While the term home-improvement is often associated with costly remodeling jobs, there are plenty of simple ways to increase the value of your home. With a little home improvement knowledge, you can get a better-looking home with out spending much time or money. Take a look at these tips to get an idea of where to start.
Painting a room is perhaps the cheapest home improvement you can carry out. A fresh coat of paint in a different shade or texture can completely transform a room for minimal cost. If your walls are not in the best condition and you don’t have time to re-plaster them before painting, consider hanging wallpaper instead, to avoid drawing attention to the damage.
Your air conditioning filters should always be kept clean. If the filter is clogged, it will force your air condition to work harder and use more energy. The equipment will run for long periods of time, too. Try to change your filter each and every month.
Do not be ashamed to call in a professional. Knowing you did all your home repairs yourself can be rewarding. That pride might come with a steep price tag though. Sometimes it is best to give in and just call in a handyman. Depending on the situation, they might be able to do it faster and for less money than you could.
Spackle all of the holes that you have in the walls. Spackle can be purchased at your local home-improvement store. You will probably only need to use a small bit. You can use a bobby pin as a spackle application tool for very small holes. After your spackle has dried, use some sandpaper or even a credit card to smooth everything out and make the wall look new again. Then paint. This will make the holes in your wall disappear overnight!
If you have a small, cramped kitchen make sure to choose light colored cabinetry. If you go with dark cabinetry, it will make your kitchen seem even smaller. Choosing a light color, can in fact enhance your sense of space and make your kitchen seem warmer.
Instead of purchasing white towels for your bathroom, choose darker colors or patterns. White is a color that picks up everything and needs constant bleaching. You can choose to have your fingertip towels and washcloths to be one color and your actual bath towels to be a different color altogether. It saves a lot of trouble when washing and makes your bathroom appear a lot cleaner and put together.
Childproofing your home can have a lot of great long- term effects. Your child will grow up much healthier if you make sure that your home is safe from harmful gases and contaminating microscopic particles. Such steps to keep your child safe should begin with conception and not after your baby is born.
Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. To restore them, put the cushions outside in the sun. The sun evaporates the moisture from the filling, and they bounce right back to their original shape. Ensure that you flip both sides of the cushions and avoid leaving them out too long, since the sun can fade fabric colors.
If you have a lot of cords hanging out of your entertainment stands then you know what a pain and unsightly view cords can be. You can easily clean up your mess by using Velcro tape, which is widely available, at most stores for about $5. Roll up the unused portions of your cord and hold them together with the Velcro tape for a clean and tidy look.
You can gain some extra space on end tables and nightstands by switching out your table lamps for floor lamps. Floor lamps can be moved to your desired location, while a table lamp uses table space. There are many unique and interesting lamps to choose from.
Planning landscaping to reduce water usage is not just for homeowners in drought-stricken areas. Between changing weather patterns, rising populations and falling water tables, water for home irrigation is only going to grow more expensive. By selecting plant species that require less water than the usual landscaping standards, a wise homeowner can save a lot of money.
No matter what your budget, there are plenty of ways to get a better-looking home. Keep these tips in mind the next time you look around your house. You should easily be able to find a do-it-yourself project that will make your home feel like new again.