Many people are addicted to home improvement shows where a construction crew knocks down walls and guts whole rooms all for that dramatic reveal of a modern masterpiece at the end. If you long for that kind of transformation for your home but don’t have a television network’s timeline or budget, there are five simple changes you can make that will update the look of your home.
Removing Old Carpet
Carpet that has been around a while often shows its age with stains or worn sections, making your home look a little drab. You can remedy that by removing carpet that has lost its luster and having new carpeting installed, or you can choose other options like laminate flooring for a new look entirely. Sometimes, you may even get lucky and gleaming hardwood floors underneath just waiting to be professionally refinished to look like new.
Repainting the Walls
Repainting is relatively inexpensive and often manageable as a weekend project on your own, but even hiring painters beats the time and cost involved in major renovations. You’ll be surprised at how different the space feels with a fresh coat of paint in a trendy new color. Choose shades that coordinate with your existing furnishings if you’re not ready to splurge on new pieces just yet.
Freshening Up Exterior Areas
Spending just a little time and money on your outdoor space can do wonders for curb appeal and instantly give your home a more contemporary feel. For instance, getting rid of outdated elements like that Zen garden and replacing it with a fire pit and seating area changes the look of the house while adding a great entertaining space. You can also hire a landscape designer to modernize the yard, or keep it simple by trimming back overgrown trees and shrubs and adding stylish planters full of flowers.
Clearing Out Clutter
As anyone who has been in the same home for a while knows, clutter seems to multiply on its own. Unless it’s a family heirloom or has special meaning, consider donating all of those knickknacks and decorations that have seen better days. You can replace them with newer, more modern versions or simply opt for clean lines and minimalist design that is currently trendy.
Replacing Hardware
Kitchen and bathroom renovations are typically the costliest and take the most time, but simple changes like switching out old hardware for updated designs can instantly transform those spaces with a more modern feel. Find drawer pulls and cabinet handles that fit your aesthetic but are also roughly the same size as existing hardware so you won’t be drilling new holes. If your budget and time allow for a little more, think about partial remodels such as having new plumbing fixtures installed in the bathroom or having new countertops installed the kitchen.
Bringing your home up-to-date with small changes will make you feel like you’re living in a whole new space. You don’t have to spend much time or money to have a great impact if you start with the simplest changes first.