When people talk about home improvement projects, so much attention is paid to the big jobs. While it can be great to do a complete remodel of a room or a section of your house, there is something to be said for the little upgrades. These projects might not be as exciting, but they don’t take as much effort, and they are upgrades that you can do without having to invest a lot of money. In some cases, they might even be jobs that you could do on your own.
Interior Painting
Is the paint in some areas of your home looking a little old? Do you notice things like dents and marks on the walls? This is a problem that almost any person can remedy with a little bit of effort. Even if the walls and paint are still looking good, most homeowners would be amazed by how a new color and some fresh paint can change the character of a room.
If you want to save some money, this is a job that most people can do on their own, but there is some value to spending the extra money to pay professionals. Look at the rooms that you are thinking about painting. In a situation where the walls have extensive drywall damage or mold, it might be better to contact professional painters. It might also be better to leave rooms with high ceilings to the professionals.
Landscaping
As a homeowner, you can really change the way your home looks by doing some work on the landscaping. It doesn’t even have to be anything dramatic. As long as you have some healthy grass, you can easily make some simple changes that will make for a really impressive yard. If your grass is not looking too healthy, then you might want to consider hiring a lawncare specialist to lay some new sod.
If you already have the foundation of a healthy lawn, then you just need to stay on top of mowing it regularly. Edging the lawn can also be a good way to make it look neater and nicer. Pulling out the weeds is another important step, and you will also want to trim all of the hedges. You could also consider things like planting new bushes or adding flowerbeds.
Light Fixtures
Lighting can be a problem for many homes. In some cases, it is just that you do not get enough light from the existing fixtures, but in many homes, it is just that the existing light fixtures are either old or they just don’t look good. Replacing your old light fixtures with new ones can be good way to enhance the look of almost any room and you can also use it as an opportunity to improve the lighting for different areas.
If you are just switching the old light fixtures for new ones, this might be a job that you could do on your own. You can find a great selection of light fixtures at your local hardware store, and doing it on your own could save you some money. If you do it yourself, you could even take your time and just replace the lights room by room. That way, you do not have to spend all of the money on new lights right away. If you want to save electricity, you could even look for Energy Star certified light fixtures.
Storage
One thing about old homes is that they tend not to have the best storage solutions. With a minimal investment, you can make spaces like your kitchen pantry, bathroom closet or closets in the bedrooms much more efficient and more convenient.
If you are looking for a simple, do it yourself solution, you could go with a number of organizers or shelving systems that are designed to be installed in homes. However, you could really remake the storage areas in your home by having them redone by a professional. Without spending a ton of money, you could hire a carpenter that specializes in finished work. One of these professionals could totally redesign your closets and help you to get the most from these spaces.
Bathroom
If you don’t want to do a full bathroom remodel, there are some jobs that could help to improve your bathroom. A new coat of paint could be a good way to change the look of the bathroom. You could also consider something like new floors.
Changing out your bathroom fixtures can also be a good way to make a more comfortable space. You could also consider water saving features like efficient toilets and a more efficient showerhead. Just like I mentioned before, you could remake the storage in the bathroom. You could even add shelves into the bathing area. Small details like switching to a curved rod for your shower curtain can be a good way to add functional space to the shower.
At Montclair Construction, we have been working with homeowners in Oakland and San Francisco on home improvement projects of all types. From the small jobs to the biggest projects, we can be there to make sure that you get exactly what you want.