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September 11, 2020
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October 1, 2020
10 Easy Home Upgrades
Are you a new home owner? Have you been living in your home for years in its current state? Is your home from the 70’s or 80’s? Is it time for an update? Well, you have come to the right place! In this article, we will go over 10 easy home upgrades that will have your home looking modern and stylish. Some of these home upgrades will even lower your utility bills and increase the value of your house! Whether you just bought your home or have been living in it for years, many homes can use a few simple upgrades to give them a modern touch. Check out these 10 easy home upgrades!
1. Paint Your Walls
Painting the walls is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your current digs! Are your walls still outfitted in the warmer beige tones that took the world by storm in the 90’s and 00’s? Try out some cooler tones like grays and blues. These colours are sure to update your home as well as leave it feeling larger as well as more fresh and open. Have fun with it and try out an accent wall or a bold colour in a small space such as a partial bathroom. Want to stay on-trend with your paint colour? Check out this great article by Sherwin-Williams that predicts what 2021’s top paint colours will be!
2. Update Your Light Fixtures
This is such an easy and inexpensive way to add some flair to your home! Updating light fixtures will make your home look stylish in just a few minutes! Try out LED lights to save on hydro costs as well as outlast the older incandescent or florescent bulbs by up to 15 times! It might be a good idea to have an electrician come over to help. If you are willing to give it a try yourself, you can check out this video that explains how! Always be careful when working with electricity and be sure that the light switch is in the “off” position, or turn off the breaker entirely to protect your safety.
3. Buy a Smart Thermostat
Did you know that almost half of your monthly energy costs are controlled by your thermostat? Having a smart thermostat can help to significantly reduce your energy bills. With a smart thermostat, you can control your home’s temperatures from the app on your phone. When you leave your house, there really isn’t any need to keep the temperatures as high as when you are there. So why not bring the temperatures down while you are away and set your thermostat to turn up the heat when you come home. If you are an Enbridge Gas customer, you can apply for a $75 rebate when you upgrade to a smart thermostat! Looking for more smart technology for your home? Check out our article with the smartest gadgets for your home for under $200!
4. Add Crown Moulding
Installing your own crown moulding can be fairly simple and a cheap way to really update a room. You can purchase crown moulding from hardware stores, be sure to measure and calculate how much you will need before making your purchase – do not guesstimate. You will need both a miter saw and hand saw for cutting, and cutting the corners will be the most difficult. Be sure to prime and paint all sides of the moulding before installing to keep it from warping. Go around the top perimeter of the room with a stud finder and mark all of your studs. Using a nail gun is your best bet for installing the moulding. Check out this comprehensive guide on installing your own crown moulding.
5. Replace Faucets
The faucets in your kitchen and bathroom may seem like they don’t have an impact on the overall style of your home, but they really do! Replacing a faucet may even help to reduce your water bill as your old one may be leaking and you don’t even know it! Newer faucets can use significantly less water while reducing your bills and looking great! Taking your old faucet out and installing a new one really isn’t very complicated. The entire project can be completed within an hour using a basin wrench and a few other common tools. When purchasing your new faucet, be sure to measure the dimensions of your old one to make sure it is going to fit your sink. Different sinks have different amounts of holes as well so be sure that you take a look at this as well. For a step by step guide on how to change a faucet, check out this article!
6. Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
Are you willing to take the time and effort into painting your kitchen cabinets? The results can be stunning! If this is something that peaks your interest, you need to know that this project is going to take a lot of time, but it will definitely be a lot cheaper than purchasing and installing all new cabinets. You will need to sand down all of the doors and cabinets, prime them with paint, and then do a couple of coats of whatever colour you choose. Certain paint companies offer specific paints for this type of job. Benjamin Moore’s Advance® Interior Paints are great for doors, trim and cabinetry. For an in-depth guide on updating your kitchen cabinets, check out this informative article!
7. Update Kitchen Hardware
Perhaps painting your entire wall of kitchen cupboards isn’t for you. You can also update the look of them easily by just installing new hardware! There are many different styles and colours for cabinet handles that can drastically change the look of the cabinets. Be sure to measure the size of your current handles to make sure the new ones will fit. Another great way to improve your kitchen cabinets is to add soft-close hinges. Your old hinges may need to be altered slightly in order to add the soft-close, but it is surely worth it! Once you start using soft close doors and drawers, you will never want to go back! Soft close hinges can be purchased at any hardware store, or even sent right to your door from Amazon!
8. Change Closet Doors
Are you still living with paneled or the wooden bi-fold closet doors from the 70’s and 80’s? Perhaps it is time for an update! Your closet doors are something you look at daily in your bedroom, so why not give them an update! Whether you throw on a fresh coat of paint, add mirrors or completely swap out the doors entirely, this will greatly improve the look of your bedroom. Why not try out something trendy like a barn door on your closet! Barn doors can be created from scratch or you can purchase them at many hardware stores. Mirrored doors are functional and will make your room look larger. Most closet doors are on a slider, if this is the route you want to continue with, this step by step guide is very helpful when installing your new sliding closet doors!
9. Replace Old Windows
Replacing the old wooden windows with updated vinyl or PVC is a crucial part of updating your home. Not only will these new windows look great, but they will also save you on your heating bills in the winter. If your old windows are producing drafts or making a whistling noise when the wind is blowing, this is a sure sign its time for an update. With leaky windows, your furnace will have a harder time keeping your home warm which in turn will leave you with a higher utility cost. When looking for new windows to purchase, be sure to look for double or triple panes. These windows will be more energy efficient and add long term value to your home. They will also provide a better sound barrier keeping pesky noises like your neighbour’s lawn mower to a minimum.
10. Install New House Numbers
It’s amazing how something so simple can drastically improve the overall look and first impression of your home. Adding a fresh and modern set of address numbers can greatly improve your curb appeal! These numbers can be purchased at hardware stores for an inexpensive price and will look fantastic! You can even get backlit numbers with LED lights than can automatically turn on and off as well as dim at certain times of the day! Of course, these ones are more expensive, but you can definitely outfit your home in stylish new address numbers easily for under $100!
BONUS!
11. Reseed Your Lawn
Want to make your neighbours jealous? A luscious, full, green lawn is really something to talk about! Have you ever noticed all of the small broadleaf weeds in between your grass blades? These unsightly pests can leave your lawn looking thin and patchy. This can be easily fixed by spraying these leafy plants with a herbicide which will kill the weeds. Once they have been killed, you can remove them and put down new grass seed. It won’t take long for your lawn to be looking dense and lush. Be sure to water the lawn, or plan to seed it before a rainfall. Bonus points for paring a beautiful flower bed alongside your luxurious new lawn!
We hope you have enjoyed these easy home upgrades. We hope that you can use some of them in your own home! There are many other great upgrades you can do to your home to increase its value. Be sure to start in the kitchen if you really want to increase the value! Countertops and appliances can greatly increase the value of your home and make it look amazing! If your living in an older home that isn’t very energy efficient, updating things such as insulation, furnace, AC, windows and doors and appliances can also be a great idea. Buyers look for things like this and will make your home much more appealing when you go to place is on the market!
Thinking about putting your home up for sale? Now is a great time! The temperatures may be cool, but the market is still hot. Give us a call, we are happy to give you a free home evaluation!
