At the end of each year, we look ahead to the new year by setting goals for self-improvement, but it’s also an excellent time to set some home-improvement goals. Your home is one of your biggest assets and where valued time is spent with family and friends.
They say home is where the heart is, but making it a more comfortable place to live can lift your spirits and increase its value. So resolve to renovate this year using some of our home improvement suggestions as inspiration.
Curb Appeal
First impressions matter. To add a wow factor to your home, enhance the exterior of your house and front yard. From eye-catching landscaping to repainting your front door and replacing outdated windows, you can boost your curb appeal even on a small budget.
● Exterior materials: Updating your siding with materials like brick, wood, or stone veneer can alter and enhance a home’s curb appeal.
● Fresh paint: Adding a fresh coat of paint can make a home look newer and more attractive. But stick with neutral colors like gray, beige, or cream to appeal to the broadest range of buyers.
● Front door: Replacing a front door can improve a home’s curb appeal or increase energy efficiency. Replacing an old wooden or aluminum door with a new steel door enhances your home’s aesthetic while preventing heat loss.
● New roof: Clearing your roof of leaves or debris, or replacing old shingles, can add to the home’s overall presentation. If you are in the market for a new roof, try reroofing with composite shingles for a cost-effective home improvement that can last up to 50 years.
● Windows: Cleaning or replacing old windows can remove unsightly blemishes from a home’s facade. Try switching your old windows for double-glazed panes to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money on utilities.
● Landscaping: New Year is a great time to plan landscaping renovations for a home. Trimming bushes and shrubs and planting lush perennials can improve your home’s appeal. You can also add garden bed edging and define your footpath leading to your front porch with planters, solar lighting, or a picket fence.
Kitchen
As a communal area, family members spend most of their day in the kitchen, sharing time making meals and socializing. Renovating your kitchen is an excellent new year home improvement project which offers a significant return on investment (ROI); on average, a minor kitchen renovation provides an 81.1% ROI.
Some kitchen renovation projects to improve your home’s value and livability include:
● Open kitchen layout: Open plan kitchens can help your home feel more spacious and facilitate better foot traffic flow and socialization, making it the ideal space for entertaining. It may require knocking out walls and load-bearing structures, so hiring a professional contractor to perform the renovations is crucial.
● Island or peninsula: Adding a kitchen island or a peninsula to your countertops increases the workable prep space available and provides a casual area for entertaining. It can also improve your kitchen storage to keep your home clutter-free.
● Cabinets: Storage is crucial in a kitchen to ensure you have easy access to cookware, utensils, and appliances. Upgrade your kitchen cabinetry by installing features like double deep drawers, toe kick drawers, drawer dividers, and sliding shelves. Consider switching builder-grade cabinet hardware for quality hardware that matches your home’s style for a small but effective upgrade.
● Countertops: Your countertops should be a stylish focal point in your kitchen, but they must be made from high-quality materials that withstand regular wear and tear. Consider installing natural stone countertops like granite or quartz for optimal style and performance.
● Flooring: Revive old hardwood kitchen floors with sanding and revarnishing, or try retiling your floors to match your wall color for a chic modern look.
● Backsplash: A backsplash is an essential style element in your kitchen that protects your walls from grease splatters and moisture damage. Try retiling your backsplash in an on-trend color or pattern, like white subway tile. Or use unconventional backsplash materials like hammered copper or stainless steel to create a contemporary industrial look.
● Lighting: Focussed task lighting is critical for kitchen safety and illuminating food prep spaces, but it can make your kitchen feel cold and sterile. Elevate your kitchen lighting by switching out spotlights and track lighting for pendant lamps or recessed lighting to create more ambiance while keeping your space functional.
Bathroom
Updating or adding additional bathrooms can increase your home’s value; adding an extra full bathroom can increase your home’s value by 5.7%. But it is crucial to ensure your choices are designed to last, like choosing durable materials and timeless fixtures.
Some bathroom renovation projects to consider in the New Year include:
● Functionality: Some excellent functional upgrades include switching out an outdated bathtub for a glass-fronted double-wide shower. Or add a built-in shower bench and install low-flow toilets and showerheads to save water.
● Vanities and cabinets: Improving your vanity and bathroom cabinets can increase your storage space and enhance your bathroom’s style. Consider repurposing an antique dresser for a charming rustic upgrade for a vanity. Or swap cabinet doors for modern deep drawers fitted with baskets and dividers.
● Quality fixtures: Changing your old bathroom fixtures for modern models can elevate your bathroom’s style and improve its practicality. Upgrade your bathtub and sink faucets for models that match your home’s interior and offer features like a stream selector, base plate, and a durable finish.
● Durable tile choices: Bathroom tiles must be resistant to moisture and impacts and easy to clean to prevent mold and mildew growth. If your tiles are damaged or worn, consider replacing them with a durable tile option like large format natural stone tiles or vinyl tiles.
● Lighting: Upgrading your bathroom lighting can make your bathroom a more functional and enjoyable space. Consider bright task lighting around your mirror, such as recessed lighting or wall sconces.
Meet Your New Year Home Improvement Goals With Big State Construction
The New Year brings new challenges and nowhere is that more apparent than with home improvement goals. Whether improving a home’s exterior, renovating the kitchen, or updating the bathroom, having a great home improvement partner is essential.
If home improvement is one of your New Year’s resolutions, Big State Construction has the skills and expertise you need. Our construction services can help with any project on the exterior and interior of your home. If you want a head start on home improvement this New Year’s, visit our website or call us at (713) 574-8959.