Homeownership is a key part of the American dream. With your own home, you can express your personality and your way of life with your home’s ambiance and appearance. Since it is your own property, you get to make the choices about what it looks like. You will get some great advice in this article on how to make these improvements.
Repainting a porch may be necessary. Utilize exterior paint that is of high quality. Always use paint that has the same type of base as the previous coat. Be careful with oil based paint on surfaces that have foot traffic because it become slippery when wet. However, oil based paint is fine on house trim.
Sign a contract before you allow any contractor to start working. If at all possible, have the contract reviewed by a lawyer before proceeding. Start and end dates, work to be done and warranty information must be stated in the contract.
To minimize the “peek-through” of walls behind paneling, paint stripes on the walls prior to putting up paneling. You might have some old parts of the wall sticking through if you are putting up paneling. To avoid this, you can measure the places the sheets of paneling will connect. Paint the walls at these joins with a color that matches your paneling.
A good place to start home renovation is the kitchen. Start with the walls; if there are grease stains, mix up a 2 to 1 solution of TSP and water. Not only will it remove the grease, it will get much of the old paint off the walls as well. Re-paint the kitchen in tan colors; you will be amazed at how much different your room will look as soon as you are done.
Prioritize the rooms you plan to improve. You may find that working on a single room is much easier to manage in terms of funds and scheduling. Plan your project beforehand and look for good deals on prices. Planning ahead is an excellent way to keep money in your pocket.
Even your kitchen appliances can get a facelift without ruining your budget. Is the style of your otherwise amazing refrigerator annoying you because stainless steel is where it is at? Instead, opt to paint your appliances. This can quickly update your kitchen’s look.
Put nail holes into the paint can’s rim. This lip on the paint can will fill with paint, when replacing the lid it can cause the paint to spill over. Driving several holes in the circumference of the lid should do the trick.
Add some insulation the next time you renovate your home. Use weather stripping around windows and doors. If you can reduce the air flow into the house, you will get more efficiency from your furnace and air conditioning. That is going to mean savings on your utility bills.
Before you go to the home improvement center, be sure to make a complete list of necessary items. In this way, you can avoid traipsing back and forth to the home improvement center for forgotten items.
Focus on the front porch if you are thinking about home improvements. It is what is first seen by someone visiting your home. It will set the initial impression they have for your home. Make sure it is all neatly organized and, if possible, add a little style with outdoor decorations, such as flowers, varnish, lights, or furniture. Your home will be worth more if you make these changes.
Less glamorous projects can be some of the most overlooked. For example, many people ignore the importance of maintaining their gutters, chimneys and downspouts. The safety of your home depends on the proper cleaning and repair of these essential items. If not regularly cleaned, your chimney could catch fire, and clogged gutters could lead to severe water damage.
Motion Detectors
Most homes do not have natural lighting in the basement. To turn your basement into a more livable space, come up with a plan to include artificial lighting to brighten it up. Hopefully you have a basement that has high walls from the ground. In this case, you can have windows as well.
Install a lighting system that is enabled by motion detectors. It will turn on your lights only when someone is there, reducing your electricity costs. Motion detectors are also useful for keeping thieves at bay.
Couch cushions can loose their bounce over time and flatten. Rotate them and flip them to keep them from getting excessive wear and put them out in the sun on a pretty day. Bright sunlight will significantly improve the cushions’ fullness by thoroughly drying out the material with which they are stuffed. Be sure that you flip the cushion over often or put it away periodically, because the colors of the fabric can fade in the sun.
If you live with an elderly or disabled family member, remember to take into account their safety, mobility, and accessibility when planning your improvements. For example, to reduce the risk of a fall, install a step-in shower. Grab bars and hand rails can add ease and comfort for anyone that needs it.
Many times older homes have carpet throughout, and it can be worn, stained and outdated after years of use. While plush carpeting feels nice under the feet, it doesn’t hold up as long as the classic wooden floor.
One good home improvement project that pays dividends is finishing the basement. A finished basement acts as more room for your home, whether it’s storage or living space. You can also get the material from a discount outlet. The resale value of a house with a finished basement increases by over 30%.
You should look for home improvements that will last when you are planning them. Age-in-place is something that designers use to account for the aging that will happen to a homeowner while they own a home. This ensures you can live in the home well into your golden years.
You should repeat color patterns throughout your home. You can derive some great color plans by taking inspiration from upholstery, window treatments, carpeting, or other features. If the item you pick is multi-colored, select just one to be the main color. Use secondary colors in the pattern as accents.
