Home Improvements to Make This Year

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Take a moment to imagine transforming your house into your ideal home. What walls would you move? What rooms or spaces would you add? What decor would you change? Close your eyes and really visualize your new and improved home. How would it be different to live there?

Now, bring yourself back to the present. Even if renovating your current home isn’t a possibility right now, you can take small steps to make your house more like your ideal living space. Some changes improve every property, increasing ROI and giving you a better daily experience. Here are six home improvements to make this year.

1.   Tidy Landscaping

On your next free weekend, take some time to tidy up your yard. You may need to mow, pick up tree debris or kill off some poison ivy. Get any litter off the ground and assess the drainage in your yard. If water is pooling around the house after a rainstorm, you may need to clean your gutters or add a secondary drain to your yard. Once the yard is tidy, it’s time to have some fun with landscaping. Use sun and shade to your advantage when planning your outdoor space. A south-facing slope is ideal for a summer garden. You can invest in plants for the front yard that require little maintenance and will stay green year-round.

2.   Brighten Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home takes the brunt of harsh winter weather, windy autumn seasons and long spring rains. Assess the outside of your home to see if anything needs to be cleaned, repaired or replaced. If your house is a light color, you may need to power wash the exterior to remove dirt and staining. You can quickly improve your home’s curb appeal by adding shutters and updating details. For example, changing the color of your front door is quick, inexpensive and significantly impacts the look of your home. Add extra molding over the windows and doors to make them seem larger. Repair any cracks in your walkway and replant the front flower beds.

3.   Create Outdoor Space

Many families want to spend time outside in their yards over the summer. You can start small by investing in sturdy outdoor furniture and a grill. Make sure you choose materials that are weatherproof and can handle heat and moisture. To enjoy your yard in the evening, you’ll need exterior lighting, a firepit and plenty of mosquito spray. If you plan to spend a lot of time outside, you may want to invest in building a patio or deck. These outdoor living additions both have a high ROI if you decide to sell your house. In 2019, homeowners recouped 75.6% of their costs from building a wooden deck and 55.2% from adding a backyard patio.

4.   Update Garage Doors

New garage doors are another home improvement with a high ROI. Many garage doors are outdated and can impact the aesthetics and security of your home. Without proper maintenance, garage doors can become squeaky and unpredictable. If your garage door is starting to give you trouble, have it maintained. Some homeowners may prefer to replace their garage doors altogether. Because this exterior element takes up so much surface area, it’s important to think about how it will impact the rest of your home. You can sort through colours and styles to find the perfect accenting doors for your home. Choose a material that’s durable for the weather where you live.

5.   Improve Air Quality

Many modern homes are tightly sealed to prevent energy waste. Without a good air-filtration system, chemicals and air pollutants can build up inside. These pollutants can come from building materials, indoor fireplaces and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from new paint or furniture. During the summer, you can open the windows and let fresh air circulate inside. However, it’s important to check your indoor air quality year-round. Invest in a good air purifier to ensure your indoor air is healthy to breathe. You should also check your home for radon, a gas that can leach into your home and cause lung cancer.

6.   Try New Paint

If you’re going to paint inside, do it when the weather is nice and you can leave several windows and doors open. This will reduce the level of VOCs in your home so the air stays healthy to breathe. If you’re still concerned, you can buy special paint that is completely free of all toxic air contaminants. Paint is an inexpensive way to refresh your home. Some homeowners add an accent wall, refresh white trim or paint the ceiling a contrasting color. Paint can also breathe new life into furniture or old kitchen cabinets. Always test new paint inside your home before you commit to a certain color – paint often comes out darker than it looks at the store.

Add Value To Your Home

Your ideal home might feel far away. However, there are practical steps you can take to improve your current living space and get closer to your dream home. Many home improvements also increase the value of your property, making the investment worth it in the long run. Use this list to start designing the home of your dreams. 

Tidy up your landscaping and refresh your home’s exterior. Add an outdoor space like a deck or patio to improve your home’s value and give you a place to enjoy nature this summer. Replace your garage doors for a high ROI and purify your indoor air. Finally, add some new paint to update your interior spaces. Every investment you make will add value to your property and improve your daily living experience.