A simple fact of life is things wear out. This becomes an incredibly realistic statement for most homeowners. Paint fades, carpet wears out, furniture gets old. Constantly paying someone to come in and update things can be very expensive. Buying new furniture is even more expensive. This doesn’t have to be a never ending cycle for the homeowner. There are several inexpensive DIY tips that can update a home, either to sell or just refinish. What are a few?
Paint
The number one way to give the interior of your home an update is a fresh coat of paint. Many people fret about painting but there is no real reason one must. When painting a room, simply move the furniture out of the way, cover the floor with plastic and tape off any trim or baseboard that you don’t want painted. Make sure to buy flat paint when you are painting the interior walls or ceiling. This type of paint is designed to dry with no lines, no matter how bad a painter one may be. Start with the ceiling first, let it dry and then paint the walls. This will keep paint from the ceiling splattering on the freshly painted walls. Color choice is a personal decision but one should consider neutral colors if planning on selling the home in the near future. Also, lighter colors make a room look larger as where the opposite is true of darker colors.
Flooring
Plenty of options have become available to give homes an update without the typical cost. Laminate wood floors can easily be installed by even a novice DIY homeowner. The pieces are designed to snap together in place and no refinishing of the surface is needed. This type of wood flooring is less expensive but still gives a classy look and update to the home. The only tricky part is the initial layout, making sure the starting pieces fit in place. Since not all homes are built the same, borrowing the help of a friend or family member that has a little construction knowledge may be beneficial.
Furniture
Buying new furniture can be quite costly. Depending on the style of furniture and ones budget, furniture covers can be a great alternative. More often than not, the actual furniture is not broken down but the surface has wear and tear. Furniture covers can be purchased to fit almost all sizes and types of furniture. This is also a less expensive option to coordinate a newly painted room, since covers can be bought in any color, shade or material. If your furniture has worn out and is breaking down, check with a local upholsterer to see if replacing springs or cushioning can give the furniture added life or if it truly is time to put it in a garage sale.