1. Inspect it
Not everything can be fixed with paint or swept under the rug– and you can’t even begin to fix something you had no idea was broken in the first place. It’s always best to contact an inspector and have them check out the areas we don’t always see nor pay attetion to. If you have a leak, a creak, or a squeak, they will let you know. Once you know what your structural issues are, it will be easier to plan a budget for everything else cosmetic.
2. Get inspired
You just bought a house and now you’re on a budget– hiring a designer is not going to make the cut. Instead, try actually cutting out picture clippings from design-oriented magazines or books. You could even look online or watch TV shows based on home improvements to gather inspiration. Not every idea has to be your own an there’s no shame in that. Make a board (like you would on Pinterest) and start planning out where the most bang for your buck will come from. That cute coffee table you saw for $1000 in that magazine? You can find something similar at a thrift store and touch it up with some paint and glossy wood tone.
3. Pick your color palette wisely
When it comes to selling your home, sometimes that red accent wall can do more harm than helping the cause. Try stickting to neutral colors such as tan, taupe, or warm grey (at least when it comes to the walls). Brown tones are earthy and organic resulting in a cozy vibe (exactly what you want people to feel when they’re searching for a home to live in). Adding pops of color in decorative peices is a better alternative when it comes to wild colors. It’s much cheaper to buy a new pillow than a can of paint every time you seek change. Colors such as blue tend to make people feel more relaxed whereas red gives the opposite effect leaving people feeling energized. Be cautious of where you incorperate certain colors.
4. Vintage is charming, out-dated is not
There’s a diference between original hardwood flooring and popcorn ceilings– let’s just put it that way. When selling a home you have to remember the three R’s; Repair, replace, and remove. You don’t want to leave anything intact (that you don’t have to) that will make buyers walk in and then walk right back out. Popcorn ceilings? A total culprit of this crime. Don’t overlook that carpet either. Just because you’re living with it does not mean others want to as well. If you cannot replace it, give it a deep cleaning to bring up all that dirt your vacuum cleaner couldn’t get.
5. A house is not a book– people will judge it by its outside apperance
There isn’t a fine line between messy and maintained. When it comes to your lawn, chances are it’s visable to the public so you want it looking presentable. Whether it’s untamed or patchy, a weekend and a green thumb can make a huge difference. Doing the bare minimum won’t bring the ‘wow factor’ but, you don’t always need to go all-out at your local nursery either. Understand the current weather conditions and typical climate in your city and buy smart. If you live in the snow, planting flowers isn’t going to work. If you live in the desert, maybe all that money being used to water the grass can pay for drought-tolerant landscaping.
6. Your bathroom doesn’t have to look like what you do it in
Even the smallest update or upgrade can make a world of difference in a bathroom. Changing out the sink, or even just the hardware on the sink, can completely transform a bathroom. Brighten up the room with happy colors such as yellow or white. There doesn’t have to be a lot of natural lighting but, you can make it seem like there is. Adding a bigger mirror can make a tiny bathroom seem much bigger with the power of illusion. Before you replace that bathtub, see if it can be refinished. Chances are it can be and it will save you tons of money.
7. Not every winning recipe is from scratch
Just like the bathroom, any update or upgrade done to the kitchen will benefit you. Demolishing the whole room and starting over doesn’t always have to be the case. Putting in a tasteful back splash or refinishing the cabinets are small jobs that bring big rewards. The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house which means the floors might need to be replaced (or at least be given a good scrub down). The saying “floors so clean you could eat off them” might actually hold true when they’re in the kitchen. (I don’t recommend actually trying this.)
8. Update the entrance
The front door is what transitions people into your home and it can say a lot when it comes to a first impression. You don’t need to go out of the characteristics of the house and buy an extravagant door when there is no need but, sometimes a white or brown door can be too plain. Though it can be a bit bold and daring, black, dark green, or even a red paint can make a great statement without having to put a lot of money and effort forth. Adding a decorative wreath or replacing that old porch light can add character and charm without breaking the bank as well. Keep your porch simple and clean by avoiding the urge to over decorate. This adds unnecessary cultter and no one wants to have to ‘watch their step’ on more than just the stairs.
9. Paint the trim around your windows
When painting the exterior of your house, don’t forgt the small details. For a safe bet, you can pick a color a few shades darker (or lighter) than the paint you used for the rest of the house and touch up the trimming around the windows. If you want to go bold, feel free to use any color you think looks best. Some of the most common color combos I have seen this year have been yellow with white, grey with red, and beige with white. Typically you do not want to go too bold with your accent color because, believe it or not, it can hinder the rest of your outdoor decorations.
10. Get organized
You don’t have to lead a minimalistic life to feel clutter-free. All you really need to do is install a shelving unit that can stay out of sight and out of mind. Those dead spaces in your house are the perfect places to start. A shelving unit doesn’t cost much, you can even build one youself if you’re able to, and it’s the perfect place to store books, electronics, and other knick-knacks that might otherwise be an annoyance laying out in the open all the time. With a little creativity, you can even turn it into something that doesn’t need to be tucked away by arranging the contents in a decorative manner. By decluttering your home, it will not only feel bigger– it will look bigger too.