It is the dream of every homeowner to turn their house into their dream house and ensure that it stays fresh year after year. Constant home improvement can play a critical role in transforming this dream into reality. Statistics indicate that homeowners in the United States will spend at least $340 billion in total on various home improvement projects and repairs. This shows the importance of home improvement.
Beautiful home exterior during late spring season with clean landscape
Completing home remodeling and improvement projects will add significant value to your house and make it more attractive to potential homebuyers should you decide to sell it in the future. Although some home improvement projects are quite expensive, there are lots of other small things that you can do to update/upgrade your home in between your major home improvement projects.
Sometimes, it is the small things that we do which matter. As long as you make smart choices and know when to undertake these minor projects, you can be sure of a return on investment. What is even more exciting is the fact that the small projects will help you save a lot of money while keeping your home fresh and attractive throughout the year.
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Get Ready To Landscape
Did you know that a little lawn care can go a long way in enhancing your curb appeal and keeping your home fresh all year round? For instance, six applications of fertilizer and effective weed control will cost you approximately $350, but its returns can be tremendous. If you are willing to spend a little bit more, consider installing a stone walkway that is lined with greenery.
But why should you pay greater attention to your landscaping? Well, you need to keep in mind that the first impression matters and that is the first thing that visitors will notice when they walk into your compound. Here is no need to complicate everything. Just keep your landscaping simple and smart. When I moved out of my apartment in Plano, TX to my first home, landscaping was one of the things that I was most excited about. Adding some fresh flowers and shrubs to the front yard really gave the place a new life.
Make Shade and Add More Privacy with Interior Shutters
Typically, a lot of sunlight streaming through your windows can be an annoying distraction at times. You also need to be wary of your nosy neighbors who seem to have a lot of free time that they can spend looking into your living room. To control this entire nuisance, consider installing shades to foil the prying eyes of your neighbors and keep off the unwanted sunlight.
The interior shutters were the original “window treatments” that were mostly used in southern and urban homes, and they are still a great option to add to your house. Window shutters also keep out winter’s chilly winds and are also easy to install. Installing window shutters should cost you approximately $170.
Reframe Your Front Door
The front door is the first thing that you and your guests will see when entering your house. Keeping it in good condition should always be on top of your to-do list. If you have the basic steel front door that has numerous dents, consider replacing it with either another affordable steel door or fiberglass door. Next, replace the worn out knob on your front door with a more attractive handle-and-lock set.
You can also place two large planters on either side of your front door to compliment your door colors. Make sure that you look for foliage colors that complement each other well. Mix both annuals and perennials and go for different height varieties.
Spruce Up Your Bathroom
Your bathroom, just like your kitchen, is a critical component of your house, so it doesn’t hurt if you spend a few dollars to make it more appealing. Take some time to bring your bathroom into the 21st century by creating a high degree of functionality.
The good news is that you don’t have to do away with your current bathroom and start all over again. Simply add new fixtures, a fresh coat of paint, light fixtures, and you are good to go. Alex at Modern Home Pulse suggests a bidet as a cheap upgrade, or even just new fixtures for the sink and shower. You should also consider updating your bathroom tile or if you want to spend a little bit more, consider installing an additional bathroom.
Prepare To Paint
A fresh coat of paint will make everything appear clean, fresh, and bright again. Therefore, painting should always be an ongoing task in your home since it is also highly affordable and you can do the painting yourself.
Consider painting your interior walls with three different shades of the same color to bring out the beauty and magic. Do the bottom side of the wall with the darkest shade and once it dries up, paint the middle section with the next lightest shade and so on. Don’t forget the ceiling when you do the painting.
Go Green
Finally, consider adding green energy features to your home in between major home improvement projects. Making your home energy-efficient and eco-friendly improves the curb appeal and also increases its value almost immediately.
Consider changing all your light bulbs to CFLs, replace your toilets and showers with low-flow features, acquire low-energy appliances and replace your older windows with the more energy-efficient ones. You should also install a programmable thermostat and start filtering your drinking water so that you can ditch the plastic bottles.
