Planning a Home Refresh: Where to Start and What to Tackle First

Are you looking to refresh your home but don’t know where to start?

Refreshing your home doesn’t always have to be through renovations. Sometimes just some small tasks here and there are all you need.

The trouble is knowing where to begin.

Luckily for you…

If done correctly with some trusted help from a handyman for small jobs, you can change your home in no time. Plus, you don’t have to spend much money at all doing it.

In this post, I’m going to go over where you start your home refresh and what projects you should tackle first.

Let’s jump right in!

Why Small Home Refresh Projects Are Important

Home refresh projects have been around for years and are only getting more popular.

In fact, a recent Houzz study revealed that 54% of homeowners completed home renovation projects in 2024. Numbers like this show they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

However…

There is a trend starting to surface that homeowners are moving away from grand-scale renovations and starting to focus on smaller more impactful updates. From fresh paint to minor repairs and fixtures, small jobs add value and are worth the time.

Plus, they’re:

More cost-effective as you can spread the costs
Quick to get done
Provide high impact

If you’re changing anything around the home, chances are you’re going to need to find a handyman for small jobs. Getting quotes for any handyman job beforehand allows you to know how much things will cost and find who can complete the job best for your needs.

Smart right?

Where To Start Your Home Refresh?

Don’t just jump straight into painting walls or hiring professionals.

Take a good look around your home. Figure out what areas need refreshing first.

Ask yourself these questions:

What rooms do you spend most of your time in?
What really bothers you on a day to day basis?
Where do people spend most of their time when they’re over at your house?

These are normally the areas that will benefit most from some refreshing. Places such as the living room, kitchen and main bathroom are normally the places to start.

One tip most people don’t think about…

Don’t try and do your entire house in one go. Choose one room or project and complete it before starting another. This will allow you to see change quicker and won’t leave you feeling like everything is half-finished.

Top 5 Projects To Tackle First

Without further ado, these are the projects I believe to be the best ones to start with.

They’re quick, easy and can make a world of difference.

1. Freshen Up With Paint

Paint can be your best friend when refreshing your home.

It’s cheap. It doesn’t take as long as you think. And the rewards are instant.

Areas that look dull or may have markings and scuffs should be your first priority. If you’re going to sell your home in the future, try to stick with neutral colours. But if you’re keeping your house forever, go wild with some feature walls!

Pro Tip: Painting door frames and doors are often over looked. Something as simple as this can make your space feel brand new.

2. Change Out Fixtures

There’s nothing that makes a house look old then outdated fixtures.

Door knobs and cabinet handles. Light fittings and switches. Bath taps and showerheads. Plug socket covers.

Changing these types of things will only take you a few minutes, but will instantly modernise your space. A lot of handymen for small jobs can do multiple fixture changes in one visit.

3. Address Minor Repairs

You know that cupboard door that’s been hanging off for months?

How about that sink that drips every 5 seconds?

Small repairs can pile up in your home over time. Something as simple as addressing these can show that your home is well looked after.

According to Gitnux, 71% of homeowners say that using a handyman saves them time and money.

Logical when you think about it…

The last thing you want is for a problem to snowball and become a bigger issue. Spend a little time each week addressing minor repairs and you won’t have to worry.

4. Improve Lighting

Lighting can make or break the atmosphere in any room.

Consider your current lighting and how you can change it. Add lamps to create layers of light. Dimmer switches are another great option. Under cabinet lighting is a game changer in kitchens.

You’ll notice an instant difference by sprucing up how your rooms are lit.

5. Declutter and Deep Clean

Okay, you got me…

This isn’t a home improvement project.

But hear me out!

Deep cleaning your home from top to bottom and organising your things can make your home feel like new. Clear surfaces of clutter. Clean windows inside and outside. Add storage and organisation to closets and cabinets.

Starting with these tasks will make any home improvement project look ten times better.

Finding Someone To Help With Your Home Refresh

Here’s a fun fact about home refresh projects…

Not everything needs to be done by a professional.

There’s nothing worse than paying someone to come out and fix something you could’ve DIYed. Always know your limits and when you may need assistance.

Electrical work, plumbing and structural updates should always be left to qualified tradesman.

However, for maintenance tasks and small updates. Hiring a handyman is your best bet as they can normally tackle any task thrown their way.

When hiring a handyman for smaller jobs, you want to look for:

Reviews
Transparent pricing
Experience
Good communication

Always obtain multiple quotes so you can compare the prices between them. In most cases, homeowners will save money by letting the handyman complete multiple jobs in one visit rather than multiple professionals coming out separately.

How To Plan Your Home Refresh

Excited to get started? Here is a simple process that will work for you.

Step 1: Walk around your home and write down what you want to change.

Step 2: Decide what will have the highest impact. What will make your day-to-day life better?

Step 3: Set a budget for how much you want to spend on this phase of refreshing.

Step 4: Determine what you can do yourself and what you will need help with.

Step 5: Obtain quotes, schedule your work and enjoy the transformations.

Start small and don’t get overwhelmed. One project completed will lead to another. Before you know it you’re home will be refreshed!

Wrap Up

Refreshments don’t always have to be expensive or take months to complete.

By taking on small projects that provide high impact you can transform your home one piece at a time. Knowing what you can do yourself and hiring a handyman for small jobs when you need too will allow you to finish projects quicker.

Here’s what you should remember:

Start in high traffic areas
Fresh paint is your best friend
Change out dated fixtures
Tackle minor repairs
Improve lighting
Declutter and deep clean

Home refreshes don’t happen overnight. Choose where you want to start and create a simple plan to follow. Before you know it you’ll be reaching that final step.

See you next time!