9 Ways to Love Your Home

#1. Make Easy DIY Upgrades

Even if you’re not planning on listing your home anytime soon, small improvements will keep your home updated and increase its value. Here are some no-fuss projects that you can knock out in a weekend:

• Install a touchless faucet on your kitchen sink.
• Swap out your drawer handles for something modern, fun, and fresh that accents your home's personality.
• Replace lighting fixtures. Looking for some drama?  Add a sparkling chandelier. Want to add a flair of rustic charm? Try textured fixtures hewn from copper or sustainable wood.

#2. Paint the Town Red — Or    Any Color

Fresh paint goes a long way when it comes to increasing home values. It also yields an excellent return on investment — on average, people who paint both the interior and exterior of their homes see a value bump of $4,000+!    

Looking for inspiration?  Check out Paint Trends for 2022 with this year's top selections for Colors of the Year.

When the weather permits, take a critical look at your home's curb appeal.  If it needs a pick-me-up, you might start by painting the front door, trim or shutters.  A fresh pop of color will make your home look sharp and well-maintained.

#3. Say Goodbye to Your             Popcorn Ceiling

Nothing makes a home feel dated as much as a popcorn ceiling.  I'd have to say that they are universally despised, based on feedback I've heard from virtually every buyer who has encountered one.

Did you know that in addition to being quite unsightly, popcorn ceilings are also unsanitary?  They harbor dust, dirt, and even cobwebs — yuck! 

The good news is you can easily remove your popcorn ceiling with a wet/dry vacuum and drywall knife.  It's well worth the effort!

#4. Whitewash Your Brick

If you'd like to make your home feel more contemporary, consider painting red brick fireplaces or backsplashes white.  

This simple and inexpensive touch can transform your fireplace from a dated relic of the past to a stylish modern feature.

#5. Turn Up the Coziness

At this time of year, there’s nothing more inviting than a home that feels comfortable and cozy.  

You can home's warm embrace by adding soft pillows and throws, area rugs, and perhaps some tasteful artwork on bare walls. An occasional splurge on fresh (never dried or artificial) flowers will breathe color and life into closed-up spaces.

In the kitchen, consider adding pots of herbs to window sills and make even everyday dinners feel special by adding candles or dimmers to create a soft, relaxed mood.

#6. Upgrade Your Appliances

Nothing transforms a kitchen quite like beautiful, working appliances. 

Consider purchasing one new appliance--such as a fridge or a stove--to add a "wow factor" to your kitchen. If your budget can't absorb a major purchase, you can refresh your space by polishing stainless surfaces, fixing dented dishwashers, and scouring range tops so they shine.  

Whether you're getting ready to sell or planning to stay in your current home for a while longer, your efforts to make your kitchen more aesthetically pleasing will make working, eating and entertaining there a real joy.

#7. Freshen Up the Floors

As we await the oncoming Spring, it's a perfect time to refinish winter-scuffed hardwood floors.  If a professional sanding and finishing  is out of reach right now, consider using some inexpensive and effective products--such as Bona or Quick Shine-- that can make your floors look almost as good as new.

If the energy in some of your spaces is being brought down by old, tattered, or stained wall-to-wall carpeting, don't replace it with more carpet.  Take this opportunity to install wood floors to reduce allergens and bring a fresh new look to tired rooms.  Consider using sustainable woods such as bamboo or reclaimed chestnut.  You can bring a feeling of warmth and softness to bedrooms simply by adding area rugs. 

While you're at it, don't forget the bathrooms.  One of the classiest ways you can update your bathroom is to scrap old vinyl flooring in favor of stone, porcelain or tile.  Those surfaces are timeless yet contemporary.  

#8. Give Your Home a Deep     Cleaning

As we await the arrival of Spring, it's a perfect time to refinish winter-scuffed hardwood floors.  If a professional sanding and finishing  is out of reach right now, consider using some inexpensive and effective products--such as Bona or Quick Shine--that can make your floors look almost as good as new.

If the energy in some of your spaces is being dragged down by old, tattered, or stained wall-to-wall carpeting, don't replace it with more carpet.  Take this opportunity to install wood floors to reduce allergens and bring a fresh new look to tired rooms.  Consider using sustainable woods such as bamboo or reclaimed chestnut.  You can bring a feeling of warmth and softness to bedrooms simply by adding area rugs. 

While you're at it, don't forget the bathrooms.  One of the classiest ways you can update your bathroom is to scrap old vinyl flooring in favor of stone, porcelain or tile.  Those surfaces are timeless yet contemporary.  

#9. Change Your Perspective    by Rearranging Furniture

We get so used to seeing things as they are that we can lose the ability to see things as they could be.  

If you'd like to see things differently, consider bringing in a Feng Shui or interior design consultant to help you enliven rarely used spaces, enhance the flow of positive energy, and create a sense of communal peace and tranquility by reimagining furniture angles and light fixtures so they best support your goals and intentions for yourself, friends, and family.