You’ve lived in your home for several months to a few years. It’s comfortable, but you’d like to make it even more cozy for the little ones in your family. The problem is you don’t want to spend a ton of money to do it.

Deciding what upgrades you can do to your home comes down to preference, budget, and time. The most affordable options tend to be simple, DIY fixes. However, don’t rule out hiring a contractor for some of the upgrades on this list. If the job is trouble-free, you won’t be breaking the bank for hired labor. Let’s explore five budget-friendly changes that can make your home more enjoyable for the kids.

Everyone in the family seems to have their separate ideas about the perfect indoor temperature. Your partner cranks up the heat to at least 70 degrees while you’re comfortable leaving the thermostat at 68. During the summer, it’s the opposite. You and the kids need the AC set at 74 to avoid getting a chill, but others prefer 72.

With central air conditioning, battles over temperature control are common. One temperature setting controls the climate in each room. Yet, it’s not uncommon for some areas of the home to feel colder or hotter based on other variables. The direction the room faces, the time of day, and whether the room is upstairs or downstairs can be factors.

These variables, along with individual preferences, aren’t factors that centralized systems account for. However, a mini split system does. Each zone has its own unit that occupants can control. These systems don’t use ductwork and are easy to install wherever you need them. Now the kids don’t have to shiver in the basement rec room while you lower the temperature in the kitchen.

Have what seems like an awkward space in your home? Perhaps there’s a smaller area framed by walls or a place with built-in cabinets you’re 100% sure you won’t use. Why not transform it into a reading nook for the kids?

Put up a few wall shelves to place your children’s favorite books on. If there’s a ledge in the area, make it an inviting space to read with pillows, blankets, and comfortable padding. Areas without ledges can easily fit a smaller sofa-like chair.

With any leftover wall space, you can place mementos, peaceful landscape photos, or words encouraging your kids to read. Data shows four in 10 kids have difficulties finding books they like. A reading nook can make those stories accessible when they’re at home.

Toys, gaming equipment, and art supplies can become scattered throughout the home, making organization challenging. Your children may also feel like they’re being intrusive while playing or studying in spaces they share with adults. Converting an unused bedroom into a dedicated kid zone can solve the problem.

The good news is that play spaces don’t take a lot of money to create. You may already have most (if not all) of the supplies you’ll need. Bean bags, tables with chairs, wall art, and storage bins should do the trick. You can transfer art kits, gaming consoles with TV sets, and toys to the dedicated room.

As your children get older, you might consider transforming the room into a study area. Alternatively, you can mix it up to match your kids’ budding interests. If they have a passion for physical fitness, bring in some lower-cost home gym equipment. Say they’re a budding artist or writer. Put in a writing desk, craft-oriented books, and an easel. You can also turn the space into a movie room if they develop a passion for film.

Without a doubt, closets can become messy. If all they have is a top shelf and a bar to hang your clothes, closets turn into dumping grounds. Who knows what’s in the boxes and baskets up top? Clothes get lost in the shuffle and fall off the hangers when you try to find your favorite shirt.

Installing closet organizers eliminates these hassles. Plus, they teach your kids organizational skills. Instead of putting shoes on the floor, place them on a row of shelves at a height that kids can reach. Separate pants from shirts so your children won’t have to rummage through the entire closet.

Closet organizers don’t cost an arm and a leg to install either. You can find most pieces at affordable furniture or major retail stores. Fashionable storage bins, shoe racks, and hanging clothes organizers are additional budget-friendly options.

When’s the last time you switched out your light bulbs? Probably when they last burned out. Nonetheless, you may have lighting throughout your home that’s not the most inviting. It could be a mix of harsh fluorescents and bright hues.

Switching out those bulbs for warm LED versions makes a huge difference. Warm white hues, for instance, can make a room more comfortable to be in. The family won’t be squinting when the lights come on.

Bulbs in the 2000 to 3000 Kelvin range tend to create the most welcoming atmospheres. These bulbs emit warm, soft tones without overwhelming a room’s occupants. The lighting will help put the family at ease, making it easier to relax in the home for a while.

Sometimes, making smaller tweaks to your home can significantly impact its comfort level. When you’ve got an entire family to please, you don’t always have deep pockets to reach into. Still, it is possible to turn up the cozy and stay within budget by implementing a few simple changes. And you won’t sacrifice your whole weekend to pull them off, either.