Sunday, December 5, 2010

More Bang for your Buck! Affordable Home Improvements that have a big effect.


Ever wonder how to update your home, make it fresh and new without spending a fortune? Ever feel like affordable improvements are only for "Do-it-yourselfers?" Well here are affordable ways to transform your home without spending a fortune or having to do-it-yourself.

1) Hire an interior designer to help you re-decorate with what you already have. There is loads of potential in the furnishings that you already have. Maybe the treasures are even in your basement or attic. A professional designer can see what you may not be able to. They can take what you have, mix it with a few new touches and suddenly you have an updated space.

2) A fresh coat of paint. Nothing makes a room look brand new like a fresh coat of paint. And, there is no reason to be limited to one color in a room or wall. Creating accent walls, highlighting features and trim, or painting stripes or patterns, can give high style to a space without spending a fortune.

3) Replace flooring. This costs more than painting, but is the next thing that defines a room after the paint. Replacing worn out, dated flooring can make a room look new quickly, and adds value to your home. Long lasting flooring such as hardwood, tile and stone not only look great, but are a great investment in your home.

4) Update kitchen and bath fixtures. Want a new kitchen or bath without the high price tag? Consider using what you have and breathing new life into it with updated fixtures and countertops. By combining the tips above with new fixtures and countertops, an old tired kitchen or bath can be transformed and look brand new in less time and with less money.

5) Purchase new furniture. I know this seems like a strange thing to have on the list, but high quality furnishings are a great value over the years. By purchasing new furniture you can update the look of your home without the risk of "overbuilding for the neighborhood." When it comes time to move you take them with you and nothing is lost.

6) Complete exterior cleaning and maintenance. Nothing steals the impact of a home like a drab exterior in need of maintenance. Pressure washing, painting, and repairing loose and missing items and have a big impact on your home's curb appeal.

7) New landscaping. Like the tip above this deals with your homes exterior and curb appeal. Cleaning, up overgrown beds, improving turf, adding new plants, trees and shrubs all enhance the appeal of your home and helps your home put it's best face forward.

The thing to remember is that you don't have to rip your home apart down to the framing or add a major addition to transform your house into the home of your dreams. Sometimes a much simpler improvement will have as significant an impact. And, hiring a professional to help may actually save you money in the long run. 



No comments:

Post a Comment