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Have you ever been oohh’ed and ahh’ed when looking at shiny new homes? I know I have! In fact, the modern layout of our condo was a big reason we chose the home we live in now! Unfortunately though, many of us don’t have the money or access to new (or remodeled) homes when we are looking for a place to live. And we often have to make do with the designs, layouts, and wear-and-tear that comes with homes built in previous decades.

But there are a few tricks that always give your home new life no matter when it was built. Here are 6 inexpensive tricks to make your old home look new again:

1-) Ditch the busy wallpaper

Many older homes have notoriously hideous wallpaper, so this tip should come as no surprise. Some wallpaper will be frustrating to remove, but fortunately removing wallpaper is inexpensive. Oh, and it makes a HUGE difference in the room! Once you get it down, you can paint the room a fresh color or replace it with a more modern wallpaper. Whatever you decide, it’s likely to be better than what was there before.

2-) Paint the baseboards

Baseboards take a lot of abuse, and over time they get dingy and worn. If your baseboards are still in reasonable condition, sand off the grime and treat them to a new coat of paint. You’ll be amazed at the difference!

3-) Caulk or re-caulk where necessary

I personally believe that caulking is one of the most overlooked touches to a room…an otherwise beautiful room can feel “off” if it needs caulking. I like to make sure I caulk the gaps between crown mouldings and the wall and the spaces between baseboards and the floor. Once that dries add a fresh coat of paint and you’ll have a new-and professional-looking job!

4-) Paint window frames

Window frames feel fluctuations in the outside temperature more than the rest of the home (especially if you have old or inefficient windows). It’s not surprising then that the paint on window frames won’t stand up as long as other painted areas of the home. Clean up the windows and add a fresh coat of paint and your home will take on a new appearance in no time!

5-) Remove old carpeting

If you have old carpeting that’s a-) the color of bodily fluids, b-) doesn’t get clean even after vacuuming, or c-) is starting to pull up or deteriorate then it’s time to rip it up! If you pull back a small corner or the rug you may even find beautiful hardwood floors underneath! Show them off and add area rugs to keep the room feeling warm. Bonus: your fellow allergy sufferers will thank you!

6-) Freshen up old cabinets

Many older homes have dark-stained cabinets. While there’s nothing wrong with dark stains, too much can make the room feel dark and dated. Make your cabinets (and your room) feel newer by either painting them or refinishing them with a lighter stain.

So there you have my 6 inexpensive tricks to make your old home look new again! Do you live in an older home? What have you done to make it look new again? Let us know in the comments!

For more on DIY and home decor, check out buffalo check decor under $100, how to transform your kitchen without doing a full remodel, and 8 basic tips to paint like a pro!