Improving your home is one of the best investments you can make, with CNBC's article on home remodeling reporting that this simple act can significantly increase its value. And while we've already given you tips on doing exterior renovations in our piece on How to Find the Best Home Exterior Contractor, there are also simple improvements that you can do without hiring outside help.
Some of these can be done over a weekend, while others may take a bit longer, but it will be worth it in the end.
Don't lose hope. You don't need to bankrupt yourself to make some improvements in your home. Regardless if you want to increase the value of your property or you just want to live in a pleasant place, there are many ways you can improve your home without spending too much. If you're interested, consider the following modern farmhouse home renovation tips you can follow.
1) Declutter
It is time to get rid of old annoying things that not only make your place look ugly but also irritate you on a daily basis. The same applies to items you do not use enough and those that no longer serve you well. Stuffed and shabby interiors cannot look expensive, and declutter aims to free up your space and make it neat and clean. If you are a smoking person, consider getting a stand ashtray, to ensure your smoking area is tidy.
Get in the habit of decluttering your house room by room a few times a year (on the threshold of every new season, for example) to keep them organized and spacious, and you can look for more tips on how to make your house a healthy place to live at home air guides.
To make your home improvement more comprehensive, besides freeing up your space, consider including additional fixing and repair works and getting a professional maintenance check-up from specialists from Perfect Home Services or similar ones in your area.
2) Review Your Outside Space
The front yard has all the curb appeal, while the backyard is where the family comes together. You can completely transform the outside spaces of your home in just a weekend by removing weeds, planting new plants, and investing in some garden furniture.
If your family spends much time outside, why not construct a sun lounging and barbequing deck?
You should also consider the idea of a pergola. Pergolas are outdoor structures that can provide shade and a cosy chill area for outside entertainment - perfect for the whole family.
If you are a homeowner, you must spend a lot of time outside your property. It's nice to rest in your barn or garden, but wouldn't it be nicer to have a place to relax, eat, entertain yourself, and receive guests? You can conveniently do everything in a gazebo, so construct one if you don't have one yet.
Of course, you don't need to force yourself to spend money to have a gazebo. You can, in its stead, set up a simple outdoor lounge. Placing a table, chairs, and lighting fixtures under a tree or a shaded area on your property could suffice. If there's no decent shade area, you can get a patio umbrella.
An outdoor lounge will add value to your property and serve as a terrific location to unwind from chores or enjoy a meal outdoors.
3) Refresh Your Rooms With Paint
Any space can be improved by adding a fresh layer of paint. Painting is considered the easiest and best home improvement as it does not require a professional and can significantly change your home. The whole family can get involved. Since paint isn't permanent, feel free to play around with different colors until you discover one you like. If you don't want to paint the entire space, add an accent wall. This is when you paint a single wall in a room, usually one that receives a lot of attention, in a bright or cheerful hue that complements your décor.
4) Don’t Forget The Walls And Ceilings
Decorating the walls with paintings, prints, and posters do wonders for a room. Think of natural photographs, beloved phrases, etc. when selecting artwork and prints in complementary hues and subjects. Choose picture frames that are the same size as your artwork. Then, throughout your house, hang your prints. Avoid hammering lots of pesky nails into walls and showcase your pictures at their best with an art and light hanging system. Using decorating elements that can be hung on the wall will make your home appear bigger. You can also achieve the look of a beautiful two-storey home designs for that your small home when things are organized in the right way.
In addition, you can easily add crown moulding to your existing walls to completely transform the room. If you have generic lights in your rooms, why not install ceiling fans? It will not only become a new feature but also help cool down the space.
5) Upgrade Your Bathroom
The bathroom space is the most used area in the home. It is where most of us begin and end our days. Fortunately, upgrading it does not have to involve an entire demolition and bathroom remodeling.
Small changes can breathe new life into the oldest shower room. A new, modern bathroom mirror will make the room seem larger and reflect natural light.
You can upgrade your shower stall by adding a rain shower head. Consider your storage space in the bathroom - can you benefit from new cabinets or storage boxes? These are all easy changes to make.
