There are plenty of ways to add value to your home without embarking on any major renovations. If your home is structurally sound and well looked after, you should be able to get away with a few easy updates, a fresh coat of paint, and a bit of garden maintenance.
While every home is different, here are 10 simple ways to update and add value to your home without spending a fortune.
1. REFRESH WITH PAINT
Painting your house can lift the mood of your home and it’s inexpensive if you’re willing to do the work. If your budget allows, tackle walls yourself and get professionals in to do the ceilings, as these can be hard going on the neck.
You might be able to get away with giving skirting boards, doors and window and door frames a good clean with sugar soap or a natural alternative such as washing soda.
If you’re taking the DIY approach, tackle one room at a time. Choose a warm, dry day to start, move all of your furniture into the middle of the room and do the first coat in the morning. As most paint needs only a few hours between coats, you can do the second later in the day and have the room finished by the evening.
2. RETHINK WINDOW TREATMENTS
Updating your window treatments is an effective way to transform your home’s style. With so many options now available, there is a value-adding solution for every room of the house.
Whether you’re contemplating curtains, blinds or shutters – or considering awnings and smart motorisation – leading retailer Victory Blinds has an extensive list of options to ensure your home’s exact needs are met.
To add extra warmth and style, use shutters or timber Venetians. Or if you’re looking to add a luxe finish to rooms, opt for a timeless blockout curtain in a rich fabric. Window treatments aren’t something we change often in the lifetime of the house, so selecting quality, timeless styles is a must.
3. REVAMP THE ENTRANCE
First impressions count, particularly if you’re about to put your house on the market.
By painting the front door in a strong colour, such as red or blue, updating doorway furniture and the entrance mat, you’re sending a message that your home is up-to-date and well maintained before anyone even crosses the threshold.
Give the area around the entrance the once-over by cleaning the path, removing cobwebs and trimming plants. Check the letterbox isn’t shabby and fix any loose pavers or fence palings.
4. UPDATE FLOORING
Getting carpets cleaned can make a huge amount of difference to the look (and smell) of a home, so calling in the professionals is well worth considering. However, no amount of cleaning is going to lift a floor covering beyond its use-by date, so it may be time to replace what you’ve got.
If floorboards are showing a little too much wear and tear, have them re-sanded, which opens up myriad options as you could have them lime washed, stained, painted or simply resealed.
If you decide to rip up old carpet and find old dirty floorboards underneath, mix up a solution of boiled linseed oil, turpentine and white vinegar in equal parts and test a patch with a lint-free cloth to clean and feed the timber. If the wood looks good, you may have unearthed a gem.
5. NEW KITCHEN HANDLES
Updating your kitchen can be as simple as changing your kitchen cupboard and cabinet hardware.
From aged brass to matte black and brushed nickel, the finish options are endless and serve as a great way to experiment with new colours. Be sure to match the fitting characteristics to your current handles to ensure a smooth and simple switch.
6. CHANGE THE LIGHT SWITCHES
Often, it’s the details that count and standard white light switches tend to look yellow over time. Getting an electrician to replace them isn’t a costly exercise and you can often pick up everything you need at a big hardware store, so the major cost will be labour. Many brands make coloured or metal switch plates, but consider the fact switches tend to be utilitarian items that don’t need to be made a feature of.
7. REPLACE SPLASHBACK
Sometimes making one major change in the kitchen is enough to lift the whole room, so if you don’t want to mess with the cabinetry, cast an objective eye over the splashback as it’s a way to inject some personality into the room without going over the top.
Glass splashbacks are still popular but, at about half the price, acrylic is a cheaper alternative. There’s a great colour range on the market as well as clear options so you can personalise your selection with wallpaper, for instance. The only limitation is that acrylics can’t be used directly behind stoves.
8. FIT NEW TAPS
If the bathroom and kitchen are basically in good shape but just in need of a little updating, look at the taps. By fitting new, good-looking, matching taps, or taps that link aesthetically, you’re bringing a sense of cohesion to the house. Good taps also suggest good plumbing.
9. GROOM THE GARDEN
Winter is the perfect time to pull on the garden gloves and get stuck into the backyard. After a general tidy up, look at any gaps in planting that need to be dealt with.
If you’re putting the house up for sale, gather reasonably established potted plants to fill up these holes as you can take them with you when you go.
Get hold of a high-pressure hose and give paths and paintwork the once-over. Clean the barbecue and give outdoor furniture a scrub and, if needed, an oil.
10. REPLACE YOUR TOILET AND SINK
An old sink or toilet can age an otherwise impressive bathroom. A simple replacement can give the entire space a quick lift.
Newer sink styles – freestanding, organic shaped, statement coloured – can turn a tired bathroom into something more modern, while a fresh toilet gives the impression of cleanliness.