Carefully consider the overall style of your home when planning outdoor renovations and landscaping projects. Hardscapes and plantings that blend with the exterior of your home present a cohesive and attractive look.
Crown Molding
If you have an elderly parent living in your home, you need to plan home improvements and renovations with an eye to mobility, safety, and accessibility. One good example of this is a shower stall that can simply be stepped into or rolled into with a shower chair. You can also install grab bars in your bathroom to make the task of cleaning up a bit easier as well.
You will be astounded by the impact crown molding has on your walls. Crown molding will give walls a little personality if you are looking for a way to spice them up. Crown molding can be a simple, inexpensive improvement to make.
A chandelier can look at home in any style of decor. Some chandeliers are not very expensive at all, and can provide a very elegant look in your dining room. If you want your lighting fixture to sparkle and let off a lot of light, use 200 to 400 watt bulbs.
New wallpaper or even a piece of art can drastically change the way a bathroom looks. Wallpaper trim is affordable, and there are a variety of patterns from which you can choose to complement your decor. Border trim is also quite simple to put into place. If you buy some cheap artwork you can add a great and different look to your bathroom.
If your home has low ceilings, use window treatments to add the illusion of higher ceilings. You can make your ceilings seem higher by positioning your window treatment a good distance above the windows.
Look at the world around you to gain inspiration for your next home improvement project. Head to your favorite decorating site or an old-fashioned library to get ideas quickly. Collect color samples, along with some carpet and fabric swatches. Use a little time to determine what you like before beginning your home improvement projects.
It is important to estimate the cost of your materials before you start any home improvement project. Sometimes materials can be purchased in bulk but homeowners should investigate this possibility before assuming that such a cost-saving step is possible. A lot of equipment and materials that have to do with renovations usually possess long lead times. Your project could get held up if you have to wait for materials to arrive.
You should never underestimate the work involved in any home improvement project. Do your homework and consult with experts if need be to be sure you really understand how best to approach your project. The better prepared you are at the beginning of a task, the better you can handle surprises that may occur.
Is your home getting to hot in the day or is your home too bright for your liking? If that is the case, you should consider tinting your windows. It’s easy enough to do that anyone can do it themselves. Tinting also helps to keep your home cool, which can save you money on your utility bill.
Shortening the hose to your dryer will boost its power and save you energy. Take the hose off and vacuum it first. Clip the hose to make it only as long as a few feet. You want it to be long enough that you can move the dryer for cleaning, but short enough that it runs more efficiently.
When you are planning to do home improvement projects, do plumbing and wiring first. Doing work in a logical order, such as doing projects that require you to access the inside of your walls first, will help your project flow without a glitch. If you already have your walls opened up for other repairs, why not take care of plumbing and wiring at the same time?
When tiling a floor, shower, bathtub or any other moisture-prone area, use cement backer board behind the tile. The cement back board will keep moisture from reaching the drywall. The mold and mildew created when moisture interacts with drywall is damaging.
Shorten the hose to your dryer as a way to save energy and boost efficiency. Detach the hose and clean it with a vacuum. Trim hose length to be around three feet long. Make it just long enough so that you can pull the dryer away from the wall, in case you want to clean back there. A shorter hose will be much more efficient.
One great, simple home improvement job you can take on is a little basic maintenance in the form of cleaning out your gutters. This is not a complex task, but it can save you from a lot of trouble. Clogged gutters can reduce the efficiency of your home and cause a lot of issues. If this happens, the wood may rot. Thus, it’s a good idea to improve your home by cleaning out your gutters.
By adding shutters to your home, you will add value to the property. This can be a great addition to your home if your area often gets hurricanes or violent winds.
Taking classes at a home improvement store can be very beneficial for you if you decide to remodel. Because they want you to buy materials from them, large home improvement stores offer courses on many types of projects, such as installing tile flooring and painting your walls. It’s a good idea to take advantage of these classes before starting on home improvement projects.
If you’re a beginning handyman, try leveling up your skill by taking courses at places like Lowe’s and Home Depot. Many of these big-box stores offer classes on painting walls, tile installation, and other home improvement topics in an effort to compete for your business. Taking these classes is a good way to learn the basics about improving your home.
Whether you have just bought your home or have lived in it for awhile, you may decide that it requires some improvements. These tips will help you turn a plain old house into a home.
Understand that dry days are essential when it comes to painting your home. Remember this if you want your paint job to look professional. If you paint during an afternoon that is humid and wet, the paint will dry very slowly. This means it will take longer to complete the job. Painting on only dry days will significantly reduce your project time.
