Does your home look like it hasn’t entered the 21st century yet? There are many reasons for sprucing up your home. You might want to improve your living standards or raise the property’s value, suggests Kellie, owner of T-Square Real Estate. And it’s hard to find homeowners who wouldn’t want to impress their guests either.
Modernizing an outdated home doesn’t have to incur enormous costs. In this article, we’ll explore various options for making your old home look new on a reasonable budget.
Declutter your home
What makes a home look outdated? It’s not always the age of the furniture and fixtures in your house. Clutter that has been piling up over the years makes any home look tired. That’s why you should get rid of the clutter in your home. Obviously, there are many things that you don’t want to sell or throw away. You could use hidden storage spaces to stash away the excess.
Various accessories, old magazines, faded pictures, and weary ornaments need proper storage. You can use cupboards, wardrobes, and multi-functional furniture for smart storage options. After all the decluttering, your home will look fresher than ever!
Update the lighting
Updated lighting can make such a difference. You can install a solution that comes with spotlights and up-lights. Having a bigger budget means you could opt for a lighting system manageable from your smartphone. Your answer for the best lighting solutions lies in strategic placement. Here are a few tips:
- Use lamps with the right proportions relative to the surrounding space
- Lamps used as accent pieces benefit from translucent shades
- Utilize floor lamps to illuminate dark corners in your home
- Consider recessed lights and track lighting solutions for ultimate comfort
- Prevent eye strain and fatigue by proper positioning of the lamps
Remove old wallpaper
Many older homes have wallpaper that has been there for countless years. If that’s the case, you should definitely remove the worn wallpaper. Usually, it’s already peeling and has dirt underneath. Old wallpaper can harbor mold under the surface. Clean this thoroughly and disinfect the areas after discovering mold growth underneath the wallpaper. Remember that there’s no need for new wallpaper. Instead, you can paint the walls in neutral colors.
Add a new backsplash
People underestimate what a difference a new backsplash can have on the kitchen. Old backsplashes give an antiquated feel to your whole kitchen area. Most worn backsplashes are chipped and look dull. For an extra budget-conscious solution, you can paint over the old tiles.
Prioritize your favorite areas
Being short on a budget doesn’t mean you have to ditch modernization plans altogether. You can prioritize one or more rooms over the other ones. Focus on rooms in which you and your guests spend the most time.
Upgrade your bathroom vanity
Bathrooms tend to age badly. Giving your bathroom vanity a fresh look goes a long way. Here are some steps you could take for achieving a modern appearance:
- Install a new countertop
- Give all the cabinets a paint job
- Find ways to add more storage space
- Replace the faucet with a new one
- Buy new hardware for your bathroom
And for a general bathroom revamp, you could do the following:
- Deep clean the grouting and tiles
- Remove limescale off the bathtub, sink, and toilet
- Hide cluttered toiletries from view
- Replace shower curtains and towels
- Add stylish spa candles and tasteful decorations
Create extra space
Living in many modern homes allows you to enjoy plenty of space. Airy and spacious rooms provide comfort and help you relax after a long day. Cramped living spaces, on the other hand, may raise your stress levels.
Many homeowners imagine major construction work for creating more space. Actually, you could just move around the furnishing for opening up optimal pathways. And getting rid of any bulky pieces of furniture helps to boost the aesthetic look as well.
The bottom line: modernizing your outdated home
You can take budget-friendly measures for updating your outdated home. There are many smaller and bigger projects for bringing your home into the 21st century.
- Remove old wallpaper and paint the walls
- Declutter your home
- Remove or move around bulky furnishings for optimal use of floor space
- Revamp your bathroom and upgrade its vanity
- Prioritize rooms where you spend the most time
- Update the lighting system for a modern look
- Install a new backsplash in your kitchen (or repaint the old tiles)
If you’re unsure of where to start or which options could make the biggest impact, contact a professional for support.
Written by Ian Joseph – Edited by Ashley Pasquale
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