More intense bathroom updates will include new countertops, wallpaper, or installing new sanitaryware. You may want to consider appointing a professional for these jobs.
6) Work With What You’ve Already Got
The easiest way to make your house feel new is to spruce up your existing possessions. Cleaning up your property will transform the entire space.
A pressure washer or power washing machine can be your best friend. Use it to hose down your outdoor surfaces and hardwood floors to bring them back to life.
You can also make small changes to existing furniture. Your closet space will be completely transformed by adding new knobs. If you have a rolling kitchen island, move it to a new area to create a new feel.
7) Lighting Makes A Difference
Many of us tend to focus on furniture and walls when it comes to home improvement. One of the best ways to instantly change your home's atmosphere is to change your light fixtures.
You can start small by focusing on a single room's light fixture or go all out and change all indoor and outdoor lights. It is undisputed that changes to your lighting will give your home a whole new feel.
Brighten up rooms with a statement chandelier or mood lighting. You can even select floor lamps to accentuate certain elements in the room.
8) Refinish Antique Furniture
Consider reapplying varnish or restaining any worn-out antique furniture. Bear in mind that this process is not appropriate for all pieces of furniture, and some are better left alone. Also, when refinishing, maintain a consistent color palette for every piece of furniture.
9) Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal
When upgrading your property, don't forget about the home's exterior. Working on your plants or tending to livestock outside may be enough to maintain a decent curb appeal, but you can do more.
Some of the things you may want to do are remove weeds, plant flowers, and give more attention to your lawn. While it's acceptable to have spots of soil and dirt on your property, it would look better with a well-maintained grass lawn.
Consider the initial impressions visitors will have as they approach your front door. Add colorful annual flowers, such as chrysanthemums and dahlias, in flower boxes beneath your window sills. You can also try including an attractive water feature on your front lawn, such as a trickling pond with koi and minnows.
10) Enhance The Kitchen’s Appearance
Upgrading your kitchen—one of the most utilized rooms in your house—is a surefire method to increase the value of your home. Some of the upgrades you can do are the following:
- Refinish your cabinets with a few coats of paint. You can even take this as an opportunity to change your kitchen's color palette. If you want to go the extra mile and make this step more eco-friendly, Tree Hugger's guide to green renovation recommends using paint that is low in volatile organic compounds.
- Add another island if space permits. An additional island gives you more working and storage space.
- Replace or update the light fixtures. Remember that proper lighting allows you to work more efficiently in the kitchen and improve its aesthetics.
- Give your kitchen a deep and thorough clean. Don't underestimate how much change a cleaning can do to your kitchen.
11) Change Up The Wallpaper
A quick way to change up the entire aesthetic of a space is by changing up the wallpaper. When it comes to wallpaper there are many things you have to consider. Color is particularly important, as it can either brighten up a room or do the exact opposite. If you're looking to give a room a little more texture, you can even opt to make use of patterned wallpaper with intricate designs. These will give your space a really unique look.
But what if you don't want to spend the entire weekend changing your wallpaper? Is there another way to achieve the same effect without having to do all the work? A HomeServe guide on home improvement ideas details how stencils and stickers can provide your walls with a completely new look. If you're going down the stencil route, it's best to practice first to reduce the chances of making a mistake when filling in the lines. Stickers are more ideal for revamping a child’s bedroom as it is much easier to create a theme.
12) Add Some Greenery
Plants purify the air, reduce stress, and look fabulous while doing it! A bathroom ivy, a coffee-table bonsai, or a bookcase cactus can all bring a fresh, natural feel to your home and look fantastic against a home’s typically neutral walls. However, if regularly buying fresh flowers seems a waste of money to you (but you cannot deny their ability to create the feeling of open space and fresh air), think about the alternatives! You can acquire some artificial flowers - find some much better quality than what they used to be once. You can choose some relying on your taste, or according to the rooms' color scheme, or pick white flowers that will suit any interior and put the desired emphasis.
Second of all, do not underestimate the power of living plants to make your home feel like the coziest place on Earth. They will be more of an investment, but they will stay with you for years with proper care.
