Guest post by Erin Devine
After the selling, buying, and moving processes are over, you can sometimes find yourself living in a new house that feels a bit foreign. Renovation projects provide you with the perfect opportunity to make the most of your creative skills while transforming your house into a home. Here are 10 popular renovation projects you can undertake to add some personality and style to your new stomping grounds:
Install Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring gives your home a distinctive mark of elegance and sophistication. You can install tongue-and-groove style planks that slide together. Visit one of the large hardware stores near you and get a lesson from an expert. Not to mention that hardwood flooring is an investment that increases the value of your home if you have to move again in the future.
Accentuate the Kitchen
Remove the knobs and pulls from the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen. Find pewter or antique finishes in restoration hardware stores. Shiny ceramic knobs are available in many colors. Backsplash tiles can also take any kitchen from drab to beautiful, and most colors and styles come in mosaic mesh mount for easy installation.
Install Medallions on the Ceiling
Unless your new home has plaster moldings, you can replicate the elegant look with plastic. They are lightweight and easy to install, and they give your home a distinctive and aristocratic look.
Replace Kitchen Faucet
Style and function are important to you in the kitchen, and the right faucet can make a big difference in both. A faucet that has a high arch lets you put large pots under it so you can scrub them easily. A graceful shape complements your kitchen area as well.
Upgrade the Mudroom
Laminate flooring is, by design, perfect for the rooms of the house that are subjected to more dirt and water than others. By prepping the floor and following other recommended procedures, laminate flooring makes a beautiful floor, and it is less expensive than hardwood. You can also install it yourself with little hassle. Join an installation class at your local hardware store.
Install Stepping Stones to Your Door
Find some round or square stones at your local store, or buy a bag of quick-setting concrete mix. Use your old cake pans or your child’s plastic toys as forms, and paint them when they are dry.
Upgrade Your Showerheads
Replace an old showerhead with a large, luxurious one. Find one that conserves water but still creates a wide spray. Or, you may want to purchase a showerhead that features a pulsing massage.
Replace Switch Plates
Armed with only a screwdriver, you can remove the old plates and install new ones. You can choose the same color for all plates or adapt your choice to match each room.
Spruce Up Your Bathrooms
Older homes often have a small mirror in the bathroom. However, you can easily update your bathroom by replacing it with a mirror that covers the entire wall, making the bathroom appear larger than it actually is. You also may want to purchase a vanity so that you have something to store your make-up, medications, and toiletries in.
Buy a Bucket of Paint
Nothing improves the overall appearance of a home more than fresh paint. Start with the room that needs it the most. If there’s a room without windows, you may want to choose a light color to instantly brighten the space.
There are many renovation possibilities for your new home, and all it takes is a little bit of dedication and some elbow grease to make a new house truly feel like home.
Erin Devine blogs for Floor & Décor Outlets, a factory direct flooring company specializing in hardwood and tile floors. She also maintains her own interior design and home renovation blog, DIY Home & Floor.
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