When you picture expensive modern homes, they almost always look incredibly polished. There are stark blacks and straight lines. Sharp angles and chic lighting fixtures. They do not look like they were renovated by the homeowner with no professional help.
However, this TV version of a pricey home is only one example of the kind of living space that people are happy to throw their dollars at. The reality is that many of the sought after aspects of a home have imperfections. Distressed wooden floors, old-style industrial doors and windows, a rustic design aesthetic.
Your DIY projects can therefore add value to your home even if they have rough edges. In fact, rough edges may be attractive to potential buyers for that very reason. They want a home that looks lived-in, not like a museum.
That said, you can do DIY projects that look professional and will appeal to even the fussiest of buyers.
In order to keep the added value of your home after a renovation, make sure you have the right homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance from Lemonade can save you from tens of thousands of dollars in repairs when the unexpected happens. Don’t be complacent about the work you've put into your home by leaving it without full-coverage insurance.
In order to hike up the value of your home with DIY skills, there’s a balance to be found between the perfect and imperfect. These simple DIY projects can increase your home’s value by straddling that line.
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Install a tiled backsplash
The kitchen has the potential to be the most enticing part of your home. There are so many ways to make a kitchen feel spacious and look great. However, your kitchen can also end up looking dishevelled if you're not careful.
One of the things that detracts from a beautiful kitchen is splash marks from cooking on the wall behind your stove. Oil and grease are difficult to clean from a painted or wallpapered wall. You don’t want visitors to be able to tell what you ate a year ago simply by looking at the dirt marks.
A basic backsplash might not fit your design aesthetic. Rather, find tiles that suit your kitchen and install them yourself. A mosaic design can be particularly beautiful. These types of tiles are easy to clean with a wet cloth and protect the wall itself.
Inventive shelving solutions
When buying a new home, many people are attentive to just how much space there is for storage. Even if they don’t have a lot of possessions right now, these things build up over the years.
However, most homeowners cannot afford to assign a room for storage, as space is limited. You can help solve this problem by finding inventive shelving solutions.
Floating shelves are a popular and attractive option that are easy to put up yourself. You can also build your own cabinets against bedroom walls that don’t take up space but provide plenty of it.
Be sure to build a cabinet in the main bathrooms while you are at it. Bathrooms are often short of storage space which can be frustrating.
Redo the finishes in the bathrooms
Bathrooms are another part of the home which can feel comfortable or be utterly unenticing. A simple way to improve the aesthetics and function of your bathrooms is to redo the finishes.
Replace the toilet seats with sturdy, comfortable options. Replace an old shower head with one that is adjustable and luxurious while remaining environmentally friendly. Install a towel rack which does not make towels bunch up, allowing them to dry rather than hang in their dampness.
Also consider redoing the floors. This is particularly important if you live in an old house which has – gasp! – carpeting in the bathrooms. Your bathroom floor tiles should have a pattern and color that always looks fresh and clean.
Knock down unnecessary walls
A century ago, people seemed to build houses with as many walls as possible. While walls are important for privacy and temperature control, many spaces simply become cramped with unnecessary walls. A lounge that is separated from a dining room by a wall will suddenly open up if you just knock down that wall.
The same is true of the kitchen. Some people put drywall up to hide the scullery from guests, but rather have an open space and make the effort of doing the dishes. Also, a kitchen that is next to a dining room is far more welcoming if there is no wall separating them.
DIY projects truly can raise the value of your property. As long as you don’t cut corners and find a balance between a rustic and professional look, your home will become increasingly attractive to potential buyers.