Home Improvement Projects On A Budget
by: Lee Dobbins
Every year thousands of home owners do major renovations on their house in order to improve the value as well as enjoy their improvements. Some home improvements are very costly and many do not have a good return for the money spent. If you want to improve your home and up the value at the same time there are 3 areas you can focus on that make the most difference.
These projects can add value to your home, make it more enjoyable and don’t cost a lot of money either!
One key area in your home is the entrance. It’s the first thing that people see when they enter and the first place you step into when you come home. Spicing up your entrance goes for the outside as well as the inside. If you have a porch, add a nice planter and some lush vibrant plants. How about a nice wicker chair and table? You can search second hand stores for interesting items to add to your porch for a bargain.
If you really want a change try putting a coat of bright paint on the front door. Paint is cheap and can make a big difference in the way your whole house looks. While you have the paint brush out, why not try a different color on the inside foyer as well?
The kitchen is another key area in your home and making improvements in this room will add value to your house if you plan on selling it. The biggest thing in your kitchen is the cabinets and after years of use they can get dingy and dull. One thing you can do is give them a good cleaning. This one step alone can make a difference. You would be surprised the amount of dust and grease that can accumulate on cabinets. Depending on the material that your cabinets are made of, simply removing the cabinets from their hinges and wiping them down with the damp cloth is sufficient. There are chemicals on the market, but you need to make sure that the chemicals are made for your cabinet material.
Aside from cleaning the cabinets, you can give your kitchen a whole new look by replacing the cabinet knobs and hinges. Painting your kitchen can really change the way it looks and a nice tile backsplash can be inexpensive but have big impact.
The third area that makes a big difference in the house is the bathroom. Your guest bathroom is typically the smallest one in the house but you can make it have a big impact for you and your guests. You undoubtedly have a nice set of guest towels and matching accessories. Think about adding wallpaper trim, artwork, and color to the room.
There are numerous styles of wallpaper trim that you can choose a new look for your bathroom. You can go as conservative and as creative as you want. To complement the wallpaper trim, you can add artwork. You don't have to go out and purchase expensive artwork. You can use your imagination to come up with some ideas. For example, a few seashells, colorful fabric, and an empty picture frame are all you need to become your own favorite artist.
Just like the other room, paint is an inexpensive way to totally change the look of your bathroom. And don’t forget to hit the second hand stores for interesting accessories to add to your bathroom.
About The Author
Lee Dobbins writes for Home-Repair-DIY.comwhere you can read more article about home repair and home improvement.
| Five Keys to Remodeling on a Budget
by Pamela Cole Harris
We would all love to remodel our home. The evidence? Just look
at the profusion of new programs dealing with remodeling rooms,
houses, or yards by neighbors, mothers, complete strangers or
your Uncle Mort on a $1000, $500 or $1.98 budget.
If you, upon
viewing one too many episodes of Trading Spaces, have decided to
take the plunge, here are a few tips to ensure your remodeling
project is completed under budget.
1. Prioritize your needs and wants. Write down the top ten items
you need, then write down the top ten items you want. Put
your money towards your needs first, then you can use any
extra money for things that you want.
2. So you want granite countertops and hardwood floors? You want
wall-to-wall ceramic tile in the bath? Try alternative
materials to give you the look you want for a lot less money.
Try laminated stone countertops made with thin slabs of
bonded granite and laminate flooring to resemble hardwoods
or tile.
3. Do as much of the work as you can yourself. There are plenty
of websites on the internet that will give you instructions
and tips and your local home improvement store will be happy
to advise you (especially if you are buying supplies from
them!). If you use a contractor, you can save money by
removing the old cabinets or flooring yourself.
4. If possible, try not to knock down walls or make other
structural changes. Working with existing plumbing,
electrical wiring and walls will dramatically reduce the
cost of the project.
5 Take your time and have a plan. Taking it slow is the
remodeling equivalent of "measuring twice and cutting once."
Anything you have to re-do just adds to your total cost.
If you plan your project, take it slow and resist knocking down
walls, you should have no problem staying under budget. On the
other hand, if you wake up with the overwhelming urge to remodel
that bathroom today and an irresistible itch to use a
sledgehammer, prepare to open the checkbook and kiss your
budget goodbye!
About the Author:
Pamela Cole Harris is an editor, writer, eco-decorator and the
author of "100+ Wildly Imaginative Ways to Create Your Own Coffee
Table (available at http://wwww.lulu.com/pamelacoleharris ). Visit
her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com for her unique view of home decorating and remodeling (and a free monthly newsletter!). |
