The Weekend Reno – 5 Budget Friendly Home Improvements That Add Value

When you’re renovating in the UK, it’s easy to get distracted by the “shiny” things—the designer radiators or the smart fridges. But if your goal is to increase your property’s “bricks and mortar” value without draining your life savings, you need to think like a surveyor.

The current 2026 market rewards efficiency, space, and first impressions. Here are five budget-friendly projects that typically offer the best Return on Investment (ROI).

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The Weekend Reno – 5 Budget Friendly Home Improvements That Add Value

1. The “Mini” Kitchen Makeover

The kitchen remains the heart of the home, but a full refit can easily top £15,000. For a fraction of that (approx. £1,000–£3,000), you can achieve a “High Impact” result.

The Strategy: Keep the carcasses (the boxes) and simply replace the doors and handles.
The Value: A fresh, modern kitchen can add 4–6% to your home’s value. Buyers often over-estimate the cost of a kitchen, so seeing a “done” one removes a major hurdle.
Ready to Reno? Start with our Kitchen Refresh Checklist

2. Boosting the “EPC” Appeal (Energy Efficiency)

With energy costs still a top priority for UK households, a “Green” renovation is no longer optional.

The Strategy: Top up your loft insulation to the recommended 270mm and switch to LED lighting throughout. If your budget stretches, a smart thermostat (like Nest or Tado) is a high-perceived-value “tech” win.
The Value: Moving your home from an EPC D to a C can significantly increase saleability and can add up to 10% to the value in some regions.
Ready to Reno? Start with our EPC Boost Checklist

3. Kerb Appeal: The “First 30 Seconds” Rule

Buyers often make up their minds before they’ve even stepped into the hallway.

The Strategy: Sand and repaint the front door (think classic Navy, Sage, or Anthracite), polish the brassware, and tidy the front garden. Replacing a tired, cracked path with gravel or modern paving is a weekend DIY job with massive payoff.
The Value: Professional staging experts suggest good kerb appeal can add up to 5% to the final sale price.
Ready to Reno? Start with our Kerb Appeal Checklist

4. Splitting or “Creating” Space

In the UK, we are obsessed with “room count.”

The Strategy: If you have a large, wasted landing or an oversized bedroom, look at adding a stud wall to create a home office or a nursery. Conversely, removing a non-load-bearing wall between a dark kitchen and dining room to create “open plan” living is a major value-driver.
The Value: Adding a functional “extra” room (even a small office) can increase value by 5–10%, especially in the era of hybrid working.
Ready to Reno? Start with our Space Creator Checklist

5. The Bathroom “Boutique” Refresh

You don’t need to move the plumbing to make a bathroom feel new. Moving pipes is where the money disappears.

The Strategy: Re-grout existing tiles, replace a stained lino floor with LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile), and swap out tired taps for modern matte black or brushed gold versions.
The Value: A clean, hygienic-looking bathroom adds roughly 3% in value and, more importantly, prevents buyers from “low-balling” their offer due to perceived work needed.
Ready to Reno? Start with our Boutique Bathroom Checklist

Which project should you start first?

The best way to decide is to see where these projects sit on your Home Reno Priority Matrix.

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