2022 felt just like yesterday but it will be 2023 in only two months! Since the new year is right around the corner, the new color Pantone will be new too. For people who love following the trend, it will be an exciting job to change the color of some rooms in their houses.

Even if you are not into a trend, you may have the plan to change the look of your home especially if you have been using the same paint color or decoration for years. Also, for those who are planning to move into a new house and sell the current one, you definitely want to fix some things to increase the value of your home.

There are indeed some things that you can do to improve your house’s appearance from both interior and exterior from paint color, lighting, pathway, curb appeal, energy efficiency, security, and comfort. In this article, we will bring some ideas for reference on which aspect you can improve to boost your home’s value.

(You may like this: How to Choose and Arrange Wall Arts by Yourself)

If you’re planning to do some home improvement jobs, we have compiled some ideas that you can use as a reference!

How to Upgrade House’s Appearance

First, let’s check the appearance of the outdoor area since it’s the ‘cover’ of the house. We understand that we cannot judge a book from its cover but it also doesn’t hurt to beautify it here and there.

Improve the Front Door

Welcome! The front door will be the first thing that will greet your visitors when they come to your house so if the paint is chapped, you would want to repaint it. If you plan to use the same paint color, that’s fine but if you are changing the color of the house entirely, then you have to do the same for the door.

Another option that you can consider is by changing the wood door to a glass, combining both, or changing the door to a smart home concept so you don’t need the classic key anymore. Again, you can adjust this process based on your budget and needs.

Another way to improve the front door is by changing the hardware. You don’t really need something flashy and super expensive things because even a simple and slightly stylish knocker or doorknob will be fine. Updating the hardware will definitely change the vibe of your front door.

Create or Spruce Up Outdoor Area

The outdoor area is the best spot to have fun and gather with family and friends while enjoying the fresh air. If you have an old and unused swimming pool, you can start cleaning it up and give some improvement. If you love making things, you can build a simple pond or waterfall to freshen the atmosphere.

The other popular water feature with a lot of benefits is a hot tub or jacuzzi. This feature will definitely increase the attractive point of your home even if you use the inflatable style. Since a hot tub provides both entertainment and health purposes, you will not regret making or installing this.

If you are not a fan of the water feature, you can create a simple sitting area to make a cozy ambiance. You can use existing pieces of furniture such as a sofa, dining set, and lounge chairs. Then install some lighting fixtures to perfect the ambiance like garden lamps or even cute light strings.

Repaint The Walls

This aspect applies to both the exterior and interior of the house because again, that’s what people will see about your house. If you have been using the same paint color for 10 years or more, you might need to repaint it. It’s because there will be some spots with chapped, blurry, faded, and rusty paint that don’t look good anymore.

Especially in areas with heavy exposure such as the wall that faces outside, bathroom, and kitchen. These areas are exposed to weather changes, oil, grease, and water that might end up with corrosion and mildew due to damp conditions.

Even if you are using the same paint color, freshly applied paint will give a different vibe to the wall so your home will look fresher on the outside. It’s also good to add some accents to the wall facing the front so it looks more eye-catching instead of using a plain style.

Doll Up the Curb Appeal

The curb appeal is basically the overall look or attractiveness of your home that will make it looks more eye-catching and stand out among other houses. It is important to improve this aspect because as its name suggests, it’s to make the house looks more appealing.

There are some ways that you can do to improve the curb appeal:

How to Improve Your Curb Appeal

Install More Lighting. Providing adequate lighting for both the interior and exterior is important because you don’t want to make people scared for coming to your house, especially at the night. You can simply add extra lighting around the front door or windows.

There are various lighting fixtures that you can choose from, for example, wall sconces, chandeliers, or pendants. Another option for outdoor lighting is lanterns and candle holders while for indoors you can choose recessed lights.

Window Curtains. Here is another simple additional feature that can be useful for many occasions. Adding window curtains can help you to block out light from the outside so you don’t have to worry about glare when you’re trying to read or watch TV at night. They also keep the heat inside during winter months, which means you won’t be cold throughout the night.

Add a Front Porch. This is a great addition to catching people’s attention. If you have a split-level home, you can add two porches on either side of the house. You can also add stairs to one side of your home so that you have an entrance at either end.

