Owning a home means you have to make important updates from time to time. Many homeowners wonder how they can update their home, and you may be in the same boat. Where do you even start? Most homeowners spent between $5,000 and $10,000 improving their homes in 2018. That may sound like a lot of money, but if you do your updates right, that money can go a long way in your home.
Stuck on what to explore first? Here are ten home update ideas you can look into this year, and how they’ll help add value to your home and build equity.
Installing New Appliances
New appliances can make your home feel brand new (even if you’ve lived there for years). Evaluate the appliances you have now, like your refrigerator, washer and dryer, and dishwasher. If they’re older and could use some TLC, look into replacing them with new appliances. New appliances will have better functionality and tend to be more stylish than older appliances. Make sure you have room in your budget to get these new appliances, though. They’re an investment and can add value to your home, but it can be tough to hand over thousands of dollars for new appliances. However, you should remember that you’re going to use them for years to come.
You should also look into getting new heating and cooling appliances. If your HVAC system or furnace is old and not working properly, it could have a big impact on your home. The house could be too cold, too hot, or not have clean air circulating through it. Before investing money into new heating and cooling appliances, see if you can fix them first and save some money. There are professional furnace repair and HVAC repair companies that can help you explore your options.
Adding A New Addition
Some home update ideas don’t require a lot of planning, but this one does. If you want to give your home a big update, you can add on a new addition to your house. A new addition means you’re adding a new room to your house, which increases your square footage and could even add value to your home.
There are a number of additions you could add to your home. If you have a growing family and need space to put a baby bedroom furniture set for your newest family member, you can add a nursery or new bedroom to the house. You could also add a bathroom if your current one isn’t cutting it.
You can also choose to construct unique additions in your home. You could add a sunroom, mudroom, or gym to fit your needs. If you have family members you may need to take care of one day, you could add an in-law suite to your home. You could also convert your garage into an apartment for a loved one to live in. Whatever addition you choose to go with, make sure it makes you happy and is practical for your home.
Updating The Molding
When thinking of home update ideas, don’t overlook the power of updating the molding. Molding refers to the decorative material that’s used to make a smooth transition between surfaces. Updating the molding in your house is an inexpensive way to improve your home’s style. The right molding can add style and beauty to a room.
There are different kinds of molding you can choose from. There’s crown molding, wainscoting, and board molding. The most decorative is the crown molding, which is what connects the top of a wall to a ceiling. It can also help cabinets transition to the ceiling. There are a lot of design options for crown molding, and the right design can add value to your home. Do your research on designs and pick one that works best for your home’s style.
Repainting Your Rooms
You don’t have to get too complicated with home update ideas to add value. Simply repainting the rooms in your home can give your house a new look. Changing the color of a room can change its entire character.
The first thing you should do when repainting the rooms in your home is to decide what style you want your rooms to have. If you want a rustic farmhouse look, then you’d want to avoid painting your rooms with bright colors, like neon pink or a sunset orange. Pick a color scheme that works with the style you want. You can also get strategic and look into what colors make a home more valuable. A lighter grey throughout the home could make your home more spacious, and therefore add more value.
If you don’t want to do all the painting yourself, you can always hire professionals to do it. There are residential painting companies that you can pay to paint your home. You’ll have crew members in your home until the job is done, but you won’t have to worry about doing it all yourself.
Upgrade The Lighting
When researching home update ideas, you should seriously consider upgrading your lighting. Lighting plays a big factor in your home’s aesthetic. If there’s too much lighting, your home could look washed out. If there’s not enough lighting, your home could look dark and unwelcoming. If the lighting is too harsh or too dull, the whole ambiance of the house could be thrown off.
Think of the style and mood you want your home to portray, and then invest in lighting that helps you achieve it. Depending on what style you want, you could opt for recessed lighting, pendant lighting, or wall sconces. If you want to add light to your kitchen, you can invest in under cabinet lighting. Under-cabinet lighting is a small upgrade that can go a long way if you decide to sell your home one day.
