How to Update a Room's Appearance For $15 or Less

Many times, older homes have receptacles, called outlets, that are either polarized, have lost their gripping power to hold cords in tightly, have defective wiring, or have cracked or broken parts.  These outlets tend to be unsightly and are often unsafe.  Depending on the amount of receptacles in a room, you'll likely be able to change a room's receptacles for under $15 and give it an updated, fresh look. 

Receptacle cover plates often becomes worn after many years of wear and often become dirty and/or cracked.  They should be replaced to show a bright appearance.  You may have the older type that are brittal nad break easily.  There are supposed unbreakable ones on the market that come in many colors to match almost any room.  You may even opt for stainless steel or wooden cover plates.

Older switches in homes tend to have their share of problems and are unsightly as well.  You may have arcing, popping, or lights flickering due to poor switches.  To improve their appearance and functionality, simply replace them with new ones.  The removal and installation of these switches is very easy if you follow these simple steps. 

Dimmer switches add a great touch to a room's lighting mood.  You have the ability to lighten or brighten the room's lighting.  Some dimmer switches use a slide lever and others use a rotary knob to adjust the light level.  Here's a great way to add lighting controls that adjustable to your home for under $15.

Light fixtures are an easy thing to change to moderize a room.  Removal can be a challenge if they have been there a while.  Some old fixtures have likely been painted over and you'll need to remove the old paint from around the fixture before removing. 

You may have installed ceiling fans in your home, but they may not have light kits on them.  These light kits add another source of lighting to the room.  They are easy to install and some can be purchased for under $15.

CFL's, compact fluorescent lights, are a great way to reduce your energy consumption because it takes a lower wattage bulb ti produce the same amount of light as a much larger wattage incandescent bulb.  The lifespan of these bulbs is much longer and this will save you money in the long run.