A renovated house is like a breath of fresh air in our lives. It rekindles that spark of excitement and rejuvenation that are often taken away by boredom, as a result of living in a familiar environment for a very long time. Even paradise may lose its charm if you live in it for the long-haul. Of course, that’s not the only reason a homeowner should undertake renovations. Certain upgrades can increase property value as well as the curb appeal of your home. When you decide to sell your property, these home renovations may help you sell quickly and for more money.
Homeowners continue to have a strong desire to remodel, with 55% of homeowners expecting to do so this year. Here are 5 home renovation ideas worth investing in.
Sprucing Up the Garden
An outdoor living space with a garden is an excellent place to read a book or catch daily headlines from newspapers or even unwind after a long tiresome day. Therefore, the garden has to be spruced up to make it more appealing, especially during springtime to get rid of all the winter damage. The first step is to clean up the whole garden. Get rid of all dead plants, dried leaves, branches, twigs, flowers and all the leftover debris from winter. After the cleanup, you have to prepare the soil and add fertilizer to make it more fertile.
If you fancy fresh produce straight from the soil, you can designate an area of the garden for veggies, preferably at the furthest end to avoid traffic damage. After planting the veggies, the next step is to beautify the garden. You can plant flowers, trees, shrubs, and ornamental grasses. Also, mulch the soil and add decorative stones, gravels, and chippings to give the garden a more natural and alluring landscape. You can also replace broken flowerpots or repaint the ones that are still in good condition and plant new flowers in them.
This may also be the best time to include a deck in your garden design to take advantage of the beautiful ethereal view of the blossoming garden. You can use wood, composite wood or vinyl to construct the deck. However, we prefer wood because of its natural smell, look, and feel, which further adds to the warmth and beauty of the garden. Popular decking woods include cedar, redwood, pine, and the more expensive Ipe wood (Brazilian walnut).
Sprucing up your garden may not be the first idea that pops into your mind when you think of home renovation because it’s so simple. However, it can really add to the curb appeal of your property as well as give you a great, relaxing space for the time being.
Renovating the Garage
Getting rid of all the clutter in the garage can be a daunting task for anyone. However, do you know the space accommodated by the clutter can be used for something more constructive? Some people choose to convert their garages to an extra room. We would, however, caution you against it, because parking in the driveway or streets is against many municipal laws. You can give your garage a complete makeover, without the garage losing its principal purpose of housing your vehicle. Instead, this easy home renovation idea is all about adding a bit of storage space- something many property buyers look for when viewing homes.
Your garage has probably taken a severe beating from years of storing all the junk. Therefore, you have to come up with a proper plan to remodel it. The first thing to do is to get rid of all the stuff from the garage, separating the usable and discarding the junk permanently. The next step is to resurface the garage flooring if it is cracked or damaged. There are many options when it comes to garage flooring, from the common concrete, tiles, and hardwoods to temporary coatings and coverings, such as carpets, epoxy paints, and concrete sealers.
Then, you will need to repaint the walls to match the floors and also include insulation on the walls and the door of the garage. This will help regulate temperatures in the rooms adjacent to the garage, which will reduce the overall energy bills of the house. Furthermore, you can install proper lighting in the garage to make it inhabitable and also include windows for better air circulation and lighting during the day. You may also add more storage to your garage by fixing cabinets and wall mounts for gym equipment and various tools. And if you must have a room in the garage, then you can loft it to include a suspended room right under the garage’s roof.
Renovating the Attic
The attic is the easiest place to renovate in the whole house, owing to the fact that it is already walled. As a result, you can easily convert it to an extra bedroom, an office or even a getaway spot. When remodeling the attic, the most important place you need to consider is the floor. There is a high likelihood that the attic was not initially designed to be used as a living space. Therefore, the attic floor may not be strong enough to hold your weight and you will have to reinforce it. You can also add insulation, although newer house models feature foam insulation between rafters and drywall.
It is worth noting, however, that your house needs to satisfy various building codes before you can undertake this home renovation and convert the attic to a living space. The regulations include:
- The attic should be at least 7 feet high, 7 feet wide with a total area space of 70 square feet
- Be accessible by a permanent full-size staircase, not a pull-down staircase or ladder
- Have another exit route, such as a window for emergencies
If your attic satisfies all the above requirements, bar the ceiling height (below 7 feet), you can hire a professional to increase its height by building a dormer.
Renovating the Basement
The basement offers the perfect place for family get-togethers and recreational activities. Unfortunately, most people waste away this valuable space for storage of old furniture and other junk. However, there are many ways you can make use of a basement. For instance, you can use it as a recreational room for your family, where you will be watching movies, playing games, telling stories, and just having bonding sessions. Or you may convert it to a home gym, a kids’ playroom, an extra bedroom or even a wet bar where you will be entertaining guests. If you are a wine connoisseur, you can easily make a wine cellar out of your basement. Whatever you choose to convert it to, when it comes time to sell, a renovated basement will be much more appealing to buyers than a dark and dank space.
Renovating the Patio
The patio is another area that requires furnishing or it loses its appeal. Plants and flowers are basically the life of the patio and you should, therefore, give them special attention during the renovation. Keep the patio colorful with sweet scents from the flowers to create a serene environment, perfect for unwinding and reducing stress. You can also add a water feature like a bird bath nearby to entice the birds and also add proper lighting to make it accessible during the night. To make it even more vibrant and colorful, you can add colorful cushions with a matching rug on the floor and also include a colorful canopy or an umbrella to shield the place from direct sunlight and also to add to the rich colors and ambiance. You may also decorate it with a large assortment of accessories, such as Chinese jars, sculptures, drum tables, and tiki torches. In addition, make sure you install a grilling station and a dining area for cookouts and outdoor barbequing.
There are so many creative home renovation ideas that you can take advantage of to convert your home to the perfect haven you have always dreamed of as well as an appealing property for sale in the future. Just make sure you stick to the budget and also adhere to the housing guidelines in your area. Good luck.
This article has been contributed by Kevin Jefferson.