Upgrading your lighting may be a bigger project than you anticipated, though. You may need to reroute outlet wiring or even run new wiring altogether. If you want to make serious changes to your lighting, contact a professional who can help you with electrical services. The last thing you want to do is upgrade your lighting on your own and accidentally mess up your entire electrical system.
Invest In New Doors
This is another example of a small upgrade that can go a long way. If your doors are looking dingy and outdated, consider investing in new doors. Take a close look at your front door in particular. Your front door is one of the first things a person sees when looking at your house. If the door doesn’t fit your aesthetic, or it looks damaged, it could make your entire house look bad.
Don’t let the doors hold your home back. Look into what it would cost to install wood doors or glass doors in your home. Not only can it help your home look better, but replacing older doors can also help you save on energy bills. Be sure to consider the material of your new doors. Glass door repair may be more expensive than wooden door repair, but it also depends on what kind of repairs need to be made. Take things like repairs, security, and style into consideration when picking out new doors.
Convert The Basement
One of the larger home update ideas you can pursue is converting your basement into another living space. This could be an apartment or an entertaining area. Converting your basement allows you to use the space you already have and create something new with it.
If you’re seriously considering doing this, you’ll need to first see if your basement can even be converted. There may be structural aspects that restrict the basement from being converted. See if the plumbing and electrical systems run through the basement, and if so, what you can do to work around them. Once you determine your basement is good to convert, it’s time to get to work. You’ll have to do things like install insulation, lay down flooring, put up drywall, and put in lighting fixtures.
If you’re making the basement an apartment, you’ll also want to invest in appliances and create a bathroom for the new space(unless you’re okay with sharing yours). You could also look into installing air conditioning down there. Some companies provide air conditioning service and can help install it in your new space. This project may take some time and money to complete, but it will be worth it when your home’s value goes up.
Remodel The Kitchen and Bathroom
Two of the more traditional home update ideas are remodeling the kitchen and the bathroom. These are two rooms in the house that, if updated and in good shape, can make your home stand out from the rest. You can start the process by looking at your kitchen and bathroom and determining what it is you want to change about them. Do you want to make them bigger? Do you want to add an elegant tub to the bathroom? Do you want new cabinets and a new island for the kitchen? Determining what you want and what your goals are for the renovations is an essential part of the process.
You should also think about the budget you have for these remodels. Remodeling these two rooms can cost thousands of dollars. If you remodel them at the same time, it’s a pretty steep bill to pay. If you’re stressed about money, pick which room you want to remodel first. Then, start saving up for the other remodel. You could also make small updates to each room to give them a fresh look. You could add a backsplash to each space, update the cabinets, and lay down new flooring. These are upgrades that won’t have you break the bank, but still make a positive impact.
Build A Deck
One of the more popular home update ideas you’ll come across is building a deck. A deck can be a great asset to your home. It provides a spot for outdoor entertainment and can become a focal point for your backyard. Building a deck can increase the value of your home while providing an extra space to entertain your inner circle.
If you want to add a deck to your house, you should first determine if your yard is safe for building. You may also have to check with local building departments to make sure you can build a deck. Then, you’ll determine how big you want your deck to be and start looking for materials. You could build the deck on your own, but if you’ve never done it before, it could be a challenge. If you don’t feel confident doing it on your own, you can always look for professionals to help you out. This is especially true if you need sliding glass doors installed. Some companies can do sliding glass doors installation for you. This is an important part of the building process, as it’s how you’ll get from the inside of your home out to the deck. Make sure you know what you’re doing from beginning to end with this project so you don’t waste time and money.
Get To Landscaping
Doing simple landscaping is one of those home update ideas that goes a long way. Break out the garden hose and water the grass and gardens. If you notice weeds around your yard, get rid of them. Remove old stumps and fill in any holes you see in the yard. The more maintained your home looks, the better your ambiance and curb appeal will be.
There are home update ideas that are meant to take months to complete, while there are others that can take you an afternoon. There are a lot of options for home updates out there. If you’re overwhelmed by them, take a deep breath, and think about what the ultimate goal of your updates are. Keep that goal in mind, and take the process one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have an updated home to walk into each day.
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