With our current depressed economy, many people decide to work at improving the home they are living in rather than sell and buy an upgrade. You may not have any experience at all in doing home improvements, but nearly anyone can handle a simple project. There is a lot of information available to guide you, so start small and you may be surprised at your own abilities. The following tips will help you find a good place to begin.
Insulating the water pipes that carry hot water to your kitchen and bathrooms can save energy by preventing the water from cooling as it passes through them. Many times the hot water heater is located in the basement area, and since that area is often cooler, the water can lose heat along the way. Preformed foam insulation is easy to install and does not cost a lot.
Using ceiling fans in rooms with higher ceilings can prevent the heat in a room from staying near the ceiling. It is always good to keep the air in a room circulating to prevent it from feeling stagnant. When it is warm outside, using a ceiling fan will help your home feel cooler and you will not need to use air conditioning as much.
An attic that is not adequately insulated can cause a lot of extra energy consumption. During hot weather it will be harder to keep your home cool, and heating your home will be more costly in the winter. Not only will there be extra energy costs, but damage can happen to your roof and the structure of your home because of condensation.
Once you decide on the project you want to do, make a list of the materials and equipment you need to finish the job. You do not want to find a item you need is not on hand when you are in the middle of doing your project. It is important to know the full cost of your project ahead of time, and allow a little extra for unexpected expenses.
An easy way to breathe life into an old house is to give it a new coat of paint. Old paint that is worn and faded can make a house look tired. New paint can give any room a whole new look. When you choose paint, think about the mood that you want the room to exude. If you are painting a bedroom, you would want the environment to be warm, comfortable and relaxing. Choose soft colors for that effect. If you are painting the living room, and you want your room to look bright, choose a color that is close to white. This reflects sunlight the best. Pick accent colors for any trims and molding that you have along the walls.
Kitchen upgrades give the best return for your home improvement dollars. This is the most widely used room in the house. Look at your kitchen cabinets. Is the paint chipping or is the wood looking old? If your cabinets are natural wood, you can sand them down and apply a new stain and polish to give them new life. Finish off with new cabinet knobs or handles, and you will have a whole new look.
There are countless ways to improve the living space in your home. Look at your budget, and determine what you can afford. You can start with smaller projects, then onto bigger ones when you have money saved up. Anything that you can do to beautify your home will add value to your investment.
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