Are you seeking ways to give your home’s interior a “lift”? You have come to the right place! Keep reading to find the easiest steps you can make in home improvement.
Changing air filters is paramount. This makes your air better to breathe, but it also helps out your air conditioner and heating system too. Many service calls to repairmen are because of build up due to dirty filters.
Use fans in your home during the summer months in order to be more energy efficient. You should install some ceiling fans to keep their air circulating and create a cool environment. Using ceiling and room fans can reduce your energy consumption by not using the air conditioner. This can lower your electric bill.
For a simple, low-cost way to improve your bathroom’s appearance, install new, coordinating metal fixtures. Various accessories, such as towel racks, shower rods and handles for cabinets come in all kinds of colors, shapes and finishes. Some home improvement stores sell these items as a package; this is a good way to save money.
There are a few simple ways to give the appearance of a higher ceiling in your home. Paint a striped pattern on the wall or get a very tall floor lamp. By putting this in a room, you will make an optical illusion in your home. The lines will actually make the ceiling seem taller than it really is.
You need a drill when you’re going to tackle home improvement projects. It allows you to make different sized holes in surfaces for screws, and allows you to drive the screws in with special attachments. You should have a cordless, 9-volt power drill that come with a variety of drill bits and bits for Phillips and flat-head screws.
Shoe Boxes
Avoid busy patterns on all recliners, sofas and chairs when you choose furniture for your home. Purchasing geometric shape or floral print items will automatically determine your home decor. Buy your furniture in solid tones such as green, brown, blue, black or beige and use your accessories to benefit your furniture. Add patterns through pillows, blankets and drapes instead.
Use old shoe boxes for an aesthetic touch that adds storage space. You can cover the shoe boxes with fabric or wallpaper samples for an interesting decorating touch. You can add a lot of pizazz to your room and storage!
Attaching PVC pipes to each another is easy, and requires just a bit of PVC primer and cement. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they’ll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry.
New flooring can instantly update any room. Reputable flooring companies install hardwood, carpet or tile flooring just in one day. Remember to visit a regular home improvement store to know your options.
When you start a new home improvement project, be careful that you don’t demolish things too quickly. Take the time to find out just what you’ll be disturbing before you pull down cabinets or open holes in walls. If electrical elements were damaged, it may be costly to make the necessary repairs.
For an economical approach to floor tiling, consider installing vinyl instead of ceramic or stone. Vinyl has several things going for it. It is durable, installs easily with an adhesive backing, and resists water damage. Vinyl flooring comes in two varieties: separate tiles for small areas and large sheets for bigger areas.
If you plan on hiring a company for your project, it is vital that you ensure they are legit. If you’re unable to obtain a physical address from a company and they’ll only deal with you over the phone, the company may be small and unreliable. Select companies that have great reputations.
Cover your electrical outlet covers with aluminum foil before painting your walls. It is much easier to use foil, rather than tape, and it protects your covers from the mess. Cleanup is a snap! Make sure your paint is fully dry before removing the foil.
Be sure to keep your own records when you work with a contractor on a home improvement project. You cannot leave this responsibility up to the contractor. Save all invoices and contracts for your projects. That helps you and the contractor continue to concentrate on the work at hand.
You use the areas between ceiling rafters and floor joists to store building materials. Molding and pieces of wood can be conveniently hidden out of eyesight. Just tuck the pieces away for later.
Be sure to install a peephole in each of your exterior doors. This will increase your home’s safety, as you will be able to see who is at your door before you open it. Although some people will hire a professional to do this, adding a peep hole is actually one of the easiest improvements out there. All it takes is a drill and a little bit of your time. A peephole will give you that extra sense of reassurance when someone knocks.
Use 2-liter bottles for storage in the kitchen. You can use these to protect any dry goods like flour, sugar or corn meal. They can conveniently be stored on a shelf or inside your refrigerator of freezer. Just open and pour when you need to use the contents.
Avoid hiring an unlicensed contractor at all costs. Contractors and subcontractors are required by each state to have certification. This, of course, does not ensure that they will do a good job, but it does offer some protection from fraud. Also, contractors who do not have the necessary licenses probably also do not have sufficient insurance coverage.
Before attempting a serious repair job, seek the aid of a professional. The small cost of an initial consultation will seem nominal when compared to the costs of having a preventable mishap repaired. If you do not ask a professional to begin with, you may screw up.
When doing home improvement work, the wise homeowner will spend money on high-quality fixtures and materials before spending it on pricey furnishings and decor. There’s a simple reason for this–decorative items and furniture get moved out along with the homeowner when the house gets sold. Permanent features and fixtures are left behind and add value to the property.
List the things you need before you go to the home improvement store. When you know exactly what you need, you’ll never forget anything.
Your kitchen and bathroom renovations will start with turning off water sources so that you don’t create flooding when you work on your pipes or fixtures. A lot of people overlook this important step and flood their homes and end up with a even higher bill to fix the flood!
Natural Lighting
A couple of coats of glossy paint on exterior doors and shutters can add instant value. Complementing colors used together can make your home stand out.
In some houses, basements often lack natural lighting. Be sure to plan artificial lighting strategically to maximize your basement space. If you luck out, you have have high, protruding walls from ground level in your basement. If you basement is like this, install several windows to allow the maximum natural lighting in to your rooms.
As you plan your yearly remodeling projects, focus on the early months during the year for building your budget. This is when you have to watch money the most, as the holidays have just passed. This serves two purposes. First, you don’t have as much money to spend this time of year, so it is perfect for planning. Second, since you are financially tight this time of year, you will plan to be as budget-friendly as possible.
By following these effective tips, you can begin to create the home that you have always wanted for yourself and your family. Hopefully, the process of improving your home will be as easy and enjoyable as reading this article.
Stay flexible when planning your home improvements. You should not always work with limited time frames. You may want to spend a certain amount of money, but sometimes you may have to pay a little more. Flexibility will help reduce stress, while saving you time and money.
