home improvements Archives

Simple Home Improvements That Make a Huge Difference

August 28, 2019 by admin

Even after living in the same place for years, you can still create the feeling of transformation and renewal in your own home. Not everyone can afford to spend loads of money on redecorating their house with the help of professional interior designers and expensive, high-end furniture.

That doesn’t mean however that only a select few people can enjoy the process of transforming their living space. With a clear vision, a distinct style, and plenty of patience, anyone can turn their home into their own personal paradise. Here are a few simple yet hugely effective home improvement ideas to inspire you.

Walls

Everything about the walls in your home will add to the overall feeling that each room evokes. Texture, color and layout all play a huge part in how you interact with your surroundings, even on a deeply subconscious level. This is why it’s so important to choose the appearance of your walls carefully. If you want to feel cozy and safe, opt for warm tones and more pronounced textures such as exposed red brick or patterned wallpaper. For a bright, fresher and more energizing feel, choose light colors and smooth textures.

Fewer walls throughout the floor plan of your home will create a more open and easy flow, whereas having many rooms will add to the sensation of mystery and coziness. Make sure that if you want to combine two or more rooms that you consult a professional who can advise whether or not the walls are load-bearing.

Floors

Similar to the subconscious effect that different looking walls can have on your overall mood and impression of a room, your choice of flooring will also impact you and your home in subtle yet significant ways. Soft, thick carpet turns your home into a designated relaxation zone, while bare wooden boards create a more rustic, practical effect.

Even the difference between small and large tiles can change the way you perceive a room and its purpose, so take care before deciding what to put on your floors.

Windows

Only once you’ve experienced the oppressive mood that comes with sitting in a windowless room, do you appreciate how valuable good windows are for any home. The right windows can make a room brighter, happier and improve the overall insulation of the house. It might seem overly simplistic, but just by conducting a search for “window companies near me”, you will be able to turn your home into a fresher, more invigorating space.

Furniture

One of the most fun parts of improving your home is the opportunity to treat yourself to new furniture. Small pieces such as end tables and mirrors can make just as much of a difference as larger items, such as sofas and bookshelves. Take this as an opportunity to explore new styles and push your imagination. You can take inspiration from interior designers or design your home around your own unique tastes.

Clutter

A comfortable, lived-in home is bound to have its fair share of clutter. Toys, books and other miscellany aren’t inherently bad, but when it distracts from the purpose and enjoyment of your home, it’s then time to have a clear out. There are many tidying gurus out there with varying techniques on how to declutter your home. Here are a few suggestions to help get you started:

Focus on one room at a time so as not to become overwhelmed
Donate clothes and items that no longer serve a purpose to you
Allocate a cupboard or drawer in your home for unwanted objects and allow guests to choose and keep anything from this area
For every new object you purchase, get rid of an old, unwanted one (give to charity)

Nature

Invite the outside in, and welcome nature back into your home with potted plants and flowers. If you feel like taking on an exciting project, try creating your own moss wall or indoor vegetable garden.

Spending more time with nature is proven to improve mental health and, if brought inside, also serves to clean the air in your home. Make sure any greenery you purchase is safe as children and pets can sometimes become sick if they ingest certain plants.

Life

Home improvement doesn’t mean changing your home into something sterile and overly designed. A beautiful home is one that invites you to enjoy it and get comfortable in it. While it’s good to declutter every now and then, don’t remove the life and vibrancy from your home.

Budget-Friendly Home Renovation

September 27, 2018 by admin

Tackling a home renovation is more challenging than it might seem. Not only do you have to plan everything and keep track of your progress, but you also need to choose projects that will offer you great value for money. Without a proper renovation approach, your remodelling project can quickly turn into an expensive nightmare.

Decide whether to hire professionals

Depending on the type and scope of your renovation, you’ll have to decide whether to hire contractors or DIY. Undertaking a renovation on your own can save you a significant amount of money. However, if you’re not experienced in the field, you risk making an expensive mistake. In addition, certain projects require professional experience, especially those that entail structural changes.

Create a budget

Although you cannot know exactly how much money you need for a home renovation, you should still create a budget. When creating a renovation budget, you should always set aside an amount for unexpected costs. Once you’ve set up the budget, you should stick to it because renovation costs can quickly get out of control. In addition, you should shop around before buying materials and other items. There are great discounts and offers, you just need to find them.

Plan your renovation

Another great way to control your expenses is to plan the remodelling project in detail. If you’ve decided to take on a DIY project, you need to act as a project manager, which entails developing an efficient, time-effective plan. Aside from creating a timeline and defining different stages of your home renovation, you should also find a way to monitor your costs in order not to exceed the budget.