Build a Deck or Patio. Adding an outdoor space gives your home curb appeal and adds value at the same time. Try adding a deck or patio for more space, or even just some landscaping work to make it more attractive from the street.

Add Planters. You can also add a few kinds of plants like flowers or shrubs along the walkway. This way, you add not only color but also a beautiful view when people come in and out of the house. You can also rearrange the landscaping to make it looks even more organized.

Mailbox Makeover. Other makeovers that can change the look of the house are by replacing the old mailbox with a new one or just simply repainting it. If you have a mailbox that is attached to the house, choose the style that matches the house’s decor style. If it’s placed outside next to the road, you can surround it with some plants.

Gate Improvement. Other than the front door, the gate is also one of the components that greet the coming guests from the start. If you have had iron gates or fences for years, you may see some rusty spots that need improvement and repainting. If your fence is surrounded by vines and plants and they become wilder, you will need to trim them.

Curate the Landscaping. If your previous or current landscaping looks messy and unorganized, it’s time to make it look more decent. You can start by power washing the area around to keep the surroundings clean and curate the area around by organizing the plants by types or colors. This simple point may look like nothing but it affects the curb appeal’s attractiveness.

(You may like this: How to Paint Bedroom Furniture with These 5 Guides)

Once the checklist of the outdoor area is done, we will move into indoor areas that are also important to dress up. Below are some points to ensure you get a thorough home improvement.

Repair the Floors

If you use carpets and they look a little worse for wear, try shampooing or steam cleaning them. Another option that you can do is by using hardwood floors to give your home a brand new and fresher look. Since wood is quite versatile, it will go well with any home decor style.

On the other hand, if you already have wooden floors, you have to maintain them from time to time to keep them in shape and looking in shape and good condition all the time by sanding, repairing, or applying a fresh coat of polyurethane. Also, if you spot cracks or chapped parts, fix them as soon as possible before they get worse.

Whatever option you choose, the key is being keen on maintenance so any material lasts longer and stays in good condition. If you use carpets or rugs, you need to pay attention to the materials and how to clean them. This also applies to the wood because a wrong treatment will only cause damages which lead you to spend more money on maintenance cost.

Change the Lighting

Lighting is definitely one of the features that play a big role to create an ambiance. Depending on the lighting fixture that you use, it can make the room look and feels romantic, cozy, comfortable, and homey. If your current lighting is dull and old, you can replace it with something simple but stylish like pendants.

Pendants are quite easy to install and give a cozy and stylish finish. Another lighting fixture worth installing is recessed lighting that will make any room looks wider and more spacious in an instant. Of course, this is a good benefit that every homeowner wants.

If you want to add ambient lighting only, that’s fine because it will illuminate the entire room. As for specific rooms like a kitchen or bathroom, it would be better to install a few task lighting fixtures to ease the activity, for example above the island, around the sink, and the stove.

Replace the Old Hardware

It’s time to replace your old, rusty, and outdated hardware because it can be an obstruction to daily activities. Again, depending on the budget and the decor style, you can choose a simple one that is not really flashy and expensive.

Some pieces of hardware that you can check on are a doorknob, door knocker, cabinet handle, faucet, shower valve, cabinet pulls, and light fixture. This hardware is something that needs to be working for us to use so fixing these will affect the value of the house.

Declutter is The Key

Making your room into a display room to show your interest and personality is good because it’s unique. However, displaying too many items in one place with less storage will only make the room looks messy and disorganized. That’s why it’s important to bring items that you use or will use often instead of bringing everything.

Before moving in or renovating, list the items that you use often. For items that are not used anymore, you can throw, donate, or sell them on the internet. Eliminating unused items will make your room feels more spacious, wider, and organized.

For items with memorable memories, you may still want to keep them but you can reconsider it once again whether you still or will use them or not. See from the perspective how many times you use that item, if it’s less than 5 times in the last 6 months, it’s most likely you will not use it anymore.

(You may like this: How to Pick a Bedroom Lock with These 4 Tricks)

Provide More Storage

Once you’re done with decluttering, you will still need more storage to organize items that you will not display or those with memories. Lacking storage can bring more messiness because you will probably put everything all over the place.

There are various storage options in the market that you can buy and use depending on the size of the empty space such as boxes and baskets. The easiest way to create simple storage is by installing shelves in the closet or using some hooks to hang coats, bags, accessories, and other items.

