Do you wish you could bring back that “new-home” feeling you had when you first bought your house? Sometimes, after years of seeing the same style and design, your ‘new’ home can begin to feel old, tired and unexciting. Over time, styles, and personal tastes change; your living space should reflect that.
Your home is where your life happens and should bring you a sense of pride and comfort when you, or your company, are enjoying it.
If you’ve been putting off improving your home’s interior because of time or budget constraints, however, you can start planning again! Updating your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Some homes, such as Eaglewood Homes in Boise, are designed in a way that allow small changes to create a surprisingly big impact.
Here are 5 projects you can complete in a weekend; easy and affordable changes that can make your familiar home feel brand new again!
1. Hardware – faucets, knobs, shower-heads and even lighting fixtures come in many different styles and finishes. New hardware in the kitchen and bath can bring out different tones and hues in granite countertops or textured walls in a subtle and pleasing way. From shiny chrome to brushed nickel with Venetian bronze, you are sure to find a look that will please you and your guests.
2.Lighting – So often, we walk into a room and flick on the same overhead light-day in and day out. Having a variety of lighting choices can help you create that certain ambiance for evenings or special occasions. Small end-table lamps or scattered wall sconces instead of a harsh overhead light can turn an informal get-together into a more intimate occasion with the flick of a switch.
3. Walls and cabinets – A fresh coat of paint can do wonders in short time. Consider adding texture to the walls or using a subtly contrasting shade on window and door frames. If you purchase a paint and primer in one, you can have brilliant color in just one coat, saving you lots of time. For a softer look, you might want to try a stain instead of paint. Stains come in a wide variety of hues to compliment any decor and create a look not achieved with paint.
4. Flooring – No matter which type of flooring you have in your home-hardwood, tile or carpet-there’s room for change. Carpets should be professionally cleaned yearly. Store-bought cleaners are okay for small stains or a temporary fix, but in the end, they just don’t compare to a professional steam cleaning to remove stains and odors and bring some ‘bounce’ back into the pile-especially in heavily trafficked areas. Tile floors can be beautiful, but after some time, the grout can become stained or chipped. Both issues are easily remedied as grout-cleaners and sealers are inexpensive and easy to apply. Hardwood floors can be beautiful when accented with scatter rugs. Rugs can provide a burst of color, or when strategically placed, can create separate ‘spaces’ in a room.
5. Appliances – last, but not least are the most-used items in your kitchen; the ones you use everyday. Did you know that there are alternatives to buying all new appliances? Oven doors can be repainted or replaced easily. Even simply installing a new oven window can make the whole unit look shiny and fresh. Hiring someone to repaint your refrigerator, stove or dishwasher is not too expensive and certainly much cheaper than buying everything new!
The bottom line is that-with a little time and creativity-improving your home’s interior is not at all the chore it once was. Something as simple as replacing blinds with drapes or hanging a few mirrors where they will reflect the most sunlight can be an instant face-lift for the place you love the most; your home!