Rent, don’t buy

You should find different opportunities to cut your expenses where possible. Renting the pieces of equipment that you don’t have is typically more affordable than buying new ones. For example, you can rent portable and stable scaffolding for the duration of your renovation. Chances are that you won’t frequently use certain pieces of equipment, so you can save a lot of money by renting them for this particular occasion.

Choose projects that will pay off

When renovating your home, you should go with improvements that will pay off in the long run or that will increase the value of your home. For instance, instead of wasting a fortune on building a sunroom, you should design a wooden deck. Certain improvements won’t cost you much, yet they will bring great value to your home. Painting the interior is one of the most affordable remodelling ideas that will make a big difference in your home.
If you’re remodelling your home in order to sell it, you should go with projects that will help you recoup your investment. Replacing your garage door, painting the façade, insulating your home properly, implementing minor bathroom and kitchen upgrades and sprucing up your landscape are some of the most profitable home remodelling ideas.

Repurpose

Repurposing is both eco-friendly and budget-friendly, so you should definitely consider reusing your old materials. You can also buy repurposed materials at a much more affordable price. For instance, you can purchase second-hand shingles in excellent condition if you’re renovating you roof. You can also find slightly used fixtures for your home, especially if you’re aiming for a vintage look. This will help you enhance the sustainability of your property while also cutting your renovation expenses.

Go green

Before dismissing green improvement because they might be more expensive at first, you should consider the long-term merits that they offer. By implementing green improvements in your home, especially those that can boost its energy efficiency, you’ll be able to cut your energy consumption and increase your savings. In addition, if you ever decide to put your home on the market, eco-friendly updates will certainly pay off because they will increase the value of your property substantially. You can start small by installing LED lighting or replacing your leaky faucets with low-flow models. Afterwards, you can consider going with major green improvements, such as installing a solar system.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to cut your renovation costs while still getting excellent results.

Ways to Budget For Home Improvement and Maintenance Costs

June 7, 2018 by admin

When you buy a property, there are a host of costs to think about after you get settled in. If you have a newer home, then these might not come until later on, but if you have an older property, maintenance and improvements may come into play a lot sooner than you think. Although you may have had surveys to check the house before moving in, there may still be things that require a little TLC later down the line. These issues can turn into more significant problems if not sorted in good time, so budgeting for them will help to prevent any surprise costs.

It can be challenging to know precisely how much to put aside each month or year especially if budgets are already stretched so starting with the basics can help get you off on the right foot. Take a look at some of the ways you can start saving more to lessen the maintenance burden down the line.

Plan ahead

No one can predict what will happen today or tomorrow, but you may have some idea of the type of work that might need completing in the near or distant future. Some aspects may be more obvious than others such as knowing your boiler needs repairing regularly or those draughty windows that are letting too much cold air in. There are some that can be planned for in advance and others that might require immediate attention. Determining each can help you plan costs and disruption ahead of urgent action. However, you should always compare prices, especially if you need a big job doing. For instance, replacing your home’s roof can be expensive and a lengthy experience, so make sure to head to a comparison site for conservatory roof replacement quotes or if you need the roof of your main home fixed.

Start building some reserves

It is essential to start building a pot to put money aside for these improvements or general maintenance costs. If you know what type of work might need completing in the future, you will have a goal to work towards. For instance, if you know you’ll need to repaint the outside of your home, which is a large building, or you may need to replace your windows in a couple of years, put a monthly sum of money away. Do this by calculating your expenses, such as rent, utility bills, car payments, cost of living, etc. Calculate a percentage, and then make sure you put this money away in a separate savings account. A separate account will ensure you keep from spending it.

Use credit sensibly

When something goes wrong, you might not have enough to cover the cost of replacement or repair. In these cases, turning to credit cards or loans may be your only step if a family member cannot help out in the interim. If you have credit available, take a look at the deals you have on these resources, as you may be able to take advantage of low rates to provide a buffer. If you want to remodel your home on purely cosmetic reasons, then saving money for this rather than taking out new credit or loans will ensure you can manage your budget effectively and not end up paying over the odds for home improvements.

Budgeting for essential repair and improvement works can help to keep your home in the best condition for your family. It’s good sense to keep an emergency fund in a separate account for such unforeseen reasons. The last thing you want to happen is to live in a home with a broken window or a roof that need urgent tending to.

Five household expenses worth investing in

March 6, 2018 by admin

When it comes to the home, it can seem like your list of jobs to do, and projects to fund is never-ending. While there are a few ways you can cut corners during a house refurb or update, there are some expenses that you don’t want to skimp on as investing in these purchases now may save you money in the future, make your house safer or add to the value should you choose to sell. To skimp on them now would be doing yourself a disservice.

