Update your home using paint. Paint is an affordable option that makes a big impact. Here are some ideas to help you get inspired!
#1: Dark Stairwell

A gallon of white paint made the biggest impact on this dark and dirty stairwell. Adding lighting to this space was not in the budget, and with the only light coming in at the bottom of the stairs, paint was the only way.

See the full makeover: Basement Entryway Transformation
#2: Fireplace Insert

This fireplace will soon be getting a full makeover but to temporarily update it we painted the fireplace insert with black heat-rated spray paint.

To update your home using paint, you don't have to get fancy, it can be as quick and easy as using a can of spray paint.
Read all the details here: How To Update Brass Fireplace Insert With Spray Paint
#3: Outdated Trim

Our family room used to be all wood accents, in the wainscotting and all the casings. Simply painting all the casings and wainscotting white really updated the space.

All the walls in our home are Benjamin Moore Simply White with an eggshell finish. The baseboards, wainscotting and casings are Benjamin Moore Cloud White with a semi-gloss finish.
Read about our plans to full redesign this room: Family Room and Playroom Combo Design
#4: Old Wood Floors

It was not my first option to paint hardwood floors, but without the budget to fully restore them this was my next option. I wanted one cohesive look, so paint it was.

Learn exactly how we painted our floor in our blog post: How to Paint Hardwood Floors, No Sanding Required
#5: Furniture

Whether you own an Ikea dresser like this one, or just an outdated dresser a little paint can really change the look.

Simply add some paint and some cute knobs and you have a whole new, updated piece of furniture. Read all about the supplies we used: Ordinary IKEA TARVA Hack: Dresser Updated
#6: Cabinets

One common theme is using paint to update your home, notice the power it has to bring light to space. This dark laundry room has one tiny little window that doesn't get any direct sunlight.

Changing the cabinet colour to a soft white really changes the whole look and feel of this tiny space. See the whole transformation here: Update Old Cabinets with Simple DIY Shaker Cabinets
#7: Create Chalkboard

Here is a wall in our home that was transformed long before we started this blog. Can you tell by the unfinished flooring? We added a chalkboard to this wall that leads through the kitchen to the family room. You can buy chalkboard paint at most local hardware stores, this is the one we used.
#8: Create a Headboard

I used a half pink wall to create the look of a headboard and define the space, drawing the eye to the back wall.
See the design plans here: Good sized Boho Shared Girls' Bedroom Design Plans
#9: Update Kids Play Furniture

I hope we aren't the only ones with grungy old kid furniture laying around the house. I wanted to give this little table and chairs a quick and easy update.

Read how we made over this mini table and chairs here: Easy Ikea Mammut Childrens' Table Hack
I hope this post will inspire you to update your home using paint. Paint helps keep your budget low without sacrificing on style.
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I love all the white! I used to be a colour-only kind of girl, but now I'm seeing the value of white. It is very peaceful, light and bright. Thanks!
It is just remarkable how paint can really transform a space! I love all your examples. So beautiful.
Thank you, Wendy. I just love the power of paint!
All your projects look amazing Aly! Love the power of paint! How do you find the Simply White and Cloud White for coolness or yellow in different lights? I love the crisp of Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace (our trim), but looking to repaint our walls because they still come across as blue/green. I know every house and lighting is different, but curious how the paint colours look for you 🙂 I’m currently trying to decide on some BM whites for our place. I need to paint some samples on bristol board to hang up and see how it looks in different light!
Hey Lori, the paints do read a little differently in each room but for the most part, I would say Simply White is pretty neutral, if I had to say it might lean a tad on the blue, but really very neutral. As for Cloud White, it's more on an off white in bright locations, could read slightly yellow, on the warmer side. In low light areas cloud white reads very neutral. Hope this helps!
I love seeing the change, and just from paint! White is my first choice too, it really freshens. Our house is very old, but I haven't made time to do any painting...yet.
Yay for fellow white paint lovers!
paint is such a game changes, love all of your before and afters
Thank you, Megan!