Tag: home renovation

5 things to add to your home that will improve looks and function

5 things to add to your home that will improve looks and functioncredit

Everyone wants to live in a home that they love. Everyone wants to live in a home that has genuine value – both sentimental and financial. If you’ve been in your home for a while now, then you’ll know all about how it’s more than just a place that you spend money on in order to keep yourselves alive. There’s something special about it. Even if you’re not the biggest lover of the home you’re in, you can’t deny there’s a certain level of fondness for it. You can’t help it – it’s as though it’s a part of the family.

You’ll try to personalise and customise as much as possible without going overboard – adding different designs and colour combos along the way. You’ll do your best to make sure it’s attractive to those visiting while functioning excellently. If it looks good and performs properly, then you’ll be happy.

What are some ways you can add to your home in order to improve the looks and function? Well, here are five ideas.

Blue bistro set in a garden

Garden seating area

There are many aspects to decorating a garden, but a seating area can act like a centrepiece of a garden and becomes a focal point. Not only does it add year-round visual interest, but it will also provide a great service on sunny days. They’re also extremely versatile when you have company over and want to entertain outdoors. There are plenty of seating area ideas online if you ever want to go about creating one.

Solar panels on a the sloped roof of a house

Solar panels

If you’ve had a solar panel erected on or around your home, then you’ll already know all about these. In years to come, every single home-owner will have them put in as it just makes sense. They may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but installing panels on the roof provides you with electricity and lets people know that you’re going green!

Artificial grass

Artificial grass

If you’re not the biggest fan of maintaining a garden and continually having to mow the lawn, then this is going to be perfect for you. Artificial grass is laid down once and then you barely have to touch it again. It’s one job and then done. It also looks very pretty and has a consistent look for years.

Loft conversion bedroom

Loft conversion

If your home is in need of some extra space, then having a loft conversion done would be a great idea. So many people have attics that are underused and gathering dust. Turning it into a productive and attractive room makes all the sense in the world.

Facade of terraced houses with colourful front doors

Windows and doors

This may sound like a simple and boring final point, but it’s something that should be touched upon. Doors and windows are fundamental parts of a home; they’re important in shaping the appearance and character of the exterior of your property. Badly maintained windows and doors make a house look uncared for and unattractive. It can also be problematic having ill-fitting doors & windows that let in noise and draughts. Consider having them replaced, it will make your home look so much more cared for and will enhance your day-to-day life.

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Making sense of renovating your home

Making sense of renovating your homecredit

It’s not always easy renovating your home, because not only is it a heavily creative task that you need to focus on, but also a goal that requires real organisational effort. The logistical plans you must put in place can help make this process a success or a continual effort that seems to always require updating and fixing.

For this reason, making sense of renovating your home is perhaps the best place to start; this involves planning. If a room is having its flooring replaced, odds are, you won’t be able to use it. This means that your children may have to share a bedroom for a week while you renovate and make the space liveable. Such considerations are quite obvious, but are worth planning for to see just what the best options are. And you may also need to adapt your home a little.

For instance, traditional and modern carpets require specialist care and installation respectively. And it’s best if the room is clear so any professionals can do their job properly. So always try to accommodate anyone who needs to work in your home.

From there, shaping your entire organisational flow is also important. When will the tradesmen be able to work on your room, and when can they get in the materials? Working in tandem with your hired services in this way can be tremendously helpful.

Let’s consider some other baseline tips to help you make a success of your home renovation goals:

Storage iconcredit

Storing items until you’re ready

Storing items until you’re ready to bring them back into your home can be a real benefit, and can prevent you from having to lock off other rooms with stored items while you finish. With the best storage services, you can keep your valued property under lock & key and 24/7 external surveillance, ensuring that when you’re ready to add the finishing touches in your home, you can do so comfortably.

Furniture icons

Orienting & moving furniture

Orienting and moving furniture around the space can help open up certain segments of renovation potential, like allowing electricians room to rewire a few sockets or to redirect the cabling. Furthermore, taking the time to reorient the furniture before you begin can help you see if your new design will make the most of the space, giving you more room to walk. Perhaps you can even find flaws in your current plans, such as realising that a headboard against the window means that it will block out natural light. With that in mind, you can more readily consider your plans going forward.

Action plan icon

Considering ‘layers’ of application

Considering the layers of application you may plan for can help you avoid nasty issues or logistical problems when trying to renovate. For instance, this can help you move furniture properly after you’ve wired up all the fixtures in the room and make sure that cables will reach sockets, or it’ll help you more easily hang the wall decorations without having to clamber on furniture to put it up after the furniture has been placed for good. Furthermore, you may find that the paint sample doesn’t reflect light well in the day, and only after figuring that out can you decide on your feature wall design. Layering, in terms of how you test your creativity and execute it can be very worthwhile and will potentially aid you in a better end result.

With this advice, we hope you can make more sense out of renovating your home.

