Perhaps you recently moved into a house that you want to make your own. Maybe you've lived in your house for quite a while, and it's “just time.” Maybe life happened, and you need to use your space differently and create another bedroom or an office. Whatever the case, deciding to update your home can seem daunting—and while it is a lot of work, it doesn't have to be overwhelming. 

I got divorced, moved into a fixer-upper, and remodeled the house floor to ceiling with a total investment of $40,000 and 1,800 hours of my time. I added at least $100,000 in equity to my house, and more importantly, it's a place I love living in, can call my own, and enjoy working from! So how did I tackle this project, decide what to update, how to do it, and what to do first? In my experience, whether you want to update your home entirely or just refresh a single living space, the outcome’s success boils down to how well you plan.

Define the Purpose Behind Updating Your Home

At the very core, why are you doing this project? This is really important. Do you want your children in the same room with you after dinner? Great—create a kid-friendly space in your beautiful new heart room. Did you just walk through the Street of Dreams and feel less than dreamy about your own house? I get it, but one room and a low budget probably aren't going to get you to where you want to be.

In other words, why do you want to update your home in the first place? What are you trying to accomplish? For example, if your kitchen is "too small" and lacks storage space, you could rip out all the cabinets and spend $50,000+ updating it. You do this, and then end up with no more storage than before (believe me, this is more common than you think!). Then I hope you love your new granite and can put a baker’s rack in the garage to store everything that now doesn't fit.

Work Around Existing Structures to Update Your Home Affordably

Support walls that can’t be removed easily, moving water lines, and adding electrical will exponentially add to the project’s cost. You will save a fortune if you can figure out a creative way to update your home without changing beams, plumbing, or wiring. Sometimes that’s unavoidable—but designing around the existing structure from the beginning will save time and money.

If you get your heart set on a plan without taking these into consideration, and then get the contractor’s bid back at double your budget, it’s hard to pivot. I’ve been there!

Plan Your Tools, Time, and Budget for a Smooth Home Update

Map out what tools you'll need, what you’re willing to spend, how much time you have, and what you can realistically DIY versus hire out. The more organized your plan, the smoother your effort to update your home will go—and the better the results will be.

Here’s what to include in your planning checklist:

• Tools and materials: Make a list of what you already have and what you’ll need to buy or rent.

• Budget: Outline your total budget, then break it down by phase (demo, materials, labor, etc.).

• Time commitment: Estimate how long each part will take, and be realistic about your availability.

• DIY vs. professional help: Decide what you can confidently handle and where expert support will save you time (and headaches).

Set expectations early: add at least 20% to your cost estimate, and double the time you think the project will take. Construction rarely goes exactly as planned, especially with current supply chain issues.

Understand the Value of Updating Your Home

How long will you be in the home to enjoy the updates? If you’re moving in 5 years, will your $30,000 master bath remodel increase the home’s value by that much? If not, and if resale value matters to you, maybe rethink removing the giant jacuzzi.

Decide Who Should Help You 

DIY is tempting—but not always worth it. I’ve done almost everything during a remodel, and there are things I’ll never do again. (A tile shower is one of them!) You can still save money by doing the demolition work yourself—just be prepared. It’s messy, exhausting, and time-consuming.

When a pro can come in and start right away, you save money and time. And let’s be honest, no one enjoys the demo phase—especially the pros!

Go Full DIY and Learn How to Update Your Home Yourself

If you’re planning to update your home as a full DIY project, YouTube is your best friend. Watch multiple tutorials before choosing your method, and make sure you have the right tools. Cheap tools = bad results. Always budget for good equipment—it makes all the difference.

Small changes can have a big impact. Don’t have a huge budget? A fresh coat of paint and new furniture layout can work wonders. Exposed cords bugging you? Use a plastic cord cover, paint it to match the wall, and make it disappear.

Don’t go it alone—consider a virtual designer.

Hire a virtual designer like Nest with the Nelsons. Megan Nelson helps you spot little things you’ve stopped noticing—then helps you fix them. When you do, you’ll think, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?!”

At the end of the day, love your space. We spend so much time in our homes—and even small updates can make them feel brand new. Whether it’s a new picture by the door or a deep clean that makes the whole place smell better, choose what makes you happy. When you update your home, you’re also refreshing your everyday experience—and that’s always worth the effort.

If we can help you enhance your entry, please let us know. We believe in the power of first impressions and want you to love coming home so much that we offer free virtual front porch consultations. Click HERE to send us a picture of your front porch.