If you’ve moved into a 90s home, you may be wondering how to update it without breaking the bank. Typical 90s homes have a lot of golden oak, silver and gold finishes, and tend to lack character. While we loved the layout of the home we bought two years ago, we knew that we wanted to update the space with a more modern feel that fit our style.

Here’s what our home looked like when we bought it…

As you can tell, there was a lot of golden oak and the rooms didn’t have much style or thought behind them. Our plan included scraping all the popcorn ceilings, painting all of the walls and cabinets, replacing light fixtures, updating hardware, changing out faucets, and bringing in furniture and decor we loved.

Here are 5 of my top tips on how to update your 90s home:

1. Paint Your Walls

My number one tip to give your home a major upgrade is to paint your walls! Paint is a game changer and it doesn’t cost a fortune, especially if you’re doing the painting yourself.

Before

After
We chose to use the same neutral white paint color throughout the main spaces to create consistency and brighten up the space. The previous walls had a creamy yellow paint that brought out the golden tones in the wood. Once we painted them a true white, the wood looks so much more natural.

Bedrooms are where you can go bolder and darker with paint. In our bedroom, we used a dark navy that made the space feel calm and cozy. It also highlights the wood trim and doors beautifully since there is more of a contrast.

2. Give Cabinetry a Refresh

When all of the wood in a home is the same color and tone, it can start to feel overbearing. Painting cabinetry is a great way to distinguish it from the trim and millwork in your home. In our kitchen, we went with this beautiful green color that complemented the wood.

Before
Before, we had vinyl floors that definitely dated the space. After painting the cabinetry and installing black hexagon peel & stick tile, this kitchen feels so different from the original space.

After
Now, I love this view looking into our living room from the kitchen because there isn’t a pendant hanging in the way and the cabinets stand out from the trim around the pass-through window.

3. Update Faucets and Hardware

Faucets and hardware can instantly update the look of your home! We changed out all of the pulls and knobs on the cabinets and replaced the faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen. Plumbing fixtures can be expensive, but there are a lot of budget-friendly options out there and it really does make a difference.

Before
The bathrooms all had builder-grade mirrors and silver and gold faucets. They needed a new look!

After
By replacing the faucets and hardware (along with lighting and the mirror), this feels like a different space! The black fixtures tie into the black paint we used on the vanities as well.

4. Change Out Your Light Fixtures

Lighting is another simple way to completely transform your space! Plus, there are so many awesome light fixtures out there that don’t cost a fortune. A couple of places to start looking for lighting include Home Depot, Build.com, and Bellacor.

Before
This light in the dining room was not our style at all, so we swapped it out from this…

After
…to this! It’s much more modern and simple, while still providing good light for over the table. We kept the black and gold finish theme going through all the fixtures in our home to bring consistency and flow throughout the spaces.

Before
In our entry space, we knew the front door and light had to go because they really dated the home.

After
A new simple light fixture allowed the door to be the focal point here. With a new door, we also installed black hardware on the front door and a cute knob on the bi-fold door as well.

In our guest bedroom, we installed this fun sputnik light that was less than $100 and added a statement to this room.

5. Bring in Furniture & Decor You Love

Still need another tip on how to update your home? Bring in furniture and decor you love. This will immediately make the space feel more like you! By mixing woods, adding cozy textures, and hanging artwork, you can highlight pieces that reflect your style, rather than elements you may not love in your home.

It takes time for a house to feel like home. After finding various pieces on Facebook Marketplace, thrifting for furniture stores, and intentionally buying new pieces, this space started to feel like our own. My recommendation is to set a budget each month and start looking for decor and furniture that you really like. Write down every item you’d like to add and then slowly start checking them off your list. Whether it’s brand new or something you found, it will bring a fresh look to your space.

When we first moved in, I had thought that we’d eventually want to paint the trim and millwork throughout our home. After we made these changes, I realized how much the wood brought warmth and a coziness to the space I had not felt before. The new paint, different cabinet colors, and modern lighting and hardware really made a difference in bringing this home out of the 90s and more to our style.

For more ideas on how to update your home, check out the following blog posts:

• Planning Your Next Home Project
• 5 Lessons We Learned in our First Year as Homeowners
• How to Install Peel & Stick Tile

And if you have questions on how to update a specific area in your home, I’d love to answer them in the comments below! Otherwise, you can always book a free design call HERE if you’re thinking of a more in-depth refresh or remodel.