There comes a point in almost every home where things stop feeling quite right… and it could be for lots of different reasons. It might be that there’s one room you just tend to avoid as much as possible, for example, or maybe there are things that need fixing but you’ve managed to work out how to live with them so you don’t have to fix them. What about that room you just can’t get to feel nice and bright no matter what the weather is doing or what time of day it is? They’re not necessarily huge problems, but over time they’re going to add up, and when they do, it might be a sign that your home could use some help – and love. 

Updating your home can be done in whatever way works for you, and for some people that’s going to be ripping everything out and starting again, whereas for others, it’s going to be little bits here and there. But however you do it, as long as you’re making changes that will actually improve things, then it’s worth doing. So with that in mind, keep reading to find out more about some of the things you need to consider when you’re updating home features. 

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Photo by Malte Luk

Think About The Way You Live 

Before you start making changes, it’s a good idea to pause for a bit and think about things first – it can be tempting (and might even be fun) to choose new fixtures and fittings, but unless they really are the right ones, you’re going to regret your choices, and you’ll end up wasting time and money on them. 

The best thing to do is to think about how you use the house, and the things you do in it – and the other people who use it too, of course. Do you like cooking every night or is the kitchen just a place to make drinks? Do you work from home? Do you have friends over to stay a lot? What about the garden – how do you want that to look and what do you want to do out there? 

The fact is that updates are usually a lot more satisfying – and more worth the investment – when they take into account how you really live, and let you do that living a lot more comfortably. So yes, a formal dining room might look lovely, but if you never go in there because you prefer to eat dinner on your lap in front of the TV, what’s the point in having it? Your choices need to be guided by how a space gets used, not by how you think it should be used because you’ll only end up uncomfortable. 

Plan One Space At A Time 

It’s easy to get carried away once you start, and one small update can suddenly turn into a massive list of things to fix, change, and replace, and at that point, it might feel as though the whole house has to be decorated. However, if you want to stop feeling overwhelmed and keep your budget in one piece, it’s best to focus on one area at a time, and if you want to do more once that’s done, you can move on at that point – but get jobs completed first. 

If you’re not sure where to start then it’s worth thinking about what needs to be done, rather than the things you just want to get done. That way, you can prioritize things better, and you’ll know what’s most important. If there’s something that’s causing a problem, or it’s unsafe, then that should be at the top of the list, whereas something that’s just a bit outdated but still works fine can wait and move down the list. For example, if you are advancing in age and want to make things easier and safer, then add a large shower that could accommodate a sturdy shower chair and make it so you don't have to step over a tub side.

Remember, most of the time you’re not racing against the clock to get things done (the only time you might would be if you were selling the house and had a timeframe to work to), so you can do things at your own pace. When you’ve got that kind of mindset you won’t be so tempted to rush and cut corners, which very often leads to mistakes or end results you’re not happy with. 

Look At Energy Efficiency

Old windows, drafty doors, and inefficient heating systems all add up, and not just in terms of discomfort, but on your monthly bills as well. As you plan your upgrades, it’s well worth keeping energy efficiency in mind, and if you have to make any choices, choosing the energy efficient route is the best path to take. You could do things like replace old fixtures with LED bulbs, improve insulation, and switch to more energy efficient appliances, and that’s all going to make a real difference over time. 

And if you’re doing bigger structural updates, then you’re in the perfect place to think about things in the long term as well as the here and now. Maybe you’re not ready to install solar panels today, for example, but you could add the wiring when you’re doing other electrical jobs (or rather, when you hire a professional to do them, as that’s safer), and then you’ll be all set to go when you are ready to make that particular upgrade. It’ll save a lot of work and effort down the line. 

Don’t Forget The Outside

We often focus so much on what’s inside our homes that the outside gets ignored, but curb appeal isn’t just something you’ll want to do if you’re planning on impressing passers-by or guests… you need to like how your home looks too. If you don’t feel comfortable, happy, perhaps even proud, when you walk up to your home and go through the front door, it’s almost not going to matter what you change inside – that feeling is still going to be with you. That’s why it’s good to have a tidy front garden, a fresh coat of paint on the front door (and maybe the entire house), and some new hardware if it’s needed, for example. 

And then there’s the garage, which can end up being one of those spaces people tend to treat as just a functional thing and don’t really think about how it could look better. However, upgrading with a modern overhead garage door installation could improve the entire look of the exterior of your home, and on top of that, it’ll mean that your garage is safer and more secure, and with that many positives points, it’s well worth exploring the idea more. 

Work With The Character Of Your Home 

Whether your house is a cottage that’s hundreds of years old or a brand new build that needs a bit of personality, it’s always going to be helpful to look at what the property already offers and work with what’s there. So if your home has a beautiful old fireplace, that could be made into the focal point, and if your bathroom has some awkward angles, you could find some creative ways to highlight them instead of trying to hide them (which usually just makes the room smaller). 

In other words, when the updates you’re making consider the style and age of the home, they’re going to look better not just now but for years to come as well. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t add vintage touches to a newer home or modern ideas to an older one, but it does mean you need to think about how it’s all going to come together and fit in a way that works. 

This is a contributed post.

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