Fixing up your home is a pretty big undertaking and it is easy to see why it is a dreaded task for most people. There are always some risks involved when you hire a contractor and you don’t always see a return on your investment. However, with some good interior design and the right modifications you can not only create a very beautiful and functional home, but raise the property value as well. There are a ton of things that can be done around the house and an unlimited supply of furniture and materials that gives you great latitude when it comes to design.
The quickest way to make a house seem new and more exiting are a fresh coat of paint, some minor adjustment in layout and a few trinkets like a new lamp, a painting, a flower pot or some decorations. However this hardly constitutes redecorating and to really make the place look nicer, and make it more accommodating you will need to make a more significant investment. The thing is that investing in your home means investing for the long run – you will get over a decade of use out of the house before any major maintenance needs to be done, and some design features may very well be left to future generations to admire long after you have past your prime.
Landscaping
A carefully cared for garden will be well-received by guests or prospective buyers should you decide to sell the property somewhere down the line. Some great options include building a pond – which will require additional equipment like pumps and filters and some maintenance work on your part – and planting some exotic flowers. Fruit-giving tree varieties can be exceptionally beautiful when they flower and evergreens will keep your yard looking beautiful all year round. Hedges and bushy flowers like hydrangeas can be utilized to create some stunning landscaping designs. You can do some work of your own if you have green fingers or you could hire professionals to do the job for you.
Modern mosaic bathroom tiles and luxury bathroom vanities and bathtubs
The bathroom and kitchen are areas that will define you as a homeowner – a big plasma TV and some leather furniture in the living room is all well and good, but it won’t do you any good when you need to take a shower or make something to eat. A well-designed bathroom shouldn’t be merely focused on utility, but should provide you with a relaxing setting where you can perform your important daily rituals such as getting ready for work in the morning, preparing for a date and getting ready for bad in the evening. Since this room is a sort of a sanctuary within your home where you can get some 10-20 minutes of privacy and drown out life’s worries, it is important to make it look the part. An easy way to bring a little style into your bathroom is to spend a little extra on mosaic tiles, nice vanities and perhaps a stylish bathtub or a modern shower. There are some incredible options like shell mosaic tiles combined with glass and marble, which go well with contemporary bathroom vanity sets and can give your bathroom a bit more character. In this day and age people seldom find time for long baths, so a walk-in shower may be a better choice over a traditional bathtub and shower combo.
Stone countertops, tile backsplashes and high-end kitchen appliances
Although some people just run up to the fridge, make a quick sandwich from whatever is available and eat it on their feet just before heading out the door or opt to order take out, the kitchen and dining room area still remains an integral part of any household. A new dining room table and chairs set, some new paint on the walls and some pictures and flower arrangements might be just the thing you need to liven up your home. Stone countertops and tile backsplashes, combined with wooden elements give the kitchen a more natural feel that harkens back to older times when we used to hunt our food and have a more spiritual relationship with nature. For millions of natural born cooks the kitchen is a temple where sermons are read from recipe books and an inordinate amount of time is spent preparing meals that nourish the whole family, and any serious kitchen should reflect this in its design.
A social, party or gaming area makeover
Being a good host is an important aspect of leading a healthy social life. Having people over for dinner helps strengthen the bonds of friendship and transcend the banal formalities we are faced with every day. This is why we have stressed the importance of having a functional kitchen and elegant dining room, but there is more to us humans than our appetites. One of the best things you can do is to create a very informal atmosphere where everyone can drink, have fun and feel right at home. Sometimes it is as simple as changing the layout in your living room, getting a new rug, adding some interesting décor or buying a new TV and a gaming console. A favorite choice for many is to fix up the basement – good choices include a pinball machine, foosball or pool table, a darts board or just a small bar, speakers playing good music and some comfortable chairs. Some couples opt for creating male and female friendly zones: the basement becomes a man cave, while the dining and living room areas become sophisticated chambers where guests are received.
So to recap, if you are going to take the time to redecorate your home – and if you are starting to seriously consider it then a renovation is probably long overdue – you might as well do it right. It will take a substantial investment to really make change and improve your home from both a practical and aesthetic point of view, but doing things right will put a smile on your face and it will provide you with a good return on your investment.