Budget-Friendly Ways To Give Your Floors An Upgrade

Constant walking and running, dirty shoes, pets, spills, and dropped dishes wreak havoc on flooring and make it look old before its time. But installing new hardwood planks, tiles, and other expensive materials just isn't an option for many people. Everyone's budget is different, so we've investigated some of the least costly and most creative ways to add new life to the floors beneath your feet. You won't see wall-to-wall carpeting or high-end ceramic floor tiles here, and none of these projects require professional installation.

Some of these upgrades won't take much time at all, but others require more planning and effort. You might be able to complete one in an afternoon but otherwise, plan to block out a day or two. They're all cosmetic, budget-friendly upgrades that don't change a floor's overall structure. You will need to do prep work for most of them, though. Keep an open mind because some might seem surprising at first. And after you choose and complete your budget-friendly floor upgrade, remember to prevent humans and pets from tracking dirt on it. Sweep, mop, and vacuum often, and keep your pets' nails trimmed, and your upgrade won't need to be upgraded again for a long time.

Do you dislike the color of your hardwood floors? Rather than replace them, you can change their stain or paint them. Stains cost less than paints and are easier to work with. It's a good choice if you want to enhance the color of the wood or add a more modern tint to the floor. Whitewashing is a type of stain that can really brighten up floors — it works especially well on pine surfaces. Other shades are designed to complement, not cover up, the natural wood.

Paints are thicker than stains, so you won't need to apply as many coats. The finish will be more even, and there are more colors to pick from. Also, while paint is more likely to chip and peel over time, stains will fade sooner. The best way to choose a stain or paint color is to get a few samples and test them in inconspicuous areas before committing.

Before starting, you'll need to clean and sand the floors. Stains don't require primers and can be applied with lambswool applicators. If you paint the floors, an all-purpose paint primer needs to go down first. Once that has dried for 24 hours, you can go ahead and start painting. Allow the first coat to dry for 24 hours before applying the second one.

The farmhouse look is still going strong, and you can incorporate it into your abode with appealing DIY floor planks. The materials are sold in different sizes online by companies like Barnwood USA, or you can source your own from a lumber store. To save even more money, buy larger planks and cut them down to size. One option is to get 4-x-8-foot pine plank sheets, and cut them into 1 x 6-foot pieces. Each sheet costs around $20, making this an affordable option. You can do this yourself or ask the store to do it for you. You'll want to sand each board by hand and soften up the edges, too. Precut pine plywood also works, and costs less than thick wood.

To build this upgrade, drill holes in the planks and attach them to the floor with wood screws or nails. Those should go into the floor joists, not the subfloor. You can stagger the seams and use different-sized and different-colored planks for a more unique look. Once they are secured to the floor, sweep and vacuum the surface. Then, you can finish with a wood stain that brings out the wood's natural grain. Be sure to paint over the screws or nailheads to prevent dirt from getting into them.

Epoxy  floor coatings are made out of resin and hardeners, and offer more of an industrial look. This works beautifully on basement and garage floors, but if you're drawn to the look, there's no reason why you can't try it in your kitchen and other rooms. It can be poured on top of wood, tile, and concrete, and bonds to the surfaces. You end up with a thick, hard plastic coating that can stand up to almost anything.

Flooring professionals can do this job, or you can DIY with an epoxy kit. The floor needs to be cleaned and dried first, and then you can apply a primer coat. The epoxy needs to get mixed up before applying, and you can add decorative elements like metallic pigments. Apply it to the floor evenly with a special roller designed not to shed its fabric covering (nap). Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the drying time, then seal the floor with an epoxy sealant product.

Unlike adhesive-backed wallpaper, peel-and-stick tiles don't come in sheets, and many are designed specifically for floors. Some are even made to resemble wood planks, and others are cut from carpets. The key is to look for strong adhesive backings that won't damage your floors. As with peel-and-stick wallpaper, research the brands and choose accordingly. You also don't want to buy vinyl peel-and-stick tiles that are little more than temporary vinyl decorative stickers. And avoid using adhesive-backed products like these on hardwood because the residue could ruin the floors.

These come in a wide variety of colors and patterns; all you need to install them are a measuring stick, carpenter square, and utility knife. As with any tiles, you'll have to trim some of them to fit along the room's walls and corners. These tiles work particularly well in kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms, and go right on top of the existing floors. You can even mix and match different colors and patterns on one floor. Easy peasy, and very cool!

Dirt and grime get deep into carpet fibers, making them look old and dingy before their time. So unless your carpet is full of holes and its pile is completely worn out, it's possible to wake it up with a few clever hacks. The first step is to comb it out. There are carpet rakes made for this purpose, or you can use a regular comb or rake as long as it's very strong, not too sharp, and has metal or plastic teeth. Start by the wall and gently comb it towards your body. For best results, move against the pile direction. Repeat this over the entire carpet, and then vacuum. If any loose or extra-long fibers are sticking up, trim them off with scissors.

If you notice stains, one solution is to spray shaving cream onto them. Other homemade carpet cleaning remedies include baking soda, vinegar, hairspray, and club soda. Let the solution rest for 30 minutes and blot it away with clean cloths. Once those have been attended to, you can sprinkle baking soda over the entire carpet and vacuum again. Does the carpet still look dirty? Renting a carpet steam cleaner is cheaper than hiring a carpet cleaning company or buying a new carpet. And if all else fails, throw an attractive area rug over it to hide it.

Not all homes have concrete floors, but those that do can be upgraded with eye-catching colors and patterns. Like epoxy, this is more of an industrial look, but photos of stained concrete floors have been showcased in high-end decor magazines for years. You can pay to have it done for a few dollars per square foot, or take on the job yourself. And since concrete is so absorbent, you can pick from any color of the rainbow.

The two kinds of concrete stains available are water- and acid-based. The latter is harder to work with but provides a longer-lasting finish. You can also choose from solid and semi-transparent stains. Clean the floor with a degreasing product and repair any cracks with a concrete repair sealant. The stain can be applied with a pump sprayer or by hand with paint rollers and brushes. Take care not to overlap the edges because the color will be noticeably darker — feel free to apply two coats, though. Finish the upgrade by applying a concrete sealing product to preserve your work. There are matte, glossy, and wet-look finishes available.