Simple Home Improvements to Consider Around Your Home
We are much more likely to consider home improvements when they are easy to achieve. We like to be able to set a goal that is clearly achievable and leaves you with a better home than you started with. But, just because they’re easy to achieve doesn’t mean that they don’t cost money.
If you’ve got a tight budget for your home improvements then simple tasks are perfect because they don’t require a lot of resources. On top of that, you can also look on sites like Raise for coupons and discounts that make it more affordable to shop at stores like Lowe’s. So, if you’ve been wanting to make some improvements to your home but don’t have a big budget and need it done quickly, here are some that fit those categories perfectly and that will prove pleasing to the eye.
Renew Paintwork
One of the easiest ways to make your home look different is to refresh it with paint. The colour of your wall can change your mood and make you feel better. If you want to feel calm, you may want to avoid red as this is a colour associated with aggression. Yellow or orange will add some warmth. If you experience a lot of hot weather then you may prefer to feel cooler with shades of blue or green. Black even, for that Gothic look.
To make painting easier, there are some things you should know. For instance, if you do not finish your painting project in one day, there is no need to wash brushes or rollers. You can simply wrap them in plastic bags or foil and put them in the refrigerator. Then you just need to let them warm up before using them. Also, that you can use low-tack masking tape to keep straight edges, and that brushing down and then lightly across should help take away brushstrokes. Do not overwork the paint so that you end up taking it away instead of applying it, or apply it too liberally to create runs.
If you desire texture, for a different look, you should choose a roller that has a longer 3/4 inch nap. This will hold more paint and allow you to create a stippling effect on your wall. Smoother finishes will require a nap of between an inch nap.
Additionally, you might want to add a layer of protective coating over your paint that would keep UV rays, moisture or any kind of nature-related damage at bay. Companies similar to Rhino Shield which supply such products could prove to be useful if you are on the lookout for something similar for your home renovation project.
Focus On The Exterior
When people think about the possible improvements they can make to their home, some only think about interior changes and what can be done on the inside. And while you want to make sure that your interior design is up to your standards, it is also just as important that you focus on the exterior of your home too. The outside of your home is the first thing that guests will see when they pull up the drive, so of course, you will want to make sure that everything is in order.
For example, a flagpole in the backyard, displaying the ohio state flag or the flag of your country can help to show how patriotic you are when it comes to your country. This idea doesn’t take up a lot of space and can add to the decor in more ways than you may think. As well as this, cleaning up the garden, replacing the siding and even your roof are also home improvements that you may wish to consider making in the near future. However, these types of changes shouldn’t be rushed so take your time and focus on them when you are ready.
Spruce Up Decking
Instead of renewing tired, old wooden decking, all you need to do is to power wash it to remove algae and black leaf stains. And while power washing, you may also need to look for all the black leaves that are stuck in the gutters. If the gutter is clogged, you could call in a professional from somewhere similar to Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Naperville to clean it for you. While power washing, apply a protective coat of a semi-transparent stain. It will now look as good as it did when it was new. It is only where you see rotten pieces that they will need replacing. You may then want to paint the decking instead of staining it so that you get a better colour match.
Consider Coverings
Sometimes things can be improved by covering them over and not worrying about what is underneath. For instance, in your kitchen, you could fix a chalkboard to the front of a kitchen cabinet where the paint has worn. Then use it to chalk out shopping lists or leave messages to family members.
With your plain white refrigerator, you could consider a display of scenic magnets from around the world, or ones relating to a particular theme. This would take away your refrigerator’s single colour and create a different look. Also, of course, magnets are great for holding messages left on pieces of paper.
Try Stenciling
Instead of painting walls, why not try stenciling them? Latex or acrylic craft paints are recommended for this job. Other tools required will include brushes, dabbers, rollers, and sponges. You will also need to purchase painter’s tape and spray-on adhesive and have a paint tray to hold and blend paints as you customise things. Paper towels or re-used rags will be needed to offload paint before stenciling.
By definition, stenciling is a technique that is used to reproduce designs by passing paint or ink over holes in metal, plastic, or cardboard cutout, so that the surface underneath may be decorated. It is a good idea to use stencils that you can re-use so that you can replicate precisely a pattern already used and have it match perfectly. It is an easy way to create a design without having to paint freehand. Just be careful not to smear the paint when moving the stencil away. Other than that, it is something any of us can do without being an artist, signwriter, or interior designer by trade.
Change Your Front Door
The best way to completely change the look of your home to those visiting is to change your front door. This will be the first thing that everyone notices when sober.
Apart from a new colour, you might want to think about the possibility of stained glass and a different style of a doorknocker, which can be chosen when purchasing the door.
Blue is the best colour for a front door if you are planning to sell your home in the future. This is whether it is navy, midnight blue, teal, or duck egg blue. Real estate agents deem it the most enticing of all the colours. Second to blue it will be a shade of green such as olive, sage, lichen, or royal. Yes, you can have royal green as well as you can have royal blue. So, this is something to consider if you do not want to change your door again for a while and might be selling your home in the not too distant future.
So, a few home improvement ideas to consider. All of which should be straightforward to achieve. Renewing paintwork will refresh the look of a home and create the mood required. Decking may not need to be replaced, just power washed to make it look like new again. Anything covered will create a variation, and stenciling might be a way of covering a wall in something other than plain paint for a more artistic look. Then if we were to change our front door, our house changes would become apparent straight away. It might even help us to sell our home in the future, along with the smell of coffee and freshly baked bread.