget — many nice ones are just a few hundred dollars, if not less and if you’re not comfortable with DIY, the average cost for faucet installation is $195, according to The Home Depot.
Install Soft-Close Cabinet and Drawer Hinges
While your mind might jump to visible upgrades, you can make even the smallest apartment feel more upscale by simply replacing cabinet and drawer hinges with soft-close ones.
“That’s literal quiet luxury,” Friend said.
These are items you can buy and install yourself, she added.
Typically, these just cost a few dollars per hinge and it might be as simple as unscrewing existing ones and screwing the new ones in. All in, you might be able to make these swaps in one afternoon and for less than $100.
Even if the job is more complicated, like you need to drill new holes for proper alignment, it’s something that’s relatively easy to do yourself or isn’t very expensive to have a professional handle.
Change Your Lighting
You can literally change the way you see your apartment by replacing your lighting, without breaking the bank. Pricing can vary significantly, but odds are there’s lighting that aligns with your budget.
“Some YouTube videos will show you how to quickly change out the light fixtures and this can make a huge difference in the vibe of an apartment, making it feel much more luxurious,” said Cody Horvat, licensed real estate broker at The Scott Group.
In addition to changing light fixtures, consider new bulbs, too.
“Make sure the bulbs in every room are working and the same color temperature,” Friend said. “My personal preference is warm or neutral.”
Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Similar to lighting, painting your walls can go a long way toward transforming an apartment.
“This is really one of the first things that any new homeowner should do,” Horvat said. “Changing out the paint can completely change the vibe of an apartment and really freshen it up, making it feel much nicer.”
Not only can a fresh coat feel more luxurious, but changing the color can also help address space constraints.
“Using a lighter color of paint will also make the smaller space feel larger and inviting,” Horvat explained.
And to really get the most out of the space, you can combine a fresh coat of paint with mirrors, he added.
Invest in Floor-to-Ceiling Drapes
While you might be tempted to grab cheap curtains from a big-box store, investing in high-quality, properly sized drapes can make a big difference, according to Horvat.
“It’s really important to make sure that your drapes go all the way from the ceiling to the floor,” he said.
These might add up to several hundred or perhaps even a few thousand dollars depending on how many windows you have and how upscale you want to get, but this can still be a worthwhile investment that’s still cheaper than many renovations.
Some people opt for cheaper, generically sized drapes from a big box store, but that can hurt the look of your home.
“Getting that measurement correct will really make a place feel more luxurious. I often see people have their drapes only go down a foot or two below their windows and they don’t realize it, but this makes the place feel really cheap,” Horvat said.
“Heavy drapes that hang all the way to the floor is an easy fix to make a space feel more luxurious and you can always bring them with you to your next apartment or house,” he added.
Bonus Tip: Keep It Clean
Even if you’re not making any upgrades to your apartment, don’t forget that removing clutter and keeping your apartment tidy can make a small space feel larger and more upscale.
“Cleanliness and luxury go hand in hand,” Friend said.
That’s something you can tackle basically for free or for just a few dollars if you need more cleaning supplies.
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