Can Home Improvements Increase the Value of Your House?

One of the most common reasons people give when asked why they are improving their home is that home improvements increase house value. While this can often be true, it is by no means as universal as some people assume it is. When you're about to pay out lots of money for a home improvement, it's worth checking whether the value of your house will increase by enough to pay for it - or, worse, whether it might actually force your house value down.

Let's start with bathrooms and kitchens. While well-maintained and nice-looking kitchens and bathrooms do add value to a home, there's nothing to say that they have to be the very latest thing. An older room that is well looked-after and wasn't a complete abomination to begin with can often help the value just as much as a newly-installed one.

Extensions, on the other hand, almost always increase the value of your home, as they make it bigger. A four-bedroom home can be significantly more valuable on the market than a three-bedroom one, as a bigger family can live in it. However, you need to watch out for building too far out into your garden if you only have a small one: get rid of too much of your garden, and you could knock even more value off your home than you gain from the extra bedroom.

Although it might seem strange, this same rule also applies to garden features such as swimming pools and ponds. While you might like them, not everyone does - and you've just taken a piece of garden that could be used for almost anything and turned it into a single-use feature. Also, swimming pools especially can be very expensive to maintain, which can put off potential house buyers.

Overall, it's a bad idea to make home improvements just to make money, as you will almost always fail. Instead, just make the improvements that you want, while avoiding any that will really hit your house's price.

Home Improvements Made Easy!

Many people take on home improvement projects to make changes to their environment. People get tired of the old scenery and want to make their surroundings interesting. I know I do. Some invest large amounts of money in such projects while others invest little. Many homeowners make the home improvement process out to be something tough but it can be easy.

When beginning any home improvement project, it is important to have a plan as to what you will do. Careful planning allow the project to run smoothly so there will be no confusion as to what should be done. Though we know that in life things happen that are unplanned, planning the project can minimize the stress of the project should unplanned circumstances occur.

Planning out how many materials are needed for the project is important, as you would want to make sure you have enough to get the job done. Running out of materials can be very stressful as you would probably have to run back out to get more which disrupts the flow of your project. I get into a zone when I am doing a project and having to stop and run back out really messes up the zone I am in. It is better to have too much than too little though you don't want to have an abundance. Some ways you can find out how much you will need is by doing the following;

1. Measure the width and length of the room. This is especially helpful if you are going to lay tile or wood. If you are tiling walls, this is also helpful as these measurements will enable you to know how much tile you will need for that particular surface when it is time for you to go to the store and purchase.
2. Determine ahead of time which fixtures you will need. Doing this will enable you to have all that you need right there at your disposal so you won't have to make any unnecessary runs during the time you want to hurry up and get the job done.
3. If you are painting, measure the space you will be painting. If you are unsure how to do this, there are a variety of web sites that you can check out for tips on how this can be done. Just do a Google search: or, for very direct results, go to www.ask.com and type your question in the search box, and answers to your questions will come up.

Another thing that is important when planning a home improvement project is that you need to pay attention to what colors and design will match the decor of the room in which you are remodeling. You can find many helpful ideas for various colors and designs, you could check out home improvement magazines as well as web sites on the subject.

Take a trip to your local store that sells home improvement supplies. This allows you to see which color paints and carpets you can use to match the decorum of a room. If you are going to lay a wood floor in a particular room of the house, this will give you the chance to see the many different styles of wood that are being offered. In fact, my next project is to install laminate flooring on my staircase and two bedrooms.

Budgeting is another important factor. When purchasing supplies, it is a good idea to set for yourself a budget so you won't go crazy spending more money than is necessary.

The Two D's of Home Improvement - Design and Decorate

A great deal of time is spent at home. It is a refuge from a hard day of work and a place to enjoy family activities and gatherings.

We want to make our home attractive, comfortable and efficient for our use. In the process of decorating our home, we want to make sure it fits the architecture of the space. Designing the interior provides a certain "feel." Interior decoration includes applying wallpaper, painting the walls, choosing furniture and fittings such as light fixtures, and adding decorative elements such as paintings, flowers, and statuary.

The concept of home interior decoration began in the late 18th century. The concept has evolved over the years and has gone through many trends and transitions. Today, home interior decoration and design focuses on innovative ways to decorate on a budget.

