Remodeling your home doesn’t have to involve thousands of dollars and months of your time. Here are 15 Do-It-Yourself projects that will refresh your home’s décor, each costing less than $500.

Project #1: Paint

A fresh coat of paint is the best way to get a big decorative bang for your buck. Repainting a room or even several rooms in your home can be done for less than $500.

Project #2: Sewing and Craft Room

If you love to sew or work on other crafts, it’s easy to turn a rarely used guest room or even a nook in the basement into a craft room that is ready for creativity whenever you are. Spend your budgeted dollars on a work table and comfortable adjustable height chair, and add shelving, bins, baskets and storage options to accommodate your supplies. Don’t forget a good bright work light or two.

Project #3: Refresh the Bathroom

Bring a fresh new look to a tired bathroom with new towel bars, showerhead, and shower curtain, as well as towels, window treatments and new coordinated countertop accessories. If you can afford it, a new faucet and light fixtures are other great updates.

Project #4: Outdoor Spaces

A porch, patio, deck or screened porch can be an inviting space that expands your square footage. Comfortable chairs, swings, rockers or benches invite leisure; add more decorative appeal with potted plants, hanging flower baskets, candles and lanterns or metal wall art and accessories.

Project #5: Closet Storage Solutions

Spend a morning cleaning out your closets and bagging up items to donate to a church or charity. Then browse the storage solution aisle of a home improvement store for shelving and storage options that will help you organize everything from shoes to neckties. Organizing your closets will cost much less than $500, but will make you feel like a million bucks!

Project #6: Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures

For a whole lot less than $500 you can update or add a ceiling fan to make any room more comfortable and energy efficient. Sizes and styles abound, so it’s easy to find a fan that suites the style of your room.

Project #7: New Flooring

Flooring in a room may be replaced for under $500 if the room is modest in size and you choose an inexpensive flooring option. If you can install the flooring yourself, you can save even more.

Project #8: Lighting Upgrades

You’ll find a lot of lighting fixtures under $500 letting you totally transform the look of any room. Dimmer switches are really inexpensive and will let you control mood and ambiance as well.

Project #9: Laundry Room Update

Your small size of your laundry or utility room makes it a perfect candidate for an inexpensive makeover. Options include laminate or vinyl flooring, countertops, shelves and cabinets for storage, laundry hampers, light fixtures and area rugs.

Project #10: Child’s Bedroom Redo

Kids tastes change as quickly as they grow and it’s easy to create a new look in a child’s room with paint, inexpensive bedding, pillows and creative accessorizing. Save more by sewing your own curtains and pillow shams, then frame up their own finger painting masterpieces for an inexpensive option to purchased wall art.

Project #11: Home Office

Make a functional home office with a computer armoire that lets you turn any corner in the house into a useful workspace. Best of all, when the armoire is closed, your work and papers disappear and your office blends right into the room’s décor.

Project #12: Living Room Options

You don’t need new furniture; you can get a new look by changing window treatments, adding slip covers and new throw pillows. Change your wall art, add a tree wall decor or metal wall sculptures. Area rugs, candles and table top accessories at visual impact at every price point. Or go for the cheapest makeover of all – rearrange your furniture!

Project #13: Creative Kitchen

Simply changing the hardware on the cabinets creates a whole new look. Other options include changing faucets and light fixtures, window treatments, throw rugs and wall art. New countertop accessories or a small appliance might also fit into the budget.

Project #14: Master Bedroom

Waiting for a good sale can pay off with a whole new look: Purchase new bedding, throw pillows and bedding accessories, change your lamps or lampshades, or add a new area rug. Shop at a thrift store or yard sale for accent furniture, such as a side table or chair, and give it a shabby chic makeover with paint or fabric.

Project #15: Game Room

Turn a recreation room or finished basement into a game room. Shop at garage sales or resale stores for lighting, furniture, game tables and chairs. You might even have some money left for a ping pong table or game system.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "P9200034" courtesy of heymarchetti.