Updating Your New Old Home

You walk into your new home and as happy as you are to be the proud owners, the first thing you think is "Man this house looks old. When did we get back to the 's". You can fill in the year. In my experience it's been the seventies. Well, the first thing I would suggest is to take a good long look at the room and picture in your mind what you want it to look like finished.
Another decision that needs to be made is how much can we afford to spend on updating this room. Remember that there are other rooms that will need updating so set your budget accordingly. Can't come up with any ideas? Ugly old carpet distracting you? If you know you will be replacing it anyway, go ahead and pull out the old carpet and pad. Be prepared to sweep and vacuum the subfloor when everything is out. You will need to make sure that all tack strips and nails are removed for safety reasons.
Okay, so now you've vented a little frustration with some minor destruction. Step back once again and look at the room. Can you see it now? For the sake of this article we will stick with just the cosmetic improvements. There are a lot of other projects that can be done to improve a room but they are more costly and time consuming.
You want your room back ASAP so let's get moving. Walk around the room checking the walls for holes, dents, or anything else that needs to be fixed before you paint. You can fill these hole with spackle but be careful to blend the texture with what is on the walls. Nothing looks worse on a textured wall than a big smooth spot in the middle of it from a hole someone covered up. If the hole is big you can purchase spray texture from your local home improvement store. While you are there you can pick up your paint or paint samples if you haven't decided on a color. Next thing to do is check around the windows. If they are in good shape and you don't want to replace them soon, make sure the seal around the window and drywall or frame is good. Fill in any cracks or gaps with caulk. Now you are ready to paint!
Picked out your flooring yet? If you are going with carpet it can be installed anytime. If you are going with wood or laminate you can either install this yourself or have a pro do it for you. Carpet can make a room feel warm and cozy and is more comfortable for little kids who are crawling around a lot. Wood or laminate is good for beauty, is easier to keep clean and is good for people with asthma or other allergies. Wood can add a look of sophistication to a room or it can give a room a rustic, cabin feel. If you go with wood or laminate add an area rug where main seating area will be to give the room more color and style.
Window treatments are a big design element in a room. Hopefully by now, those big, old, moth eaten drapes are long gone! There are a variety of window treatments to choose from. Curtains and decorative rods allow you to implement your style with a variety of fabric and designs. For energy efficiency I suggest cellular shades that can be opened for optimum light during the day but when closed help keep out the heat and cold. Other options are vertical and horizontal blinds, Roman Shades, shutters, and pull down shades.
Look up. Yes you have to. Now, you see that ugly old light up there? Time to say good-bye. Remember, when you are choosing lighting and other fixtures for your rooms, pick out a style that will complement your furnishings but that when you are ready to sell your home, will not have your buyers wincing or shopping for new fixtures right away. If your home is not a rustic cabin, as much as I like the style myself, don't put a chandelier made of antlers in your dining room.
Okay, fixtures, paint, floors, window treatments, ah-hah, time for your furniture! Choose placements for your furniture that will provide the most attention to your focal point. The focal point for your room could be the big screen T.V., a picture window, or a fireplace. Once your furniture is in, go ahead and add your personal touch with pictures, candles, statuary, an indoor fountain perhaps. All done? Sit back, relax and enjoy your new room. Then get started on the next one!
Christy Tuller is an expert on several topics and is the owner of a web store That's Something Special. For more tips and ideas explore my blog! The photos to the right are an example of an update in my previous home.