Truth: constant maintenance is the only real constant in home ownership. When you’re not fixing a leaky faucet or installing a new air conditioner, you get to turn your attention to the “fun” stuff, like trading in the ugly brown carpet running up your stair steps for hardwood or repainting your living room to give it a more modern feel.
While it’s true that large-scale updates make a big impact, don’t discount the small ones. There’s a lot of “wow” factor to be had in these improvements, too. If you’re far from a DIYer, fear not—Pro Improvement Services can help. A construction company specializing in interior and exterior painting, carpentry and drywall, it’s owned and operated by Jason White—who, with 20 years of home improvement experience and a passion for his job, offered us advice on the three most cost-effective ways to update your home. With simple changes to the paint, carpentry or staircases, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck and feel satisfied in a job well done.
Painting
This is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to update the interior or exterior of your home.
“It’s the most cost-effective way I recommend for home updates because color is huge ... I think you can change everything with color.” –Jason White
Although repainting a room is the most obvious choice, why not use paint as an opportunity to think outside the walls? Consider adding a pop of color to your front door or shutters, sprucing up your kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat or changing the baseboards, trim or even ceiling by adding a bit of contrast. While Jason has witnessed a trend toward paint colors in earth tones like lilac gray, soft clay, new blues and hazelnut, the experts at Pantone also suggest an uptick in bright greens and dark blues with a smattering of hot pinks, bright oranges and plum purples.
Carpentry
Now, before you think this means you have to strap on a tool belt and safety goggles and hew a new kitchen table out of a single block of wood, we’ve got our sights set a bit smaller. Jason suggests adding finish carpentry such as crown molding, wainscoting, hardwood flooring or chair rails.
Finish carpentry is all in the details and can help draw your eye to that high ceiling or frame out your fireplace with built-in bookshelves or an intricate fireplace mantel. You can also use carpentry touches to trim out doors or add other wood designs around windows. Wood finishes like these are easier to do yourself than crafting the aforementioned furniture but can be installed by a pro if you prefer.
Updated Staircase
Here’s another spot in your home that is easily overlooked. If you have an entryway staircase, consider what kind of statement you could make with a few simple tweaks to your existing stairs or by redoing the steps and banisters all together.
“Oftentimes, it’s the first thing you see, so it really shows off the features of the house as soon as you walk in,” Jason says.
Ideas for updating your staircase include swapping carpet for hardwood, painting worn wood floors or updating the handrail with a new, more modern one.
With just a few tweaks here and there, you can take your home from so-so to seriously stellar. If you don’t have the confidence, time or ability to tackle home updates yourself, call the pros, who can make recommendations and do the work for you—so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your updated home.
ProImprovementServices.com | 513.543.3223
