Living in a top city like Philadelphia is expensive — everything from the cost of transportation to food to exploring the city-wide attractions can potentially strain your budget. When you’re on a tight budget, it can be difficult to get the motivation to make necessary improvements to your home. However, there are ways to make cheap home improvements to your property in Philly that can add a lot of value to the home without breaking the bank. Here are a few easy and inexpensive upgrades that you can start on a Friday and probably be finished with by Sunday night.

Repaint or Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinets

Your kitchen cabinets: You see them every day when you wake up for your morning coffee, and every day you wish they looked better. The cost of getting brand-new cabinetry can reach well into the thousands, but that doesn’t have to stop you from improving the way they look right now. Here’s all you have to do:

1. Rent or buy a hand sander from a home improvement store.
2. Remove each wood cabinet from its hinges.
3. Sand the cabinets thoroughly until you get to the clean unpainted (or unstained) layer below.
4. Repaint the cabinet in the color you love, add a coat of lacquer for shine, and then rehang them when they’re dry.

The entire cost of this simple fix is under $75 for the hand sander and stain. If you have metal cabinets, remove them from the wall and use a $5 can of colored spray paint to make them look more appealing until you can afford all-new cabinetry.

Refinish Wood Flooring

Many older Philadelphia homes are outfitted with wall-to-wall wood flooring. It makes for a very dramatic living and dining room area, but over time, the wooden boards become worn and scuffed. Instead of spending thousands to have the floor replaced or carpet installed, refinish the existing wood flooring instead. Start by renting a floor drum sander — the cost is manageable (about $25 to $50 per day). Remove the top layer of the floor to smooth out the surface, clean up thoroughly, and then stain it in an attractive color that goes with the room’s decor. Add a layer or two of lacquer to the top to protect the surface from future damage. Again, the cost of this basic project is very reasonable and can add a lot of value to your home: The entire project can cost about $100-$200, depending on the size of the room.

Add a New Backsplash Behind Your Kitchen or Bathroom Sink

You’d be surprised at how even the smallest of changes can improve the look of an entire room. Adding a backsplash to the area above your kitchen or bathroom sink is one of those changes. Purchase tiling in the shades and style of your choice and plenty of grout. You may also need to invest in a tool for cutting tile and a sander (with coarse-grit paper) to prepare the wall. Install the tiles one by one in a design that will add a “splash” of color and charm to the room. Consider doing the same to the wall behind your bathroom tub. Plan to invest about $100 or less for this simple project, depending on the size of the area you’d like to cover.

Hopefully these ideas will inspire you to start a weekend do-it-yourself project for your Philly home. You may be very pleasantly surprised at the great results you’ll get from spending just a couple of hundred dollars on tools and supplies needed to complete these easy and cheap home improvements.

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