We all have our dream projects for our homes. It doesn’t matter whether you have just moved into a new property or you have owned your family home for decades, there are always going to be upgrades and changes that you have had your eye on. With the state of the property market right now, it makes more sense than ever to think about how you can give your home a fresh face and a new lease on life instead of looking for somewhere new.
However, it is also true that when we are busy and stressed, we can sometimes end up pushing these plans to the back burner. Now that the summer is nearly here, it is the perfect time to think about doing some work on our properties. If spring is all about cleaning house and welcoming the fresh air back in after months spent cocooning on the couch in our warm blankets, then the summer is about bringing the people we love back into our homes and enjoying some great times out in the garden. If you have been thinking about breathing some fresh life into your property but you need a little inspiration, here are some ideas to get you started.
Start Upgrading Your Appliances
How many of us have stood in the kitchen and talked about how we wished the cooker would just do what it was supposed to? How many times have we been planning Christmas or Thanksgiving and wondered how on earth we were supposed to get everything to the refrigerator that is far too small for its purpose? And how often have we taken a load of laundry out of the machine and realized that it is nowhere near dry?
Buying new appliances can be an expensive process but the pros will generally outweigh the cons. For one thing, this is a far less extensive operation than some of the other ideas that we will be discussing. It will bring you a lot of satisfaction, of course.
But we also need to consider the rising energy prices and our carbon footprints. Newer appliances will typically have a much better energy rating than your old ones, and this means that they will cut down on your bills and will be better for the environment.
Think Bigger With Your Garden And Yard Space
In the summer months, there is nothing better than relaxing outside in the garden. But this is also a space that can end up being neglected. We often focus on those interior fixes and upgrades but making big changes to your yard space can have a huge impact on how we enjoy our properties. Maybe this is the summer when you decide to test out your green fingers and try growing some ambitious flowerbeds? Or maybe it is time to try growing your own vegetables? Could you try changing the look of your outdoor space completely with a gravel pathway or a Japanese style rock garden?
Of course, if you are going to be inviting friends and loved ones over, we know that there is nothing that brings everyone together quite like a great meal. If you and family are foodies, then you should seriously consider investing in a quality outdoor pizza oven. If you are in the market for a pizza oven, then you should look at the Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven. This gas-powered pizza oven is made for creating fantastic 16-inch pizzas, with a large cordierite stone baking board, and it has an L-shaped flame that will bake pizzas in just 60 seconds. Visit their website to find out more.
Invest In A Bathroom That You Actually Like
We all have an image in our heads of what our dream bathroom would be. Sadly, reality very rarely lives up to the ideal when we move into a new place. If you have recently moved into a property and you cannot stand the layout of your bathroom or you simply cannot abide using that shower one day longer, then it is high time that you invest in a bathroom remodel.
Now, it is important to remember that a floor to ceiling bathroom remodel is not going to be the quickest or the cheapest home project, but it is something that you should be very happy with when everything is said and done.
If you are not quite ready to commit to a project of that size, then there are smaller ideas that you could work with. For example, you could look at putting a new bathtub or shower in instead of going for changing everything all at once. Even if we are trying to spend less time in the shower these days, we should still have a shower that we actually like.
You could even think about changing out the faucets on your sink if they are old, rusty, and leaky. You could even think as small as giving the whole room a fresh coat of paint. Alternatively, if you want to turn your bathroom into more of an oasis in the months ahead, why not think about investing in underfloor heating?
Let The Light In
We all have parts of our house that we can never seem to get to the right level of lighting. It does not matter what time of day it is; some rooms just don’t seem to light up like we would like them to. The good news is that there are several different options that you could think of to give those rooms an upgrade. To start with, have you considered blinds instead of curtains to help make the most of the natural light that does get in there? Painting the room in a lighter color will go a long way to adjusting the feel of a room even if it does sound like a roundabout fix. And speaking of simple fixes, adding a well-placed mirror in a room that should get more light will absolutely help.
Alternatively, you may want to think about your light sources. No one likes having a bright overhead light on all the time, so think about adding some lamps or smaller lights strategically to add illumination to key areas of the room. LED bulbs are a great choice as they create less waste energy than the alternative, which is very important given that we are all trying to cut down on our energy bills right now. Remember: light has a big impact on our mental health so do not underestimate the importance of this. If you are putting together a home office, then give yourself as much natural light as possible.
Do Something With Your Basement Space
For a lot of us, the basement is somewhere that is essentially storage space, and a barely used storage space at that. However, if you are looking for ways to upgrade your property, it is one of the most valuable spaces in your home. Now, it goes without saying that some basements are riper for renovation and repurposing than others, but if you have been thinking of ways that you could do more with that space it is time to act. First, you should talk to a contractor about putting some proper insulation in and looking at how susceptible it is to damp. You also need to take care not to interfere with any areas that are load bearing and remember to check for where the wiring and piping is.
Once you know that you can keep it dry and safe, there are so many options to consider. It could be a home entertainment room, a wine cellar, or a spare bedroom!
