Spring Home Refresh on a Budget: 15 Ideas Under $50 Each

After months of heavy blankets and dark, cozy vibes, there is nothing quite like giving your home a fresh start for spring. The good news is that you absolutely do not need a big budget to make it happen. Every single idea in this post costs less than $50, and several of them are completely free.

I refresh our home every spring, and with four kiddos running around, I have learned that the best updates are the ones that look beautiful, hold up to real life, and do not require a weekend-long project. These are the changes that actually make a difference in how your home looks and feels without breaking the bank.

Start with a Clean Slate

Before you add a single spring touch, give your home a good deep clean. I know that is not the glamorous advice you came here for, but here’s the thing: new throw pillows on a dusty couch do not have the same effect. Wipe down surfaces, wash your windows inside and out, and vacuum under the furniture. You will be amazed at how much brighter and fresher everything feels just from clean windows alone.

While you are at it, do a quick declutter of each room. Donate what you are not using, toss what is worn out, and put away the winter-specific items that have been sitting out. A decluttered space is the best foundation for any seasonal refresh, and it costs absolutely nothing.

Cost: Free

Swap Your Throw Pillows

This is hands down my favorite spring update because it makes the biggest visual impact for the least amount of effort. Take your heavy velvet or dark-toned winter pillows and tuck them away. Bring in pillow covers in lighter fabrics like cotton or linen, in soft spring tones.

For 2026, muted greens like sage and eucalyptus are everywhere, and they pair beautifully with warm whites and cream. I also love a subtle floral or stripe pattern for spring. The key is to buy pillow covers instead of entirely new pillows. You keep the inserts and just swap the covers each season.

You can find a set of two pillow covers at Walmart for around $15, and Target’s Hearth & Hand and Studio McGee spring collections have gorgeous options starting under $20.

Cost: ~$15-$40 for a set (Walmart)

Switch to Lightweight Throws

Along with your pillows, swap out any heavy knit or faux fur throws for something lighter. A cotton or linen throw draped over the arm of your couch instantly says spring. Look for one with tassels or fringe for a little extra texture and that grandmillennial charm we all love.

I keep a lightweight throw on the back of our couch year-round because even in spring, there are chilly evenings when the littles want to snuggle up for a movie. A tassel-trimmed throw starts around $16.

Cost: ~$15-$35 (Walmart)

Bring in Fresh Flowers

Nothing says spring like fresh blooms on your kitchen counter or dining table. You do not need to spend a fortune on elaborate arrangements either. A simple bunch of tulips in a clear glass vase is classic, beautiful, and budget-friendly.

Trader Joe’s has gorgeous tulips for around $9, and most grocery stores carry seasonal bouquets starting at $6. If fresh flowers are not in the weekly budget, faux florals have come a long way. Walmart has realistic-looking cherry blossom stems starting around $7, and Target’s spring collection includes some beautiful faux arrangements that look surprisingly real.

My tip for making grocery store flowers look more polished: trim the stems at an angle, remove any leaves below the waterline, and use a vase that is proportional to the bouquet. Simple and elegant.

Cost: ~$6-$25 (Walmart)

Lighten Up Your Windows

If you have heavy drapes from the winter months, this swap will make a huge difference. Replacing them with sheer or lightweight linen curtains lets so much more natural light into your rooms. The whole space feels brighter and more open.

Here is the best part: sheer curtain two-packs start at just $8 at Walmart, and they come in a ton of sizes and colors. White or cream sheers are a safe bet and work with almost any room. If you love the layered look, you can keep your existing curtain rod and layer sheers behind your regular panels.

Cost: ~$8-$35 (Walmart)

Refresh Your Front Porch

Your front porch is the first thing people see, and a few small changes can make it feel completely new. Start with a fresh doormat. The layered doormat look is still going strong, and you can find a cute spring option for under $20 at Walmart. Add a seasonal wreath to your front door (Walmart has eucalyptus and floral wreaths starting around $12), and you have instant curb appeal.

If you have planters, fill them with pansies, violas, or other cool-weather spring flowers from your local garden center. A few pots of flowers and a clean, fresh doormat make your entry feel so welcoming.

Cost: ~$15-$45 (Walmart)

Rearrange Your Furniture

This is my favorite free refresh, and I do it almost every season. Simply moving your sofa to a different wall, swapping chairs between rooms, or even just angling a piece of furniture differently can make a room feel brand new.

When you rearrange, think about how the natural light has shifted as the days get longer. Maybe your reading chair would be better near the window now, or your dining table could move closer to the natural light for those longer spring evenings. Pull furniture away from the walls if possible, even just a few inches. It creates a more intentional, designer-like feel.

Cost: Free

Add a Spring Candle or Diffuser

Scent is one of the most underrated ways to refresh your home. Put away the pine and cinnamon candles and bring out something light and fresh. Lavender, jasmine, citrus, and linen scents all feel like spring.