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Must-have tools for renovating your home in 2021

Must-have tools for renovating your home in 2021

When you decide to renovate your home, it often feels like there are a million & one tasks that need attention, all at the same time. We sympathise; we’ve been in that precise situation ourselves on a few occasions!

When in this position, you naturally want to ensure that you’re doing the best job as possible, which often requires specific tools. None more so than if you’re undertaking somewhat specific jobs. The last thing you want is to encounter obstacles further down the line, due to being unprepared.

Fear not, we’re here to help! We’ve set out a short list below, detailing some of the must-have tools for renovating your home and what they’re used for in each case. Read on for inspiration, budding builders.

Illustration of a brown ladder against a purple wall

Ladders

This may seem like a glaringly obvious suggestion, but we feel it’s worth mentioning all the same. The worst nightmare when renovating or undertaking any job like this is to find that you need to reach something inaccessible and don’t have the means of doing so safely.

Whilst we can recognise that some jobs can be done without the need for a ladder, it’s always best to have one to hand anyway, to minimise the risk of injury when stretching. Whether you opt for a small stepladder or have one that can extend out to a taller level, the choice is entirely yours. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, and whatever brings value to the job that you’re tackling.

Illustration of a red drill

Drills and associated components

Naturally, many construction tasks require drilling into various parts of your property, so it’s another must-have tool when renovating your home. Not to mention, additional parts are also required to complete jobs like these, including the likes of drill bits & attachments and cowling kits.

If you’re unfamiliar with what these are, they’re provided by businesses like Tool Smart WA. They can protect you from any debris, dust and foreign bodies when drilling to fit a down-light or boring into a plasterboard ceiling.

The cowling kit slots onto your existing drill and can save the job of cleaning up after yourself once you’ve completed the job.

Silhouette illustration of a variety of hammers

Hammers

Another seemingly obvious tool suggestion, but one that includes a variety of versions. Along with standard hammers that we’re used to seeing both in person and in the media, there are other, more specialised hammers, which are used for particular jobs when renovating.

A Japanese cat’s paw is an example of a specific hammer and is specially used to remove nails from wood easily and effectively. This would come in handy when wanting to recycle timber beams or floorboards or to safely remove a wall within your property without any nails potentially causing harm to yourself and others in the vicinity.

While these are but some of the many must-have tools for renovating, we’re confident that they’ll make a drastic difference to the progress of your renovations. Ensuring that you’re as prepared as possible for your building project can make certain that you’ll complete the job in good time!

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Home renovation projects that will boost your property’s value

Home renovation projects that will boost your property's valuecredit

Before you start any home improvement project, you should decide on what to do and how much you want to spend, all in the hopes of adding convenience, comfort or value to your home. Unless you plan to stay in your current home forever, you may expect to see a return on investment for your renovations. The truth is that not every upgrade attracts potential buyers. Before you start any enhancements, make sure that your property’s value can also benefit.

Meandering path through a front garden

Curb appeal

Adding curb appeal to your home is a smart way to invite attention. Maintenance projects such as fresh exterior paint and landscaping can help your house stand out on the street. Stay simple, however; an unusual colour palette or extreme garden arrangement may have the opposite effect. Roof repairs and HVAC installation may also help your bottom line, particularly when it’s time for inspection.

Modern white kitchen

Kitchen upgrade

A renovated kitchen can practically pay for itself, both in terms of use for your family and in value when you sell. Make smart choices when you start a kitchen remodel, including energy efficient appliances, better cabinet storage and an open floor plan to make the space warm and inviting. Decide whether high-end features, such as a coffee bar or double island layout, are a necessity for you, as they may not be desirable to the next owner.

Blue-tiled shower enclosure

Bathroom remodel

Bathrooms are always worth an update, but again, spend wisely. It makes more sense to stick with a simple bathroom remodel such as fresh paint, tile flooring, new shower heads and taps and stylish mirrors. Unless you have your heart set on a jetted tub, you may want to skip it, as buyers may not see it the same way you do. You can consider adding a bathroom if you only have one or two but decide if the cost benefit is there.

Neutral decorated living room

Neutral interior

Vibrant colours or bold patterns may spark joy for you, but for potential buyers, they may not have the same impact. Take away some of that personality in favour of freshly painted walls in a neutral shade recommended by interior designers. Refinishing your hardwoods, changing outdated light fixtures and replacing floor tiling can also freshen your home and make it more appealing when you list your property.

Basement conversion

Finished basement

An unfinished basement does not usually count in overall square footage of your home. Finishing it and even adding a full bath on that lower level adds another floor of liveable space that can work as a rec room, movie theatre, man cave, home office or extra guest bedroom. It can also save you money over a room addition because it uses the same footprint of your existing home. If you don’t have a basement, think about finishing attic space if it’s a cost-effective way to expand your space.

When you complete any of these home remodelling projects, your home is not only more functional for your family, but it’s also more attractive to prospective buyers when you sell your property. Decide which renovation is the best fit for you, and who knows, you may love the changes so much you won’t want to sell!

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