5 Quick Home Improvements

Sometimes, all it takes is a few simple fix-ups to improve the look of your home and make it more marketable. Even if you don’t plan to sell in the near future, a change of face can make your home more comfortable and appealing.  If your kitchen, bathroom and other rooms in your home look weary and tired but you can not afford to tear everything out and start over again, here are a few cost-effective solutions to consider:

1. Re-surface cabinets and counter tops If you are happy with the layout of your kitchen and you want to    avoid a major renovation, re-surfacing counters and cabinets will give you a whole new look for a lot less money.

Visit home improvement showrooms and see what products and styles are available. You can also ask a design consultant to come to your home and recommend different options.  Sometimes, just painting the cabinets and changing the hardware can transform the look of a kitchen or bathroom overnight.

2. Update your floors – Worn carpets and outdated tile floors are no way to present your house when looking to sell, with today’s many flooring options, especially when showing to first time home buyers.

You can choose from install-it-yourself linoleum sheets and tiles to more extensive hardwood applications.  In addition to visual appeal, take into account comfort, life span, cost and maintenance when considering re-doing your floors.  Sometimes, something as simple as adding a throw rug under a table or beneath chairs will add the warmth and colour you are looking for.  Just ensure that any throw rug is easy to clean and does not require a lot of upkeep.

3. Use light to brighten a room & set the appropriate mood – Lighting creates atmosphere and mood in a room.  Adding or changing existing ceiling fixtures, wall washers and pot lights can change the function of almost any room.

There are a huge number of options available when it comes to choosing the right lighting for any room.  Maybe your kitchen is too dark and all it needs is new track lighting that puts the spotlight where you want it.  Under-cabinet task lighting makes work easier and safer and brightens those dark counter areas.  For maximum flexibility, nothing works better than a floor or table lamp in any room.  Whether used to highlight decor, set a mood, light work areas, or provide safety and security, new lighting is an easy and inexpensive way to make your home come alive.

4. Re-upholster your furnishings-  If the fabric on your furniture looks tired and worn it can make a room look drab, even if there is a new paint job on the walls and new floors or carpets.  If you are happy with the design of your furniture but crave new fabric colours and textures, re-upholstering can be less expensive than buying, a whole new living or dining room set.

While re-upholstering allows you to extend the life of an existing furniture piece, it isn’t cheap.  Re-upholstering also takes skill.  Before attempting to re-upholster a furniture piece yourself, consider hiring someone who specializes in this craft.  So, first determine exactly which furniture pieces you want to keep.  You may just want to re-upholster a favourite chair or you may want to change the colouring of all the furniture in your living room.  Be sure to carefully match the colour, texture and design of the new fabrics with your carpet or wall colours.

5. Change your window treatment- Window coverings such as, blinds, shutters, sheers, shades or valances, or plain naked windows can be changed or covered to spruce up your house from the interior and the exterior.  There is no shortage of selection, when making this decision.

The window treatment is often the most eye-catching aspect of a room.  This is because windows serve as a visual link to the outside world.  They are also the primary source of natural light in your home.  Begin by deciding how important privacy is to you and whether you want your windows to emit air and light into the house.  If your windows reveal a pleasant view and privacy is not an issue, you may want to use minimal coverings that can be pulled back easily.  Also, consider location, if your windows face north, you should aim to let in as much light as possible and if they face south or west, you may want to cut back on the amount of light