Looking for some simple ways to update your home in 2020? Here are 25 simple updates that won’t break the bank. Most of these projects you can finish in a weekend.

Ahhhhh.

2019.

You were amazing.

You were the year of the football playoffs and the driver’s license challenges and one of the best hair days I’ve ever had and blogging trips from sea to shining sea.

I am going to miss you.

Truly.

I don’t really want to break up, but you see—I’ve got a new boyfriend now. His name is 2020 and he’s symmetrical and handsome and good-looking and funny and he’s already sent me a bunch of presents and promises of all the incredible that is to come.

So let’s close this chapter with a look back.

At all the amazing things we accomplished in 2019. All the painting, all the remodeling, all the decorating, all the rearranging, all the creative ways to make home a brighter place to be.

Here are my favorite projects and 25 ways to update your home in 2020.

25 ways to update your home in 2020

1. Paint

Paint is your buddy.

It’s one of the easiest ways to update your home without breaking the bank.

Here’s a detailed post on how to choose paint colors for an entire house.

2. Architectural details

This is one of my favorites.

It’s so easy to make a home look custom with a little molding and some caulk.

Here’s how to add architectural details to your home on a budget.

3. Painting brick

We transformed the front of our house by painting the brick.

This was one of the most popular posts of the year and one of the most cost affordable ways to update your home.

See how we painted it and a little before and after here.

4. Home decor hacks

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be all about the big projects.

Instead?

Here are seven simple home decor hacks to help you with some creative short-cuts.

5. Mini barn door

This is one of the easiest projects you can finish in a weekend—the mini barn door that we have in our laundry room.

It slides over to hide the trash and all the nonsense.

You can see how we made it here.

6. painting concrete

This is one of my favorite DIY’s we did at the house.

It makes me smile every day.

See what this porch looks like now and how we did it.

7. paint a piece of furniture

Like this table.

Here’s the before and I crackled the top to create a vintage, farmhouse finish.

See the after here.

8. Rescue a piece of furniture

Like this hutch.

We completely transformed it into something that looks like it came out of an old farmhouse.

See the before and after here.

9. Turn bookcases into built-ins

These are simple wood bookcases that we built into the media room upstairs.

And now?

They look like they came with the house.

See the project here.

10. build a plate rack

This won’t even take you a weekend.

Just a couple of hours.

See the project here.

11. make a wood planter box

Why pay for expensive wood planter boxes when you can make your own.

And add a monogram, too.

See the project here.

12. Make lined curtains

Add curtains to your windows before the holidays.

It’s easy to make them with this simple tip.

Here’s the easiest, simplest tip to line curtains.

13. Paint a garden shed

This was another one of my most popular projects for 2019.

We updated the garden shed in the back of the yard with paint.

See the before and after and how we did it here.

14. How to declutter your home in 10 minutes a day

I know it’s not a project, but this was too good of an update not to share.

You can update your home without spending a dime by decluttering it.

See how I declutter my home in 10 mintues a day here.

15. Transform a playhouse

This was just a plastic playhouse.

We transformed it into a grocery store in an afternoon.

See how we created it here.

16. Create an instant guest bedroom

If you are having guests for the holidays, this project is perfect.

It might take you a little longer than a weekend, but I had to include it for anyone who needs extra space.

See how to create an instant guest bedroom here.

17. How to create a pallet board cornice

This is such a creative way to reuse pallet wood.

Here’s how to make your own cornice here.

18. Faux fireplace surround

We had this mantel and wanted to make it look like it was built-in.

Now it looks like it came with the house.

Here’s how we built it here.

19. Spray paint

Spray paint is your friend.

Truly.

Here are nine things that you can transform with spray paint.

20. Dropcloth curtains

I have no sew drop cloth curtains and sew drop cloth curtain tutorials for you.

You can see them both here.

Along with ALL THE QUESTIONS.

21. Style your kitchen cabinets

If you are looking for simple ways to update your home, this house update will take you about 2 hours.

But the results?

They will last until 2021.

If you don’t have open kitchen cabinets, you could style a bookcase or a hutch.

See all the how to’s here.

22. Paint your fence

This project took more than a weekend.

But it was so worth it.

Here’s the before and after and how we painted our wood fence.

23. How to make a quote wall

This project is one of the easiest ways to update your home.

I’ve even seen these ledges in Target.

You can update a wall and include your word of the year, too.

You can see the entire project here.

24. Add a window to your wall

This is a vintage window I got it at a yard sale.

Just in case you had one too and didn’t know what to do with it?

Here’s how I styled it four different ways.

25. Unslump your couch cushions

I had to include this project because this is the most popular post on my blog of all time.

Who knew?

And the best part?

It’s such an EASY 20-minute decorating project.

If you have slumpy couch cushions, you can fix them in a hot minute.

See the entire step-by-step solution here.

And now?

2020 is so bright I’m going to have to wear shades.

Here are just a few of the projects we have scheduled for the new year:

• paint upstairs windows
• add trim to builder’s grade closet doors
• build closet organizers
• add floor molding to the office
• remodel the back porch
• transform the car port into a porch

It’s going to be an AMAZING YEAR.

I hope you will follow along and I’ll see you next decade.

Looking for a little more inspiration?

Here’s some amazing wrap-ups from some of my favorite friends.

Designthusiasm | On Sutton Place | Maison de Cinq

French Country Cottage | Thistlewood Farms | Town & Country Living

Cherished Bliss | My 100 Year Old Home | Rooms for Rent

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.