The best thing about adding plants and flowers is that they look great in any corner of any room, so feel free to put them on the windowsills, dining and coffee tables, shelves, and do not forget about your master bedroom and bathroom as well!
13) Upholster Old Furniture Or Buy New
Fabric furniture can start to look ratty throughout the years. Rips, tears, fading color, or stripped materials are common for chairs or couches that are at least 5 years old, especially if you have pets. Take the time to upholster old furniture to make it look like new, and add pillows that match. You could browse Versace Homeware and buy new household items instead, like a throw blanket that can hang off of one of your chairs or couches.
On the other hand, if you want to spruce up some old IKEA furniture then check out IKEA hacks for some upcycling inspiration.
14) Implement Smart Storage Solutions
This is also a great way of freeing up space in your small house. Get smart with the way you store things by strategically implementing storage items in your home without taking up valuable space. Instead of having many storage places, invest in furniture with hidden storage units such as built-in wardrobes, beds with drawers, seats, and storage ottomans.
Also, make use of wall magnetic tapes to hold household equipment that you can hang, especially in your bathroom and kitchen. When possible, use portable storage containers to eliminate bulky devices eating up space. Stash items smartly in any of these storage techniques. Apart from providing more space, storing items like these makes it easier to retrieve them
You could also incorporate floating shelves. Floating shelves are little rows of shelves that are attached to your wall and may be used to display artworks and photos. These are perfect for showcasing little trinkets and decorations. Fill the shelves with books, flower vases, antiques, souvenirs from your trips, and other nice objects that complement your decor.
15) Utilize The Effect Of A Mirror
Having a large mirror in your home will make it appear larger. Careful placement of the mirror in your house, especially in strategic places like across from windows or door frames, will not only give you a spacious feeling but also improve your small house interior design.
Never underestimate the effect of a well-placed mirror. Use big or floor-length mirrors, mirrored closet doors, or fix smaller mirrors on the walls. The larger the mirror, the greater the impact. Your house is still the same size, but looking at it through a mirror view will create a dramatic effect.
The mirrors will bounce light around your house, making it feel bigger and brighter. The more reflective surfaces you have in your home, the bigger it will look.
16) Cushions
When it comes to brightening up your house, cushions are frequently overlooked. They're frequently purchased alongside furniture, but their potential is considerably greater. One of the most appealing aspects of purchasing cushions is that they are available in a variety of sizes and forms. For example, if you enjoy flowers, there are many floral cushion options to select from. Cushions are an excellent choice if you want something bright and eye-catching. What's fantastic about cushions is that they come in a variety of styles that you can simply place on your floor if you don't want to sit on a sofa.
Upgrade Your Home Without Destroying Your Budget
Most people who are looking for spruce-ups and fixes aren’t looking to put thousands of additional dollars into improving their homes, but rather want some relatively quick, relatively inexpensive projects that will help the home show well and sell fast. Home improvement does not have to be an overwhelming and costly exercise. With time and planning, you will have a clear strategy to move forward and create your dream home.
If you are taking on a more challenging DIY task, save money by printing step-by-step instructions instead of hiring a contractor. Work smart and make use of what you already have.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Home Improvement Ideas
i. What is the best home improvement idea to make?
When it comes to home improvement ideas, several options can add value to your property. Some of the most popular home improvement ideas that tend to add the most value include:
- Kitchen Remodeling: A kitchen remodel can include upgrades such as new cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring.
- Bathroom Renovations: Upgrades such as new vanities, fixtures, flooring, and tiles can help to give your bathroom a fresh new look.
- Adding a Deck or Patio: Adding an outdoor living space such as a deck or patio can be a great way to increase the value of your property while also providing a comfortable and relaxing space for you and your family to enjoy.
- Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Upgrades such as new windows, insulation, and HVAC systems can help to make your home more energy-efficient and attractive to potential buyers.
Ultimately, your property's best home improvement idea will depend on your specific needs and budget. It's important to consider factors such as your home's current value, your goals for the renovation, and the potential return on investment before deciding on the best home improvement project for you.
ii. What is the easiest DIY home improvement idea?