If you have empty space under the bed or the table in the living room, you can use it to store some of your collections of books, magazines, newspapers, shoes, and clothes. This way the actual room looks more organized and neater.

Update the Cabinetry

Upgrade your cabinetry to make it looks more attractive by changing the hardware and repainting it. Not only cabinets but also cupboards and other wood furniture that has been exposed for years. Change the hardware to a new one and you are ready to go.

For the wooden stuff, before repainting it, make sure you clean the surface first, sand it, and repaint it with a new coat of paint. For some cabinets that tend to be exposed to water, oil, and grease, you might want to add an extra layer of protection so it will last longer.

Replace Built-in Units

Built-in units tend to age poorly over time which can be seen from their doors falling off or breaking after years of use, the shelves warping or cracking due to humidity, and the hinges getting rusty. You don’t want to keep this forever because it may make your house looks less attractive.

Instead, you can install floating shelves that you can customize based on your needs. They are also available in various styles, colors, and sizes depending on the items you will put them on. Of course, they look neater, more aesthetic, and save more space from those bulky units.

Install a Backsplash

As the hub of the house with heavy traffic, the wall in your kitchen needs extra protection and one of the ways is by installing a backsplash. Installing a backsplash will protect your wall from direct exposure to grease, oil, water splash, and other things that can cause damage. Not only useful, but a backsplash is also a good addition to the kitchen to make it more stylish.

Before installing one, please make sure that you choose a material that is easy to clean and maintain. There are seven types of backsplash material that are commonly used to create attractive aesthetic designs in the kitchen or bathroom, including countertop materials, ceramic, and porcelain, glass, metal, natural stone, faux metal (thermoplastic), and manufactured stone veneer.

(You may like this: How to Replace Kitchen Sink Sprayer Hose | 8 Easy Steps)

Doll Up Your Furniture

If you have your favorite furniture and still want to use it, give it a total makeover to get it a new face. There are some ways that you can do to upgrade the look of your tacky furniture. If your furniture has cushions and they become flat, you will need to change it with a new one. You might also want to change the cover with new fabrics. Another option is that you can use a sofa cover so it’s easier to put in and off and washable.

For wood furniture, start sanding down any rough edges and then repainting or staining them. You can also add some new hardware, like knobs or pulls, to give your furniture a more updated look. With these simple changes, your furniture will look good as new!

Update the Fireplace

Having a fireplace is great but it also needs a retouch to update the look. To get a new fresher look, you can get rid of the old mantelpiece, put in a new surround and some fresh tiles, and you will get yourself a brand new focal point in your living room or family area.

There are many people who have been painting the brick around their fireplace white, as red or brown brick looks outdated. However, it depends on your preference and the decor style of the house to get a perfect match.

Add Some Decor Items

Adding some decor items in a room can make the atmosphere feels different. Do you have your favorite wall decor or mini-decor items? Show them! You can also put a vase on the table or a flower pot on the windowsill to give a more decorative look.

Another easy way to put a functional decor item is by installing floating shelves to put some paintings, small potted plants, or simply your favorite figurines.

Whether the decor item is small or big, you have to still pay attention to the detail and how you put them because unbalanced placement will make the decor looks odd or even messy. You may also want to put the ones that match the concept of the room.

Add Indoor Plants

Those who love plants will absolutely put this list on the top. Not only make your room looks brighter and fresher but indoor plants also help to boost oxygen levels and purify the air. Some indoor plants that many people choose to place in their rooms are snake plants, spider plants, rubber plants, peace lilies, ferns, and English ivy.

However, you can also opt for fake plants for some areas like a bathroom or a kitchen to save more or if you are afraid of not being able to take care of them. You can bring some plants that can complement the style of the room and don’t go overboard with them.

(You may like this: How to Antique Kitchen Cabinets in 5 Ways | Easy DIY)

So, those are some ideas for home improvement that might help you to make your home becomes more attractive and increase its value if you are planning to sell it. Most of the ideas above are something simple and inexpensive so you don’t have to spend so much.

Yes, even a simple improvement can bring a big difference to your house and make it looks more inviting. Of course, if you are unsure about a certain process, we would recommend contacting your trusted contractor or home designer to get the best advice.

Now it’s time for you to start planning on doing a makeover for your house to welcome the new year in two months. Happy planning and decorating!