What could you do to your home with £500?

Spring and summer are popular times for updating our homes, starting renovations and tackling some DIY projects and it can feel so refreshing to spruce up your abode. Are you dying to do some DIY? Can't wait to replace your carpets? There are so many different places to start with home renovations and decorations, we're here to help with some great tips and ideas alongside home insurance providers, RSA.

What would you do to your home with £500 to spend on it? Let's get on to some amazing design ideas for revamping and decorating your home. 

1. Kitchen 

You could overhaul your existing kitchen in a long weekend if you're ready for some hard work. From a few coats of paint on kitchen cupboards with a change of handles to adding a jazzy new vinyl floor, a little DIY can transform the hub of the home. Painting tiles and splashbacks is also a super-quick fix for some dated kitchens that are still in good nick. Adding a lick of paint to walls, new light fittings, shelves and useful storage solutions and maybe a couple of new smaller appliances such as a fresh kettle and toaster set can be achieved for £500 or less and you won't believe the difference it could make. 

We've already created some amazing content with home interiors blogger Very Me Interiors all about her budget kitchen makeover ideas to inspire you, and we think Anne-Marie had some great ideas. Plus, if you're planning to sell your home soon this kind of budget makeover could really increase the selling-power of your home. Check out our 10 ways to add value to your home if getting on the market is something you're interested in. 

2. Front door

Liz from Nottingham-based interiors Instagram blog Nice in Notts gave her front door a bright pink makeover in her signature eclectic style. She added faux flowers and astro-turf grass for a super summery look. After two days of hard sanding Liz's door was ready to paint, she added new gold hardware such as the bee knocker and a shiny new letter box to really brighten up her entrance. We love the gold gnomes too! 

3. Downstairs toilet

Bear with us on this one, we know this isn't everyone's favourite room but it can really be transformed from a boring, poky space into somewhere you don't just chuck the hoover and don't want your guests to visit. Adding a striking wallpaper to one wall or going for a dark colour scheme with metallic accents can create a really modern look. The best bit? It's only a small surface area to cover so transforming your downstairs loo can be completed in a weekend with a little elbow grease and it won't be the most expensive transformation either. 

Don't forget to add accessories like framed artwork and candles or diffusers for added pleasant smells! Storage solutions like shelves and baskets for hand towels and toilet rolls can also add to the design elements, they don't just have to be functional. 

4. 'Yarden' 

Liverpudlian interiors blogger Alicia from Emerald Terrace made over her back yard into a gorgeous 'yarden' all ready for some hopeful sunshine this summer. Creating bespoke seating and repainting woodwork were two of the main things that her and husband Guy decided to tackle in her terraced home's back yard. 

Alicia explains, "I managed to make over my whole outdoor garden space with a £500 budget – from building my own outdoor storage seating to creating our own sofa-style cushions. We also managed to repaint the exterior bricks add in a few stylish accessories such as our mirror without going over our spending limit, and I can’t tell you the difference it’s made now that we can close our laptops at 5pm and head out into our own little al-fresco paradise (weather permitting!)."

Read the rest of her blog post to find out more.

What is Take Your Pick home insurance?

Take Your Pick home insurance from RSA allows you to protect the items that you love whilst actually only paying for what you need. Your home and lifestyle are as individual as you are and RSA believe that your home insurance should be just as personal. Get a quick quote online or, find your nearest branch and book an appointment with one of our friendly team members. 

Top tips to stay on budget

• Make sure you cost up what you'll need before you start 
• Add in a small contingency budget of around 10%, if you can, to ensure that if you do go over, you can afford to
• Don't forget to account for those extra bits that really make the finish such as masking tape or screw caps
• If you need tools that you don't have for certain jobs, check first whether you can borrow them from a neighbour or even hire them for the weekend

We're full to the brim of great ideas for upcycling and redesigning for your home. If you find yourself itching to make some home changes and fancy some changes on a budget of £100, check out our five low-cost home update ideas too.