Is your home looking tired, outdated and worse for wear these days? Are you wanting to inject a little personality and flair without breaking the bank?
Fortunately, one doesn’t have to take out a second mortgage for costly renovations – in fact, here are several ways to give your abode an affordable face lift. In addition to increasing your home’s resale value– should you ever want to list it –you’ll fall in love with your living space all over again.
Here are just seven ways you can bring back that loving feeling.
1. A Fresh Coat of Paint
Colour your world with a fresh coat of paint. Aside from being one of the most affordable and effective ways to beautify your home, a new paint job can brighten your living space as well as make it look more spacious and cleaner. Doesn’t this living room featured in Better Homes & Gardens look crisp and airy? But don’t be afraid to have fun with colour – a feature wall in the latest bold hue can make a subtle impact, without going overboard.
2. Add Crown Moulding
Does your home lack architectural detail and distinction? Crown moulding is a sure-fire way to make any room look more modern and finished, as well as add value to your home. This affordable feature, as shown in This Old Home, creates the presence of a well-crafted, polished abode.
3. Kitchen Makeover
The kitchen is the where we spend the majority of our time and do the most entertaining, which is why it’s always the ideal spot to start renovating. Also, a kitchen renovation for around $6,000 can up the resale price by around $30,000.
While a ‘new’ kitchen can seem like an overwhelming and costly project, it doesn’t have to be the case. The entire look can be changed with something as simple as new counter tops or kitchen cabinets or a beautiful back splash – really, the sky is the limit, depending on your budget.
Rather than shell out the big bucks on new cabinets, resurface or repaint the ones you already have. House Beautiful proves that a can of paint can make a huge difference on kitchen cabinetry. While you’re at it, replace all knobs and pulls – you may find a great deal at the hardware store.
4. Redo Your Bathroom
You can make your bathroom look like a spa with a fresh coat of paint and crisp set of hand towels. Doesn’t the powder blue paint job featured in Style at Home make this older bathroom look inviting and modern? If your budget is flexible, consider adding new flooring. By opting for ceramic, porcelain or natural stone tiles, you’ll increase value on your investment. And since you probably spend plenty of time in front of your bathroom sink, you may want to upgrade to one that’s appealing and more functional. Something as simple as a new shiny faucet and porcelain handles can make a big difference without breaking the bank.
5. Update Lighting Fixtures
Good, bright lighting and stylish fixtures can make a huge impact on the look and feel of your home. If you have an older house and haven’t replaced any of the light fixtures in a decade or two, now’s the time to do it. Let’s face it – old fixtures can make a place look, well… old! To save money, keep an eye open for deals and don’t be afraid to check out the second hand shops. Just make sure they’re in working order.
With these simple and affordable upgrades, your home will go from drab to fab in no time. Depending on the improvements made, you may even increase the resale value. Just be warned – once your abode starts looking its best, you may never want to leave.