11 Great Ways To Spruce Up Your Beach House On A Budget

Vacation homes on the beach are fantastic for entertaining friends, and provide an ideal place to gather your family and form lasting memories. The problem is these are not cheap. With all the taxes and insurance payments, it can become difficult to have extra money to invest in the way the home looks. The good news is there are many ways to improve the look of your beach house on a tight budget.

To improve the way your beach home looks on a small budget, start by decluttering the home. Buy slipcovers to improve the look of your bedding and lounge furniture. Whitewash your drab wooden and wicker furniture to breathe new life into it. You can paint old window treatments, or even add an accent wall. Buy beachy throw rugs to improve the way your old floors look.

Having a beach home is a blessing, especially in the hotter-than-ever summer months. But maintaining a beach home can get quite expensive, which can lead to a drab and out-of-date aesthetic. If your vacation home needs a new look, but you don't want to spend a fortune, then this article is for you. Below is a list of some great ways to make your beach home look amazing without having to spend much money at all.

11 Cheap And Easy Ways To Upgrade Your Beach House 

1. Help Your Walls Pop With Fun Beachy Artwork 

If you notice your walls looking drab or boring, you will be happy to know there is a cheap way to fix them. You can find colorful or ocean-themed artwork to cover your plain or dull walls.

You can often find framed artwork at local thrift stores. If you have something specific in mind, you can look online for an inexpensive beachy frame to put it in. Either way, one or two framed piece of art can be very economical and is sure to help give your beach home the upgrade it needs.

2. Add A Textured Or Colorful Accent Wall

Painting your beach home is a great way to make it look new. Adding a fresh layer of paint can make a home look younger and cleaner. But painting a home in the summer is a big undertaking. Instead of embarking on a massive painting project, you can just paint one wall.

An accent wall is a great way to breathe warmth and elegance into a beach home. You can paint a wall an oceanic blue, or use a vibrant and textured wallpaper. Choose an accent theme that will tie together the rest of the home’s aesthetic to unify your home’s style.

3. Buy Slipcovers And New Pillow Covers

If you are looking for a fast, simple, and inexpensive way to improve the the look of your beach home, then consider buying new slipcovers and pillow covers. New furniture, cushions, and comforters can be quite expensive. Instead of buying all new items, purchase some slipcovers, and give your home a fresher look.

Slipcovers can help make your old couch and ottoman look brand new, and pillow covers increase the lifespan of your decorative pillows. These covers can also help bring a unified theme to previously miss-matched furniture.

4. Find A Few Throw Rugs To Give Your Floors New Life

If your floors are looking old, scratched, or beat up, but you don’t want to spend thousands to refinish or replace them, you have some options. One great and inexpensive way to make your old floors look nicer is to add several throw rugs. 

Throw rugs are a great way to hide your ugly floors, and they can also help make your home look more beachy. Sandy or aqua colors, or woven bamboo or straw rugs all add to the beach home vibe. Throw rugs are also easy to shake out, and help keep sand out of your home.

5. Paint Your Old Window Frames

If the exterior of your beach house looks dated, and your window frames, in particular, look crusty, then consider painting them. New window frames cost thousands. 

If, however, you don’t need modern windows, but simply want them to look new and appealing, some paint will work wonders. Remember to thoroughly clean and sand the window frames and remove any rust before painting. Always tape the glass to avoid a mess.

6. Get Rid Of The Clutter

One way to improve the look of your beach house that costs no money at all is to get rid of unwanted clutter. A vacation home can be a magnet for knickknacks and old random items. Things get left behind and forgotten in beach homes. This can lead to an overall cluttered and disorganized home.

Getting rid of junk, or even items that you don’t use is a great way to open up your home and make it look cleaner and more minimalistic. Decluttering is free, and it can make your beach home look better, brighter, and bigger in just one day. 

7. Give Your Old Furniture A Whitewashed Look

If you have old or mismatched furniture that is made of wood, wicker, metal, or all the above, consider giving it a face lift with some white paint. You can easily achieve a whitewashed look that will make your beach home look fantastic.

You simply paint the surface of your furniture white and use a damp sponge or rag to wipe off edges and bits of paint before it dries. This gives it a white yet rustic finish. It gives a new life to old furniture, and it can help match previously clashing pieces of furniture.

8. Paint Cabinets And Swap Out The Hardware

Kitchen cabinets can be very costly to replace, especially if you need items custom-made. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on new cabinetry, try sprucing up the ones you already have. 

One way to transform your existing beach house is to paint your cabinets a new color and replace the hardware. New wooden or modern knobs with a fresh new color will liven up your beachfront living space at a very small price.

9. Add A Wicker Or Shell-Inspired Light Fixture

Light fixtures can have a dramatic impact on a room. While some chandeliers and modern fixtures can cost thousands, you can find elegant and modern light fixtures made of wicker or other natural materials for less than 100 bucks.

Wicker, bamboo, driftwood, and sea glass all make great materials for beach house light fixtures, and you can often find them at reasonable prices. A new light fixture can also help brighten up your space, which goes a long way in making a room feel clean and welcoming.

10. Add A Low-Maintenance House Plant For Some New Life

Another low-cost addition you can procure for your beach house will add color, and even oxygen to any room it occupies. House plants like bamboo and even easy-to-grow palm trees can turn a drab room into a tropical beach oasis.

A low-maintenance house plant will help purify the air, add color, and fill the room with life. Best of all, most houseplants cost $50 or less and require minimal upkeep.

11. Search Online And In Person For Used Wooden Furniture 

Lastly, if it’s new furniture you need, you might be surprised at how many people sell or give away nice wooden or wicker furniture. The key is actively searching for these items. 

You can visit local thrift stores, or look at one (or all) the internet marketplaces that are available in your area. A low-cost furniture upgrade is an excellent way to spruce up your beach house without breaking the bank.

Summing Up How To Spruce Up A Beach House For Cheap

A beach home is a great investment and an even better place to stay cool in the summer months. Unfortunately, the upkeep, taxes, and insurance can make it difficult to afford upgrades. If you want to make your beach home look great on a small budget, consider painting the cabinets and replacing the hardware, or whitewashing your existing furniture. 

You can add slipcovers to furniture and pillows, and put beach-friendly throw rugs down to hide ugly floors. You can also paint window treatments, add an accent wall, or buy some new light fixtures and tropical house plants.

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