’s official. Today’s homes are designed for instant consumption: They push consumers to spend their limited time and money as efficiently as possible. In other words, upgrading your home means throwing out that old moldy carpet, paint-peeling wallpaper, or particularly grim frugal choice of furniture in favor of something better. We call this phenomenon a home refresh. Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an old abode, upgrading your home today can lead to happier days tomorrow.
Decide What You Want
Do you want a modern home, a classic one, a beachfront property, or a sprawling backyard? If you choose to upgrade your home, you’ll be making a decision about the look, feel, and function of the new space you inhabit. That’s a big deal. If you want a modern home, you’ll have to choose between sleek, minimalistic décor or vibrant patterns that pop against clean white walls. If you want a classic, you’ll want to pick between a variety of classic materials, including wood, stained and painted plaster, and natural stone. When choosing which features to upgrade in your home, keep these questions in mind: What is our lifestyle like? What are our needs? What fits our budget?
Plan and Sketch
You’ll want to map out your plans for the space you’re upgrading. Who is going to be using the space? What do they need? If you’re upgrading a home office, what can that space do? Take the time to map out your home upgrade, and you’ll find it worth the effort. It’ll help you and your family take a better approach to plan their needs for the space.
You don’t have to upgrade everything at once. Maybe you start with a small space like a kitchen or a bathroom; perhaps you choose a whole different kitchen remodeling or simple changes. Maybe you start with a larger space like the living area or the attic. Maybe you start by upgrading one room, then move on to another room next week. What matters is that you start somewhere and move toward upgrading the whole house.
Choose the Right Materials
Every material has its pros and cons. While you want the upgrade to be aesthetically pleasing, you want to choose materials that are also functional. What are you upgrading your home too? Are you upgrading to new material? If so, how is it different from the material you’re replacing? What’s the best functional option for your needs? How much does it cost? How much does it last?
Install It, Then Live with It
What’s the rule of thumb? If it wasn’t broken, don’t fix it. That’s what upgrading your home is all about. You don’t have to “upgrade” everything in your home at once. Instead, pick one room at a time and upgrade it, then live with it for a while. You won’t upgrade the whole house at once if it’s a small space like a kitchen or bathroom. Pick one room and live with it for a while. It’ll be easier to maintain, and you’ll see whether or not you prefer the upgrade. Once you’ve picked out the right upgrades (and the right room), you’ll see that upgrading your home is much less scary than you thought it was.
Final Thoughts
Ready to upgrade your home? Ready to throw out that carpet that’s been in your house since 1976 and replace it with a sleek, modern carpet? Are you ready to replace those 1970s-style cabinets peeling off the walls with more contemporary ones with a sleek, modern finish? Ready to remove that rug that’s worn out and stained and replace it with a more durable, eco-friendly one? Upgrade your home today. It’ll improve your quality of life. It’ll make you feel more confident in your surroundings. Best of all, it’ll make you feel like you’ve got much more money in your bank account. Ready to upgrade your home? Let’s get started.
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