The warmer weather is hitting and we’re eager to make some upgrades to our homes. But you don’t have to hire a contractor or handyman to help you out, there are cheap and easy DIY projects that only look expensive. Below are some upgrades that won’t break your home renovation budget! Upgrade your outlets: It sounds easy — because it is! This is a simple and affordable do-it-yourself project and it makes your house look more modern. Check out this outlet cover that has a smart appliance shelf. We got a pack of 2 for $20 on Amazon. All you have to do is pop off the outlet plate you already have, place the shelf on the outlet and screw the plate back on the top.Many home improvement experts say, switching out your old 2-prong outlets to more modern ones will help. But you’ll need an electrician for that. Want an easier way to upgrade? Get a multi-plug outlet extender; this one is on sale right now for $17 and gives you 3-prong outlets, USB plugs, etc. Get better lights without an electrician: Lighting accents add to your space, and if you don’t want to spend the money and time to wire in custom lighting there are alternatives. Not an electrician? You don't need to be!Home experts say there are four types of lighting that you should think about layering in each room to make it look more luxurious.Ambient lighting: Lighting up the whole space. Task lighting: Lights that go over work areas like desks, sinks and cabinets. Accent lighting: Lights that add a warm glow like table lamps. Decorative lighting: Lights that are just fun and style, like twinkle lights or fake candles. Battery-operated puck lights under your kitchen cabinet can add to your kitchen and make it look and feel more expensive. This set of six lights is $30 on Amazon.One of the newest trends is battery-operated sconces that you don’t need to hardwire into your wall. The lightbulbs come with a charging cord. Check out this set for $80.Save time and energy with peel-and-stick wallpaper and wall decals: You can upgrade your space without the permanent commitment and major hassle of putting up wallpaper. There are plenty of options for peel-and-stick wallpaper and wall decals that are even renter-friendly options! A few brands we found and liked:WallPops!WallshoppeRoomMatesImportant tip: Make sure to read the fine print on whatever wallpaper or decals that you get. Some specify that the wall should be matte or shiny to work most efficiently. Rossen Reports tested additional brands of peel-and-stick wallpaper and found some did impact wall paint after being in place for a couple of weeks. It may be best to test peel-and-stick in a small, unseen area before decorating an entire wall.Hang your curtains high and wide: Short curtains that just frame your window, make your windows look short and cheaper. You want to hang your curtains 2-3 inches from the ceiling and wide enough to let the curtains fall out of the way of the window. Sometimes doubling the amount of curtains helps. The curtains should then be long enough to kiss or puddle on the floor. Don’t forget to extend your curtain rods a few feet on either side of your window. This will instantly make your room feel more high-end.Don’t want to drill holes? No problem! You can use these self-adhesive curtain rod holders. They hold up to 14 pounds without supplemental drills/nails.Here’s more from Realtor.com on the different looks curtains can give your room and from Wayfair on how to hang curtains.