Reed diffusers are a great hands-free option, especially if you have littles in the house. You set it and forget it, and they provide a subtle, continuous fragrance. Amazon has highly rated options for around $19. If you prefer candles, look for a soy or cotton-wick option in a pretty glass jar that doubles as decor.

Cost: ~$10-$30 (Amazon)

Update Your Kitchen Towels

This is such a small thing, but it makes more of a difference than you might think. Swap your dark or holiday-themed kitchen towels for lighter, brighter ones. Think soft blues, greens, or a cheerful gingham or floral pattern.

I change our kitchen towels out with every season, and it is one of the easiest ways to bring a little color and freshness into the kitchen. Target’s Hearth & Hand collection always has beautiful spring towels, and you can usually find a set for under $10. Drape one over the oven handle and fold another by the sink for an instant refresh.

Cost: ~$8-$15 (Target)

Create a Simple Gallery Swap

You do not need to buy all new art to refresh your walls. Here are a few budget-friendly approaches that I love. First, swap art between rooms. The piece you have been looking at all winter in the living room might feel completely fresh in the hallway or bedroom.

Second, look for affordable frames at HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, or Target (the Studio McGee frames are around $16 and look so much more expensive) and print a few seasonal botanical prints. There are beautiful free printables online, or you can print a favorite photo from your garden.

Third, try pressing flowers or greenery from your yard between the pages of a heavy book, then frame them in a simple frame. It is a gorgeous, personal touch that costs almost nothing.

Cost: Free to ~$25 (Target)

Swap Your Bedding

Your bedroom deserves a spring refresh too. Trade your heavy duvet or flannel sheets for something lighter and brighter. A cotton coverlet or lightweight quilt set gives your bed a completely different look and feel for the warmer months.

You do not have to replace everything at once. Even just adding a lighter throw at the foot of the bed and swapping your pillow shams for a spring color or pattern can transform the whole room. Layer in a mix of textures, like a linen lumbar pillow paired with cotton euro shams, for that collected, cozy look.

Cost: ~$20-$50 for a coverlet or quilt (Walmart); free to swap existing pieces

Add Greenery and Potted Plants

Indoor plants bring life and color to every room, and they make your home feel so much more vibrant for spring. If you do not have a green thumb, start with something low-maintenance like a pothos, snake plant, or small succulent.

For the kitchen, fresh potted herbs are a wonderful option. They look beautiful on the windowsill, smell amazing, and you can actually use them for cooking. A small pot of basil, rosemary, or mint from the grocery store usually runs about $4-$6.

Cost: $5-$25

Display Seasonal Fruit

This one is so simple, but it adds such a pretty, natural touch to your kitchen or dining table. Fill a bowl or wooden tray with seasonal fruit like lemons, limes, green apples, or oranges. The colors are vibrant and cheerful, and you can eat the decor when you are done with it.

I love using a white ceramic bowl or a wooden dough bowl for this. It is an effortless way to add a pop of color without buying any new decor items.

Cost: $5-$10 (or free with your regular grocery run)

Update Your Bathroom Basics

The bathroom is easy to overlook, but a few small swaps make it feel so much more polished. Replace worn towels with a fresh set in white or a soft spring color. Swap out your soap dispenser for a pretty ceramic or glass one. Add a small plant or a bud vase with a single stem.

If you want to go a step further, a new shower curtain in a lighter color or spring pattern can change the whole feel of the room. Target has great options for under $25.

Cost: ~$10-$40 (Target)

Swap Hardware for a Quick Upgrade

This one takes about ten minutes and makes a surprising difference. Swapping out cabinet pulls or knobs in your kitchen or bathroom is one of the fastest ways to upgrade your space. Gold or brass hardware is timeless and pairs beautifully with almost every style.

Most hardware packs are under $30 for a set, and you only need a screwdriver to install them. It is one of those small changes that makes your whole kitchen or bathroom feel more intentional and polished.

Cost: ~$15-$45 (Walmart)

Create a Spring Vignette

Finally, pull a few of your new spring touches together into one intentional display. This could be on your mantel, entry table, coffee table, or a kitchen shelf. Layer a small stack of books, a candle, a small plant or vase of flowers, and maybe a decorative tray or bowl.

The key to a vignette that looks collected and not cluttered is to vary the heights and textures. Group items in odd numbers (three or five pieces works well), and leave a little breathing room between items. This is where shopping your own home really shines. Pull items from different rooms and see how they look together in a new spot.

Cost: Free to $20 (using items you already own plus one or two new touches)

Making It All Come Together

Here is what I love about a spring refresh: it does not have to happen all at once. Pick three or four ideas from this list to start with, and add more as you go through the season. The free ideas alone, like decluttering, rearranging furniture, and swapping items between rooms, can make your home feel like a completely different space.

And if you are a mama who is feeling like the house needs a fresh start after a long winter, give yourself grace. Even one bouquet of tulips on the counter can shift the whole mood of your home. Spring is all about fresh beginnings, and your home can reflect that in ways that are simple, beautiful, and completely doable on a budget.

Happy spring refreshing, mama!