Sometimes we want to change things up a little – whether you are selling or not – just a small change can make your home feel “new” and fresh. Sometimes moving the furniture around helps, sometimes it needs to be something a little more visible and permanent. The best change is one that doesn’t cost much and yet gives you a new feeling, so here are a few ideas for you to consider.
Curb Appeal
Improving your home's outer appearance will improve both the value and charm of your home. Re-painting the front door and trim will give the front of the house the feel of a newer home. Maybe your front door and entry way doesn’t need fresh paint but a good wash would do the trick. Clean out the cobwebs, dust and leaves that can gather when you are looking. A little minor landscaping work (trimming shrubs, cutting the lawn, replacing sod) over a long weekend can dramatically change your home's look. Add some potted flowers on the front steps or entryway. Consider investing in new doorknobs, house numbers and a mailbox as well.
Light Fixtures
If you have older lighting fixtures that date the look of your home, consider replacing them with new, more appealing hardware. While you can certainly spend a lot of money on high-end fixtures, cheaper alternatives are available in a number of styles. Brushed nickel and stainless steel fixtures are especially possible. If replacing all of the fixtures in your house isn't realistic from a financial standpoint, selectively change out fixtures in key areas such as bathrooms, bedrooms and exterior lighting.
Wash Exterior
You don't have to re-paint the exterior of your home to achieve a facelift. Washing the exterior siding will breathe new life into the house's appearance. Pressure washing sidewalks and driveways will clear away years of dirt, grime and dust. Avoid the temptation to use a pressure washer on the home itself, as it can easily peel off exterior paint.
Re-Caulk Plumbing Fixtures
Discolored, torn or crumbling caulking around plumbing fixtures can make your home look old and out of repair. By stripping out old caulking and replacing it with a fresh bead of silicon, your bathrooms and kitchen will look subtly revitalized. You can now purchase caulking in a variety of grades and colors, allowing you to match your décor.
Door Knobs
Another way to spruce up a room, the look and feel of your home is to change out the door knobs. Again this can be a costly or inexpensive option, but you can change the hardware with just a different color (brass or brush nickel) and do a few doors at a time and see what a change it makes.