The objective of interior decorating is to improve the home functionally and have it to reflect the owner's tastes and personality in a unique way. This is a challenge.

An interior designer and/or an architect can help with the design and decoration. In years past, there has been a distinction made between an interior designer and an interior decorator.

Interior decorating focuses on finishing such as wallpaper, window covering, furnishings, and paint. Interior design deals with the architecture in addition to the decoration. Interior design is focused on the space as a whole such as the layout of the rooms as well as custom made furnishings.

Color palettes change, the same as in fashion, as trends change. Color is also a unique preference. While some homeowners may follow current trends, others may use colors that fit their personality whether they are in vogue or not.

Innovative home interior decorating ideas which cost less but give the impression of being up-to-date decorating schemes are what young professionals and newly married couples are trying to achieve. Most of these ideas are eclectic decorating styles in which the home owner can put their own stamp of uniqueness. Harmony has to be balanced with uniqueness so that the home provides functionality.

In one year alone, homeowners spent approximately $175 billion on home improvement. About 65% of this can be attributed to interior decoration. Most money is spent on improving bathrooms and kitchens. Growing in popularity are specialty rooms such as home theaters and craft rooms.

There are new trends, new styles, new decorative elements, and new colors each year. It is difficult to keep track of these trends. The important rule in home decorating is that whatever you choose to do with your home be functional and comfortable for you.

Home Improvement Design Elements

Before you tackle any home improvement project, you need to look at the design elements involved in order to determine which route to take with your project. Going the wrong way with your main steps could mean major backtracking and / or much more work.

For example, let's say you need to remodel or redecorate en entire room. Would you need to start with the ceiling first or the wall? One could add more work to the project than tackling the entire process form the other way around. So let's take a look at basic design elements for some of the major home improvement projects people undertake.

Wall and Floors

A general rule of thumb is: tackle the messiest, hardest work first, work that would be the most difficult to re-do, before moving along to the next stage of your interior design. In other words take walls, for instance. Regardless of whether you decide to repaint, add or change wall paper or even remodel the walls first, then do the rest, the entire process is a lot of labor intensive, messy work. So this is most generally where to begin with interior design.

Now yes, if these walls are attached to a floor that needs expanded first, that's another story. You need to coordinate both large parts of your project, figuring blueprints our well on paper first and planning ahead.

Along with your wall and flooring work designs, you need to plan for gathering your materials together to be ready and work at a good pace. List any work gloves, wallpaper, adhesive, paints, wax, brushes, sponges, carpeting, rugs and other treatments for walls and flooring work that you will need, so that you can easily grab everything and go.

Lighting, Windows and Furniture

You need to work plenty of lighting, both from electricity and from natural means, including from windows and other glass (like slider doors) into your design elements. Plus include your furniture and other accessories (stereo, gaming equipment, etc.) Begin with the central or focus point - like a television or gaming system, then work outwards, coordinating everything.

Get Creative Bathroom Home Improvement Design Ideas For a New Look

Sometimes executing a job is easier than planning it, so when you want to take on a bathroom home improvement design, the most time spent will be in deciding on the details. Although there aren't too many features in a bathroom, there are numerous options for each to consider, so you want to have an idea of the style, color and durability you're looking for. A great bathroom design can make someone feel soothed and relaxed, so look into displays or sample photos to compare options and see what appeals to you.

Colors

White is not as common as it once was for walls, so everyone is trying to add a little color and flair to their decor. In the bathroom, you have the option of painting the walls, tiling them, or even doing half and half. Tiles are easy to clean and can be decoratively placed to create different patterns, but paint can easily be renewed and refreshed without having to worry about chipping or cracking. It's an important decision to make that could influence the rest of your bathroom.

Baths and Showers

It was once the case that you could only really settle down and relax in a tub, and although there are fantastic, relaxing tubs with jets and multiple features available, they are no longer the only option. Standing showers now have options with steam jets, multiple shower heads and different settings to provide the same kind of relaxation as a bath. Space could factor into this decision or simply practicality, so you need to think about which is best for you. You may be surprised how proper spacing can simplify your job when planning out your bathroom home improvement.

Counter space

Your counter doesn't need to be picked with durability in mind since we really don't use it for much more than added space, so it gives you the opportunity to choose something stylish. Even the idea of a double sink is often better served by simply having one and then adding additional counter space. Granite, marble, laminate or glass are all common and trendy options, so find something that will compliment the chosen colors for the rest of the room.