Here are five household expenses you’d do well to invest in.

Double glazed windows

Installing double glazing in your home comes with a heavy price tag, but it also brings a host of benefits.

For one, you’ll see your utility bills drop dramatically once you’ve put in the extra panes, as your house will be far more energy efficient. Secondly, your home will be more secure as your doors and windows will be harder to penetrate from the outside. It is especially important if you’ve got a property on the ground floor. Another reason to invest in double glazing is the noise control. If you live in a busy neighborhood or near the main road, you’ll find much more peace and quiet with double paned glass.

Pest control

Now it’s not glamorous, or is it enjoyable to think about, but ensuring you pest control your home can save you big dollars in the long run. If left undetected, or untreated, pests such as ants, termites, roaches, wasps, and rodents can cause huge damage to your property. They can nibble away your building’s foundations and infrastructure, as well as cause harm to your family members. It’s certainly not worth taking the risk; if you suspect an infestation, get in touch with a specialist, like Go-Forth Pest Control of Raleigh, and get the problem sorted asap.

Landscaping your backyard

When summer rolls around, there’s nothing nicer than having a beautiful yard space to enjoy in the sunshine – the kids playing on the grass, long balmy evenings barbecuing with friends. Bliss!

However, have you ever considered the financial payoff of investing in your backyard? Hiring a landscape professional to spruce up your outdoor space can add significant value to the resale price of your property. A tidy garden will benefit you now, as well as in the future.

The Internet of Things

Wireless in-home sound systems, laundry machines that you can switch on when you’re out the house, tiny robots that clean up while you’re at work; yes, the Internet of Things is all the rage right now.

Beyond looking snazzy and futuristic, the greater control you’ll have over appliances in the home can save you money and make your home a little safer; if nothing else you’ll have fewer wires to trip over!

Don’t skimp! Save for the future

These are just some of the ways you can future-proof your home, adding security and saving (and earning) you money in the years to come.

Boost Your Bedroom’s Beauty – Some Tips When Renovating and Decorating

September 30, 2017 by admin

Often people settle for drab decor when it comes to their bedroom. Their content to just sleep in it, and leave the rest of the house to look glamorous. It’s a room that may not get as much publicity as the other rooms, so it gets thrown on the back burner of rooms to transform. You don’t have to worry about sky high costs that come with redesigning your chamber, there’s ways to decorate and bring beauty into your special space without breaking the bank. Bedding and curtains are one of the best ways to make magical modifications in your bedroom. With Julian Charles there’s a selection available to fit everyone’s taste. Here’s some ideas to consider when renovating your bedroom.

Bedding

Sleep is one of the most comforting, reward, and generally helpful things a person can receive, but the bedroom is a place that should be luxuriated in and prized, not only slept in. It’s a space where you can be alone, and unwind, and you want to do that in a place that’s pleasing to the eyes and that’s not just accumulating ancient accessories that you’ve dotted in there to fill the space.

Bedding is one way to bring that brilliance back into your room again. It can be the first thing that adds more flavor and flare to a bedroom that’s become distasteful. New bedding can instantly give a room a whole new image, from stifling to spacious, shabby to chic, bland to beautiful. Get the style that suits you and instantly feel and see the difference.

Think of what other accessories could shaz up your bed, from the textures of the sheets, whether patterned, colored or whatever special factor you’d like. You could purchase more pillows for extra comfort, maybe even in different shapes and sizes. Applying bed skirts could add a luxurious flair to a bed as well as conceal any clutter. Or you might like to spice things up with a bed runner that brings out even more contrast in the room.

Curtains

When you close your curtains do you feel like closing your eyes too. You don’t have to look away from your worn out curtains that are desperate for a change, but you can replace them today with resplendent drapes that will leave you gazing. Your curtains can either accentuate or attack the rest of the decor in your room, so make sure you pick the right ones.

Your curtains serve as a piece of art in your safe space, and with the right ones they can leave you feeling serene instead of stressed. You can have light curtains that offer life to your room, or modern ones that cause you to muse. It’s whatever tickles your fancy.

From imogen, to paisley white, that makes your room feel like paradise, to harrison or blossom silver that makes you feel at ease. Daydream about your perfect curtains no longer, there’s a range of opulent designs available to make you love your luxurious space.

Additional Aims

It’s time for you to #RenovateRedecorateInspire. You can reveal your personal side with canvases and colors that make you feel comfortable. Let the walls stand out with a coat of fresh paint. You might even like a new side cabinet, or lamp, or other accessories that will spice things up abit. Check out this ebook for more tips and advice when making small affordable changes to your home.