Interior Improvements to Make to Your Home
Whether you’re planning to sell or just want to give your home a few updates, the right interior improvements can have a big impact. You could potentially add extra space, lower your utility costs, and improve your quality of life. These are some of the improvements you should consider if you’re looking to update your home.
Install Ceiling Fans
Installing ceiling fans can make heating and cooling your home much easier. In the summer, fans can circulate the air from your AC unit and keep your home at a more comfortable temperature. During the winter, ceiling fans can push down warm air as it rises, which can reduce your heating costs.
Well-placed ceiling fans can even be used in place of air conditioning. Simply running a fan can lower the temperature of your home by several degrees. Over time, ceiling fans can help you reduce your energy usage and cut back on what you’re spending on utilities.
While ceiling fans might not be the first thing you think of when you consider home improvement projects, modern ceiling fans are far more efficient than the fans of the past. Many fans have remotes, timers, and other useful features, like reversible fan blades. A fan could even double as a light fixture.
Ceiling fans provide an impressive return on investment and are one of the best interior improvements you could make to your home. Best of all, you can find fans in a variety of styles and at many price points. It shouldn’t be difficult for you to find a fan that matches the rest of your household’s decor.
Finish Your Basement
Basement remodeling projects are one of the most effective ways to increase the amount of living space in your home. Once your basement is finished, you can even install a full or half-bathroom in the space. A finished basement could be the perfect place for an extra bedroom, home office, or even a media room.
Not only can a finished basement add value to a home, but it can help you save on energy costs. Many basements are lacking in insulation, which means they allow hot and cold air to escape. When a basement is remodeled, the contractors will add insulation and drywall, which should keep the space at a more consistent temperature.
A basement can be a very versatile space, which is why this is one of the better interior improvements for homes. No matter what you decide to do with your basement, the updates you make will give you extra square footage. Your basement might be dark and dingy now, but once it’s remodeled, you’ll find yourself using it all the time.
Renovate Your Attic
Another effective way to increase the amount of living space in a home is to finish the attic. An attic can easily be converted into a loft-like space. While attics make beautiful bedrooms, this space could also be used for a playroom, a home gym, or anything else your household might need.
Some home remodeling projects can be challenging, but an attic renovation shouldn’t be a major source of stress. Since your attic is located above the rest of your home, you won’t have contractors walking across your house. As a bonus, it’s a smaller project that usually only requires a few workers.
When you finish your attic, you’ll also be able to add insulation, which will keep hot and cold air from escaping your home through the attic. Improving your attic’s insulation will also keep out pests and improve air circulation in your home. Now would be a great time to convert your attic into a space you can use.
Update Your Kitchen or Bathroom
When it comes to interior improvements to the home, few projects provide the kind of return on investment that kitchen and bathroom updates can offer. While major renovation projects can be costly, even making small changes to these spaces can have a big impact. The right improvements could refresh these rooms and make them look new again.
If your kitchen cabinets are starting to show signs of age, have general contractors refinish your cabinets. You could repaint the cabinets, add a new stain, or even change the cabinet’s grain pattern. It’s a cost-effective way to make older cabinets look new.
Replacing the vanity can dramatically change the look of a bathroom. Many bathroom vanities even come with a countertop and sink, which makes them easier to install. For more dramatic results, consider replacing your bathroom mirror as well. You can even add extra shelving or towel racks!
You can improve the look of your kitchen or bathroom if you add a tile backsplash. Installing new lighting fixtures is also a simple and effective way to change these rooms. Even if you’re not ready for a major home renovation project, there are countless ways you can improve some of the most frequently used rooms in your home.
Install Hardwood Floors
You spend a lot of time walking across the floors in your home, which is why upgrading your flooring is one of the most effective interior improvements you can make. Installing hardwood flooring can dramatically improve the appearance of your home. This flooring material has a timeless look and comes in a variety of finishes.
In addition to looking fantastic, hardwood floors are low-maintenance and easy to care for. Whether you opt to sweep, vacuum, or even steam-clean your new floors, it won’t take much effort to keep them looking great. Hardwood is also far more resistant to staining than other popular flooring materials, like carpeting.
Another advantage that wood floors have over carpeting is that they don’t trap household allergens, like dust and animal dander. If you switch from carpet to wood flooring, the air quality in your home will likely improve. If you prefer walking on softer surfaces, you can always cover your floors with rugs!