Storage

Larger bathrooms may have sufficient cupboard space, but in many cases, you need to create places to keep linens, toiletries and other necessities. Wall cabinets, floor cabinets and even caddies that stand behind the toilet can all be added to give extra space for storing items. You can even get vanity mirrors with deeper shelving inside for maximum functionality.

When starting a bathroom home improvement design, there are more things to consider than simply color. With the right time and budget, you can completely transform any space and maximize its potential for both practicality and relaxation; just what every bathroom should be.

Top Five Home Improvement Considerations

Before you start your next home improvement project, there are five major considerations you must take into account. These include budget, skills, labor, foundations, and design. So, prior to your first trip to the hardware store and long before you even pick up a hammer, go over in detail each of these five considerations one-by-one. Keep reading to learn how to evaluate the five critical home improvement project factors.

Budget

Before you begin planning, set out a budget for yourself. Once you have a set amount in your mind, then start generating ideas and getting price quotes. When you're drawing up your final budget and cost estimates, always add at least 10-20%. This "slush" will cover most of your unexpected expenses including extra labor, weather delays and additional materials. Almost every project goes over budget, so it's best to accept and plan for it from the start.

Skills

If you're planning a do-it-yourself home improvement venture, take an honest inventory of your skills ahead of time. Make sure you understand what you're doing and know the work involved. Little is worse on a home project than wasted materials and a job that has to be redone by a professional because a do-it-yourselfer got in over his head.

Read more »

Inexpensive Bathroom Home Improvement Projects

The bathroom has many purposes and should be one of the most important rooms on the list when considering a home improvement project. Bathroom home improvement can be so over looked by many people as they simply do not understand how much value can be added to your home with some well thought out bathroom home improvement plans.

This article will look at the little things that can make a big difference in your bathroom home improvement project. If you think it will be too expensive to really add value to your home by spending more time on the bathroom you are wrong.

The first thing you could do to your bathroom to add value without spending allot of money is to add some decorative trim around the ceiling. This will give the room a nice look that you may not see in many homes. Trim can be much less expensive than redoing the entire wall with paint or wall paper.

You might be able to add some nice curtains around your mirror for very little cost to really give your bathroom home improvement project a classy look. This may be another idea that seems just a bit different, but again it is these types of simple touches that can add real value without costing you an arm and a leg to complete.

Read more »

Home Improvement Strategies for You

Home improvement means improving the features of the home, thereby increasing its value, aesthetic and economic. Home improvement is a big decision and may involve sufficient funds along with high personal involvement. One has to contend with suppliers, workers, and make on the spot decisions to ensure smooth workflow. Attention to details and not changing plans midway, helps in successful execution.

Home Improvement Areas can be considered for remodeling of your home
There are many areas where home improvement can take place. Home Improvement area can be classified into categories Indoor and outdoor. Some of the possible indoor and outdoor areas for home improvement are explained below

Possible home improvement area in Indoor

The floor can be of stone, marble, granite, mosaic, hardwood, ceramic tiles, laminates, or covered by carpet and rugs.

Ceilings can be of any color; however, generally white color gives the best effect for contrasting with the walls. Fans may be placed on the ceiling to give an effective and a cheap alternative to air conditioners or as a standby in case the air conditioner breaks down.

Read more »

Of Bathrooms And Home Improvement

When people think of home improvement, most think of remodeling or drastic renovation that costs a lot. Contrary to these ideas, improving the quality of your home starts with a single concept according to most interior decorators: increasing space. As simple as those two words sound, they are probably the most difficult to accomplish in terms of house design and decorating. However, there are ways to make this home improvement goal possible with the least amount of cash and effort. Starting with the most visited room in your house sets the tone for your project.

The bathroom is the most overlooked place in the house in terms of design. The common excuse of homeowners is that visitors do not really see the inside of the bathroom unless they ask to use it. But design experts argue that this should not be the case. The use of the bathroom is gradually changing from being functional to aesthetic. It is not only for bathing and other bodily functions but also for relaxation and de-stressing. It is important to keep the dual nature of the bathroom's function in mind as you go about your home improvement project.

Read more »