20 of the Best Home Improvement Tips

Home improvement is not as simple as building a small addition onto your house. Planning, design, and sensible choices are all in order to make your space the best it can be.

If you’re interested in looking into home improvements for yourself or want to give some helpful tips for those you love, then this article will help you get started. Read on and discover 20 of the best home improvements tips that can upscale your home, add value, and make you fall in love with your home all over again.

1. Seal the Gaps Between the Baseboards and the Wall

It’s one of the simplest ways to get better noise control in the place you live. The gap will let unwanted noises seep into your room or home and will also create an increased echoing effect, which can be a distraction when you are trying to go to sleep. The gaps will also let in a draft, which will greatly affect the temperature of the room, not to mention increase your energy bills as you try to combat the cold air.

2. Clean Up Your Home’s Downspouts

Have you ever thought about how dirty your downspouts might be? It’s not a pretty sight! First, all of the rain runoff flows through the roof and then through the downspout. When dust and debris settle on them, they quickly get clogged up.

What’s worse, the blockage stops water from flowing, and the ensuing overspills can severely damage your home. Time to give them a good cleaning with a garden hose or pressure washer. Also, check these parts for any missing or broken pieces. They’ll need replacing ASAP to prevent any serious maintenance bills from coming your way.

3. Install Storm Doors Instead of Regular Doors

If you live in a windy area, then storm doors should absolutely be part of your home improvements list. Storm doors are like regular doors but they have additional protection around the opening area of your door. They can be opened in the warm season, but they are mainly used for protection. Storm doors have metal latches, frames, door rests, and hinges to provide you with more protection to your home.

4. Increase Storage Space

For those who do not have as much space as they wish, this can be a really helpful step in home improvement. Beautiful or classy storage boxes don’t have to cost a lot of money, so buy some of your favorite boxes and put away any little bits in your home that are making it feel smaller than it is. A cluttered house can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. It is important to declutter your home to make it look lighter and more spacious.

5. Add Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers bring your home to life and add a splash of color that will make your place feel more personal and bright. Flowers are a cheap feature that can really add warmth and beauty to a room.

6. Replace Old Doors

Did you know that an old door can bring down the value of your house? If it’s damaged or not installed properly, then it’s time to upgrade. Nowadays, most doors are more energy-efficient and can be a real upgrade to your home. Even if you don’t plan on selling your house anytime soon, the new door will last for years to come and will be a better investment in the future.

7. Deep Clean Your Carpets

Carpets are one of the most affordable and most important home improvements. Clean carpets keep your home smelling fresh, the floor looking bright, and the air quality high. Carpets that are regularly cleaned also last longer and feel great! You don’t need to worry about hiring a professional company if you can’t afford it, you can hire the right equipment from most hardware stores that will give you the same results for relative pennies.

8. Use Quality Lighting

Lighting is important in many ways - not just for safety, but also for your mood. Bright light can help you wake up in the morning, and dim light will help you sleep better at night. This is a simple home improvement tip that really makes a difference in how you feel at home. Quality lighting is more energy-efficient and will, therefore, decrease your energy bills and save you money.

9. Choose a Neutral Color Scheme

Bold is not brave! When it comes to painting the walls, you should always go for neutral tones. These types of shades open up a space, give it more light, and allow your furniture to shine. Don’t ruin a room’s ambiance by adding loud or dark colors.

10. Clean Your Gutters

If you want to make sure that they are not clogged by leaves, then you need to give your gutters a good clean on a regular basis. You can also use an automatic blower to keep the gutter clean from leaves and other debris that has fallen into it. Gutters that are full of debris will only lead to leaks and water damage on your property.

11. Update Appliances

There are many quality appliances such as countertop ovens and refrigerators that will give your home a more expensive look without having a huge price tag. Even the ones that are a little more expensive last longer and do a better job of saving energy than cheaper models. Appliances that match and look like they are of good quality will instantly make the room look better.

12. Pay for an Energy Audit

You can reduce your energy costs by as much as 30% by a well-done home energy audit. The audit will review the different areas of your home such as insulation, ventilation, lighting, ceiling fans, etc., and let you know if there are ways that you can save money on your home’s energy usage.

13. Repair Worn-Out Flooring

A worn-out floor can really bring down the value of your house. If you don’t have enough funds to replace the floors, then you should look for a cheaper solution such as adhesive flooring. Since flooring covers such a huge area of your home overall, there will be a noticeable change when you repair or replace it.

14. Enhance the Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is the first thing anyone notices about your home. A clean yard, garage, driveway, and windows will do wonders for the aesthetics of your exterior, and all it takes is some cheap cleaning equipment and a few spare hours. Furthermore, if you want to sell your home quickly this is an essential step.

15. Clean Mold and Mildew Off the Roof

Your roof is probably the most important part of your home because it’s the main defense in keeping the interior of your home dry. The first step in cleaning it is to check for leaks and repair any you find. The next step is to scrub the roof with a good cleaner and rinse it off with water. For extra protection, add some silicone spray or caulk on top of your roof. This will keep the water from entering the roof or causing serious damage

16. Update Hardware

You can change the look of your home by updating the hardware on your doors and windows. Hardware is super cheap and you can expect to pay less than a hundred dollars for new door handles, cabinet handles, and so on.

Additionally, if you want, you can also upgrade to keyless entry locks that will make your house look more expensive. Just make sure that you choose the perfect one for your home’s design.

17. Improve the Water Pressure

If you don’t have enough water pressure in your home, it could be because the pipes are coated in grime or mineral deposits. Not only does this make your water unclean, but you’ll not be getting the pressure you should. Call a plumber if you’re not sure how to clean the insides of the pipes although in most simple cases, drain unblocking fluid from the store is more than enough.

18. Have Good Insulation

Insulation is a vital part of your home’s energy conservation strategy. If your home isn’t insulated efficiently, you could be wasting hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year trying to heat your property during the cold months.

19. Avoid Popcorn Ceilings

Stucco ceilings are outdated, and quite frankly, ugly. This isn’t the 80s anymore, they have to go. A smooth white ceiling is much more modern.

20. Have A Professional Home Inspection

A home inspection can help you learn what needs to be changed about your home, which parts can be improved, which areas need fixing, etc. A professional home inspection will give you a list of the most important areas of your home that need to be dealt with.

Know When to Hire a Professional

It’s one thing to know what to do, but it’s another thing to know how to do it. Knowing when it’s a DIY job and knowing when it’s time to call in the professionals is crucial. Especially when it comes to electrical or plumbing work, if you don’t do it correctly, you could cause more damage or injure yourself.

However, since most areas of home improvement can be done by yourself, for the most part, you should be able to do up your home, have fun, and greatly improve your living space.