Consider making improvements to your home, especially if you have a growing family or are seeking increased comfort in your living space. The possibilities of what you can do are endless. Here are a few ways to help you remake your house into the home of your dreams.
Plain lampshades can often be spartan and boring. Go to your local crafts store, pick up some acrylic paint and stencils, and create designs on your lampshades. Keep in mind this can be done with dye based ink pads as well. This extra effort on your part will create a touch of individuality and transform your space into a personal reflection.
There is nothing about the nature of a modestly-sized room that means it has to feel gloomy and stuffy. Get more light into the room! For example, losing those curtains and going with blinds will work. Simply cleaning the windows will also work. Rooms appear much larger and more open with good natural lighting. Use pale colors on your walls and avoid clutter. Suddenly, your small room will seem to expand.
Even DIY home improvement enthusiasts with little experience can repair faucet leaks. If you are able to find and repair these items quickly, it will minimize the amount of water that is wasted in your home each day. Your water bill will be significantly lower each month.
If you don’t have the money for an interior designer, do a little research. Look for information and inspiration online and in books and magazines. You might get just the inspiration you need from a picture in a magazine. They also often provide affordable project advice.
Add motion-detecting lights to your home’s front entrance. When you are only turning on the light when required, you are saving a lot of money on electricity. You can take your home’s safety up a notch by installing motion detectors that cause lights to turn on when a thief is present.
Aluminum Foil
Clear glass windows can cause heat to escape. If you add some glaze to big windows you might cut back on this by half, your energy bills will be less and you will be more comfy when it is really hot outside.
Cover electrical outlets with aluminum foil prior to painting your walls. Conveniently placed aluminum foil can do a good job of protecting your covers from paint and is easier than tape to apply. And it makes cleaning up a breeze. Just let paint dry before removing the foil and recycling it for other purposes.
Before doing anything further to the room, paint to avoid further complications. It may be wise to paint your walls before getting new flooring. Your flooring could get paint on it, even if you have drop cloths put down.
If you want to replace locks, you can replace the entire knob or just the cylinder. The locking action is performed by the cylinder. If you don’t have a key and you need your lock to be changed to be more safe, you can replace the cylinder. On the other hand, you will need to change out the entire unit in order to change the look.
If you intend to improve your home quickly, it’s going to be more expensive. You can usually find someone who will happily take on the project. They’ll expect to be compensated appropriately though. It will always be a higher cost for a job that is rushed.
Consider turning an old used luggage rack into a side table. Simply take the glass out of a big picture frame and attach it to the rack using a permanent glue. Add some picture frames, a funky lamp and a few interesting books to accent your room with minimal effort and at a low cost.
Pick your color scheme from something that is already in the room. Be it the upholstery, or a rug, any item will do as a base for your color scheme. For instance, if there’s a rug with red, yellow and green shades, pick a dominant color from the three which can be utilized in more than 50% of that room. The other colors can be used as accents.
When you are making home improvements, spend some time on your porch. Your porch is your home’s first impression on visitors. Clear out any clutter and add personal touches such as flowers, plants, patio furniture. You may also want to add new light fixtures and a nice wood varnish. Fix any obvious issues such as broken boards or unstable steps. These things add value to a house.
Avoid keeping too much furniture in one room. Too much furniture makes a space appear smaller and cluttered. While you may like having all those pieces there, buyers would rather see a living space that’s more open. The room looks bigger when you have fewer pieces of furniture in it.
Clogged gutters can lead to serious drainage issues during a rainy summer. A clogged gutter is one of the primary causes for flooding basements. Regularly clean your gutters to avoid this problem.
If you need space, consider an addition. Consider adding an extra room, den, or even another living room so that you and your family will have more space. More space will make your home nicer to live in, and will also boost its value. Save this for when you have extra money and no other major home improvement projects to tackle.
One simple way to making your home look a little more modern is to switch out your doorknob. This type of project takes up minimal time. All you need to own is a screw driver. Then pick up a new knob and get the job done.
Before purchasing or hanging blinds, measure the area thoroughly. Your installation will be easy when you have measured the window exactly and purchased blinds that are the right fit. Blinds come in different sizes and many are made specifically for interior window frame installation and some for the outside frame.
Smoke Alarms
As you plan a project, safety should be your first consideration. You need these precautions so that you or your home are not injured. Learn to follow power tool directions carefully and be sure you fully understand the directions prior to starting any project.
Install smoke alarms in your home to maintain safety and save money on insurance. This cost difference is more noticeable in older homes because insurers know that modern homes are constructed with materials that are more resistant to fire. Smoke alarms save money, and they also save lives.
Alway have popcorn ceilings examined for asbestos before removal. Asbestos is a dangerous building material that was used in the past and requires removal by only licensed contractors. If asbestos is contained in your ceiling, it may be necessary for you to engage a special company to take down the ceiling.
Add an extension to the side of your home. Consider what you’d get the most out of, whether that may be a formal dining room, finished basement, or a media room. This sort of addition adds value and makes your home nicer to live in. Wait on these larger projects until you have saved enough money for them.
If your project requires you tape sheetrock, get a quality stainless steel taping knife specifically for that purpose. It will make cleaning up much easier. Buying a quality stainless knife and maintaining it well is a great way to ensure you never need another.
Now that you are armed with a few solid tips to guide you, making a sound decision regarding home improvement should seem less daunting. Remember, quality home improvements to your home will not only allow you to have a more desirable space but will also improve the overall value of your home.
If you update your appliances, you will have a much greater impact on potential buyers. Whatever the case may be, updating your appliances will help you in your home improvement efforts.
