Remodeling This Life

For the past couple of years, I have been on a real estate automatic mailing list so that I get sent local properties as they get listed on the market. We aren’t set on moving but if they right opportunity comes along in the right area, we’ll consider it as an option. When I first set this up, I would scour the listings, go through and eye all the pretty homes and think about how much nicer they are than our house. Of course, back then our home wasn’t so nice. But over the past couple of years, it has slowly changed.

As time has gone by, and things at our current home have changed, I have found a shift within myself.  I’ve gone from seeing other real estate listings and wanting every other house out there to seeing them and making mental lists of all the things I like about our home better. Yes, other houses are sometimes shinier and bigger and have closet space and nice details. I know that those things won’t make my life better though and I seem to have unknowingly discovered I’m really happy right where I am.

By making changes to our home, instead of buying one much more expensive, we’ve been able to make this home one that we love and one we’re really happy with. Although our home has been one that we’ve gutted and rebuilt, it doesn’t usually take such drastic measures to make a home comfortable, cozy, stylish, and functional.

So while the housing market tumbles and prices drop daily, instead of moving, it’s a great time to put a little money into making a couple changes to your current home rather than taking on the huge expense of moving somewhere else.

Here are some relatively inexpensive changes that can be made to really alter the feel of your home.

Paint

One of the easiest changes you can make for little money is to paint. It’s an inexpensive way to add your own sense of style, add current colors, and completely alter a space without having to change anything else.

Paint isn’t just for walls anymore either. Paint your trim and baseboards white for something small that will make a big impact.

Don’t like your dark wood kitchen cabinets? Paint them instead of buying all new ones.

Change Fixtures

Replace ceiling fans, light fixtures, door knobs, and kitchen and bath fixtures to provide a quick update. Oftentimes, it’s not even necessary to replace these things. Like a bronzed finish for your fixtures but don’t have the money to drop on replacing them all? Choose a bronze finish paint and paint what you already have.

If you do replace them, don’t forget to resell what you’ve taken out of your home for a little more cash in your pocket.

Reset Your Rooms

This is one of my favorite ways to bring a little change for no money.  By simply moving what I already have around into a new layout,  it simplifies a space, is a good way to reduce clutter, and can make a huge impact on a room. To reset a room, take everything off of shelves, tables, etc… and remove everything from the room. Put furniture back in how you want it and then only put those “things” back that you really want there. This is a good chance to go through old books and to really discover the clutter that you’ve stopped noticing and you’ll instantly enjoy your space more.

What are some ideas you have for making changes at home without spending a lot of money or taking on a huge move just to get the kitchen of your dreams or a few more closets?

Photo credits: Country Living