Whether you’ve moved into a place or you have lived somewhere for a while now, there will usually come a time when you want to make some changes and upgrade your home into what you’ve always known it could be.
This can be an exciting idea, but it’s also an overwhelming one at times. What should you do? Where should you start? How much should you pay? These are good questions, and they should be answered before you dive in. Hopefully, the following ideas can help you get a handle on what you want so you can put your plans into action sooner rather than later.
Change Your Front Door
In order to make a good first impression, it’s best to focus on the front door. This doesn’t mean you have to install a brand-new door, however. It could be that an old door might look quite different after being painted. It will take a little more effort, but it could also save you money, and the results can be fabulous. If you do want to install a new door, make sure it is a secure one with the right locks because you don’t want to invalidate your homeowner’s insurance.
No matter what option you choose, you’ll find the exterior of your home looks amazing and takes on a new lease of life with some impressive curb appeal.
Create Some Open Spaces
In today’s market, many homebuyers are looking for properties with open floor plans in which communal areas like the kitchen, family room, and dining room are all located in the same large room. Also, formal dining rooms appear to be on the decline. This is your chance to make your home more comfortable and inviting by freeing up space. To achieve this, however, would require knocking down walls, which seems counterproductive.
It’s not as hard as you would think to give the impression that your home is spacious and airy without removing walls, however. Getting rid of larger, bulkier pieces of furniture or rearranging them to find where the most open space is can give the right look. If you absolutely must have that massive armoire, cabinet, or other space-hogging piece of furniture, try painting it a warm off-white hue. This will make the piece “disappear” into the room, giving the illusion of more openness.
Mirrors are another optical illusion that can make a room seem larger than it actually is. When placed opposite windows, mirrors increase the perceived size of the room by reflecting natural light and creating the illusion of additional space. Consider transforming your formal dining room into a more functional space, such as a home office, craft room, or library with a reading nook, if you rarely eat in that room. Without the hassle of renovations, this will make the area you already have much more functional.
Have Your Heating System Serviced
One home upgrade that is easily overlooked is that of warmth. We think about how the house will look and what we can use each room for, but if the property is not warm and comfortable, we’re not going to want to spend much time there. We’re certainly not going to want to upgrade it very much or spend money on it.
Therefore, it makes sense to have your heating system serviced and to ensure any center heating repair needs are seen to. In this way, your home will be safe and comfortable, and you’ll be motivated to keep carrying out upgrades to make it even better.
Do Some Landscaping
Landscaping ranks high on the list of projects that offer the greatest return on investment for the homeowner. It adds serious curb appeal and protects against costly risks like mold and broken tree branches. According to Consumer Reports, good landscaping could improve your home’s value by as much as five percent.
Even if you’re not thinking of selling, having some outside space to use that looks pleasant and is safe to be in is always a positive thing. You can either do the landscaping yourself or you can hire experts; it will depend on your budget, the time you have available, and how much you enjoy gardening, as to what decision you make.
Make Your Bathroom Better
It doesn’t take long for a bathroom to seem dingy and unclean. Clean the bathroom completely before doing any other work. Although it’s not exactly a pleasurable task, the end result will inspire you to clean and upgrade the remainder of the bathroom. As soon as the bathroom is spotless, you should replace the old doorknobs, light switches, vanity sink, and tub/shower combinations. It’s easy to give your bathroom a fresh, updated design by exchanging just a few of the most dated components. Bathrooms also benefit greatly from a fresh coat of paint.
