The process of building a home is addictive. Once you get going, you just can’t stop. That funky vase you found at the local market, the quirky frames for your family photos, every piece is as important to the next.
When you take on a home, it comes with its quirks: that odd corner or old fixing that you can’t help but stare at day-in, day-out. You learn to deal with it.
The old fixtures in your home don’t have to stay. When developing the theme and style of your home, there are ways to revitalise outdated styles without removing them completely.
Here are some ideas for home renovations that really make a difference:
The Kitchen Cupboards
Over-stained, pastel paint, laminate coverings: kitchen cupboard designs have seen it all over the years. A kitchen is a meeting place; it’s where you start your day so having a calm and clean space is essential.
Before you look up new cupboard doors, find out if you can strip yours down to their most simple form. Covering beautiful wood is one of the great sins of decor.
A day spent sanding down and re-painting your cupboard doors is a great low-cost project. By treating and adding a light stain to the original wood, you can renovate your kitchen with a natural finishing touch in a day!
Tip: For the safety of you and your family, before sanding off the paint, check that it does not have lead in it.
The Windows
As one of the main features of your house, making adjustments to your window fixtures can change the look of your entire home. By thinking about how you frame your windows, you can start to see where changes can be made.
Large windows are a beautiful feature that offers little privacy and often too much heat. By adding in a classic touch like Venetian blinds, you can create a divider between you and the outside world while cutting out the midday sun.
Bay windows are cosy corners that are often ignored. To make the most of your space, building a seating area with cushions to create a reading area, made private by bay window shutters will add a little modern sophistication to this traditional style of window.
Drab Doors
Have your doors seen better days? A simple change that makes a big difference is paneling. By doing it yourself, you’ll have yet another weekend project on your hands with big results.
You can purchase panel molding at just about any DIY store. It’s up to you how much or how little you do to your door. Simply sanding down your varnish, adding the paneling carefully, and painting it again may be enough. However, if you are feeling creative, you can get some impressive and refined finishes.
Little ideas like these open up a world of possibilities when it comes to home improvements. With this inspiration, you can look at the old features of your home a little differently and see what is really possible.