Painting is one of the easiest DIY home improvement ideas that can greatly impact the look and feel of your home. It's relatively inexpensive, and there are endless color options. Other easy Do It Yourself projects include replacing cabinet hardware, installing a new backsplash, or updating light fixtures.
iii. How can I improve my home for free?
There are many ways to improve your home for free, including decluttering and organizing, rearranging furniture for a fresh new look, cleaning and deep cleaning your home, and adding fresh plants or flowers for a natural touch.
iv. What is the cheapest home improvement idea?
Painting is not only an easy DIY project but also one of the cheapest home improvement ideas. Other low-cost ideas include adding new curtains, changing out light fixtures or lampshades, adding a fresh coat of stain or paint to old furniture, or adding new throw pillows and blankets.
v. How do you make easy home improvements?
Start by identifying the areas of your home that need improvement and prioritize the ones most important to you. Then, consider small upgrades that can make a big impact, such as updating hardware, painting, or adding new accessories. Always have a clear plan and budget before starting any home improvement project.
vi. How can I upgrade my house on a budget?
Upgrading your house on a budget requires some creativity and smart planning. Consider DIY projects, focus on small upgrades that make a big impact, and shop around for deals on materials and supplies. Repurposing old items or shopping at thrift stores, saving money while adding character to your home.
vii. How can I make my small house look expensive?
Several ways to make a small house look expensive include choosing a neutral color palette, using high-quality materials and finishes, adding statement lighting fixtures, incorporating built-in storage solutions, and investing in custom window treatments. Adding texture and layering elements adds depth and a luxurious feel to a small space.
viii. How do I make my walls look expensive?
Painting your walls with high-quality spray paint can make a big difference in the look and feel of your space. Adding wallpaper, wainscoting, or a statement art piece can add texture and visual interest to your walls. Another idea is to incorporate wall sconces or crown molding to elevate the look of your walls in just a few hours.
Viv. What colors make a house look expensive?
Several colors can make a house look expensive. These include deep shades of navy blue, charcoal gray, and forest green. Metallic hues like gold and silver can also add a touch of luxury. Additionally, neutrals like white, beige, and gray can give a timeless and sophisticated look.
x. How can I make my house look classy?
There are several ways to make a house look classy. First, focus on the quality of the materials used in the decor and furniture. Opt for high-quality fabrics, wood, and metals that have a timeless appeal. Additionally, decluttering and simplifying the decor can give a more sophisticated look. Consider adding art or decorative pieces that have a classic or elegant design.
xi. How can I make my living room look luxurious?
There are several ways to make a living room look luxurious. One way is to add texture to the space, such as using plush fabrics, fur or woolen rugs, and decorative pillows. Incorporating metallic accents like gold or silver can also add a touch of glamour.
Additionally, statement pieces like a large piece of artwork, a unique chandelier, or an ornate mirror can create a focal point and add a sense of luxury to the space. Finally, lighting is crucial in creating an ambiance, so dimmer switches and lamps create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
xii. How can I make my sofa look expensive?
There are several ways to make your sofa look expensive without breaking the bank. Here are some tips:
- Add some throw pillows: Choose pillows with intricate patterns or luxurious fabrics like velvet, silk or faux fur.
- Use a throw blanket: A soft, cozy throw blanket adds luxury and comfort to your living space.
- Choose the right fabric: Opt for a high-quality fabric like leather, linen, or wool that looks and feels expensive.
- Invest in a rug: Choose a high-quality rug with a plush texture and intricate design.
xiii. What colors make a living room look bigger?
Color plays a crucial role in creating the illusion of space in your living room. Here are some colors that can make your living room look bigger:
- Light colors: White, cream, beige, and pastels reflect light and make your living room appear brighter and more spacious.
- Cool colors: Cool colors like blue and green can create a calming and relaxing atmosphere in your living room.
- Monochromatic color scheme: A monochromatic color scheme using different shades of the same color can create a cohesive and visually spacious living room.
- Bright accents: Adding bright accents like a colorful throw pillow or a bold piece of art can draw the eye and make your living room feel more spacious.