Ideally, you should choose a harder wood for your floors, such as cherry, oak, or maple. Mahogany and walnut floors can also work very well. There are even materials that can give you a similar look to wood floors, like bamboo flooring. If your floors are in bad shape, it’s time to replace your flooring with something that can last a lifetime.
Update Your Furniture
Furniture can be a big investment, and many home furnishings aren’t designed to be used for life. If you have the budget for interior improvements, you may want to look into replacing some of the furniture and decor in your home. Your home will look its best if it’s beautifully decorated.
It can be hard to find high-quality furniture at a reasonable price point, but some options could help you save. You can find beautiful furniture in like-new condition at estate sales. If you’d prefer to buy something new, you could also work with a commercial furniture company that offers discounts and other incentives.
When you’re buying furniture and other home decor pieces, it’s important to think about how the pieces will look together. You should also consider how much space you have. Measure your space carefully before investing in new furniture and make sure you don’t overfill any rooms.
You may want to focus on updating the furniture in one room at a time. For example, you could start by updating your living room furniture, then invest in a new dining set once your budget has recovered. Little by little, you can replace your old furnishings with pieces you love.
Repaint Your Home
One of the easiest ways to enhance the look of a space is to add a new coat of paint! Not only can painting refresh your home, but it can also increase its value. When you choose the right color of paint, you can take a drab room and make it dazzling! Neutral shades, such as white, gray, beige, and cream, are usually the best choices for home interiors.
Even though house painting is something you can do yourself, you’ll get better results if you hire professional painting contractors. Working with professionals means that you’ll get flawless results and that no mess will be left behind. If your walls are professionally painted, they could remain in pristine condition for many years to come.
Working with painter services will also make it easier for you to choose the right kind of paint for your walls. Some types of paint, such as high-gloss paints, are more resistant to moisture, making them a better option for damp spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. Certain types of paint could shield your walls from damage.
Replace Your Windows
Windows aren’t made to last forever, and if the windows in your home are older, it might be time for you to replace them with something new. Newer windows offer better insulation and are made from higher-quality materials. Installing replacement windows can reduce drafts and improve the insulation in your home.
Like many interior improvements, installing new windows could wind up saving you time and money. Many older windows have wood frames, which will start to show signs of damage if they’re not refinished every couple of years. In contrast, windows with composite frames require next to no maintenance.
Many new windows also have features that make them easier to keep clean, such as tilt-in frames. You’ll also find plenty of useful safety features on new windows, like efficient locks and even sensors that can prevent people from breaking into your home. Newer windows are even made from materials that are less likely to shatter when broken.
Add Another Room
It’s normal for needs to change over time, and your current home may no longer be large enough to meet your needs. If you’re struggling to deal with a lack of space, room additions are one of the most useful interior improvements you can make. There are numerous options to choose from, and you can make an addition that will give you the space you’re looking for.
A room addition could potentially be a way to avoid a move. If you’re happy in your neighborhood but don’t have enough space, you could expand your house and add on an extra room or two. These kinds of renovations can be a great way to provide extra space for children or older family members that you want to care for.
When you work with an experienced home addition contractor, you’ll get advice and feedback throughout the process. This will allow you to find the best ways to add the space you need. Whether you build a mother-in-law’s suite or add a second floor to your home, the renovations will make your home a more comfortable place to live.
Add Built-In Storage
Keeping your house clean isn’t easy, and it can be even harder when you don’t have much storage space. Built-in storage will help you keep your home organized and clutter-free. When you add efficient storage solutions throughout the home, you’ll have places to put all the items you need to store.
Open shelving is a great way to get extra storage space in the kitchen. If people tend to toss their shoes and coats on the floor when they walk into your home, set up a drop zone at the entrance. You can put up hooks, add storage cubbies, and could even install a storage bench.
In addition to adding more storage, you can upgrade your current storage so that it better suits your needs. Custom closet systems are one of the better interior improvements for the home, especially if you’re constantly struggling with closet clutter. A messy home is a fixable problem, and more storage is the perfect solution.
Even if you’re working on a small budget, there are many things you can do to enhance your home. Updates can increase your home’s value, but they can also make your house a better place to live. After you’ve made the right interior improvements, you may find that you want to spend more time at home.