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10 Best Home Improvement Projects Under $1,000

Updating countertops, painting the exterior or upgrading an appliance are simple ways to add big value to your home.

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bathtub removalFamily Handyman

Replace Bathtub

Installing a new bathtub will immediately add value to your home and doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can go with a more expensive freestanding tub or maybe a less expensive acrylic bathtub.

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Stone Veneer

Install Manufactured Stone Veneer

Adding stone veneer is always one of the best bang-for-your-buck-home improvement projects. Prices for low-end manufactured materials might cost as little as $9 or $10 per square foot, though high-end materials can cost 10 times that price. For $1,000, you won’t be able to add stones across your whole home’s exterior. But you can build an accent wall or place some stones around beams.

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Family Handyman

Add Recessed Lighting

The number of recessed lights you can budget for $1,000 depends on whether you’re hiring a pro or DIYing the project, but the improved look over any dated light fixture will be well worth it.

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Small kitchen with a blue backsplashEric Hernandez/Getty Images

Upgrade an Appliance

You probably won’t land a high-end appliance for less than $1,000, but there are plenty of high-quality refrigerators, ovens and more for sale at an affordable price.

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composite deckFamily Handyman

Upgrade Deck or Patio Railing

If your outdoor railing is falling apart or dated, installing a new one with a modern look adds major value to your home.

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yellow window shuttersLokuttara/Shutterstock

Add Window Shutters

Window shutters are a great way to boost curb appeal without spending a ton of money. Unless you have an unusually high number of windows, you should be able to add shutters to every window and stay under $1,000, especially if you make DIY window shutters.

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Touching Up Wall PaintFOTOGRAFIA INC./Getty Images

Paint Every Room of the House

For $1,000 you should be able to paint just about every room of an average-sized house. A five-gallon bucket of premium interior paint will cost a couple of hundred dollars, while lower quality paint will cost half of that or even less. Painting each room will make the home look cohesive and fresh.

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sand countertops

Replace Countertops

Countertop prices vary depending on material. Laminate or butcher block offer affordable and trendy options at a fraction of the price of quartz, marble or granite.

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man smearing flooring material on the floorShutterstock/ Dmitry Kalinovsky

Add New Flooring to an Average-Sized Room

For $1,000, you won’t be able to change out all the flooring in your home. But you can upgrade at least one average-sized room with a high-end laminate.

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painting vinyl siding Brian McEntire/Shutterstock

DIY Paint Exterior of Home

Going the DIY route for painting the exterior of your home will save you thousands in labor. Make your home the envy of the neighborhood with a trendy paint color.

Alex Shoemaker
Alex is an avid DIYer but had little experience before purchasing his first home in 2019. A Family Handyman subscription was one of his first purchases after becoming a homeowner, and he's been hooked ever since. When he’s not working, he can be found fixing up his 1940s Florida home or relaxing on the beach with his family.