Tips on Updating Your House

This could be due to a combination of reasons which includes a fascination with property shows such as ‘Changing Rooms’, ‘DIY SOS’ ‘Location, Location, Location’ and ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’. Couple that with the fact that lots of people would like to move house and either can’t sell or can’t afford to, then it’s no wonder so many of us are getting out the tools or paint brush to have a go ourselves.

Whether it’s to add value and appeal to a home that’s on the market or simply to revitalise a room, updating your home needn’t be arduous nor costly. It just requires a little effort.

One of the first things to do is a ‘life laundry’ – get rid of the clutter. A home can feel very claustrophobic with lots of knick knacks on display, so have a clear out. This is especially a good idea if you are showing round potential buyers. If you can’t bear to part with items, then store them away from prying eyes in sleek cupboards that have doors on or in storage elsewhere.

A clearer home will allow buyers to more easily mentally project their own stamp on a house, to see if they could live in it. Plus it will make you feel more relaxed, as lots of clutter can actually cause stress levels to rise.

A lick of paint can make a huge difference to any room, not only making it appear cleaner, but more modern. Neutral colours are best as they serve as a blank canvas and allow most styles of furniture to ‘go’. Rely on accessories to provide accent colours: cushions, vases, rugs, etc., as these can be more easily updated than the walls.   

Don’t neglect your windows. If privacy is a concern where you live, swap net curtains, which can quickly become grotty and look really old fashioned, for alternatives to net curtains like interior shutters. These are classic and very stylish, plus they can be altered to allow in the light or keep prying eyes out.

These are just a few ideas, naturally, there are many more. Just remember that what you do is designed to last for a while, so go down the timeless and classy route to avoid your hard work quickly falling out of fashion.