Homeowners may often be thinking about how they can increase their home value, even if they aren’t looking to sell right away. Tackling small projects over time to keep your home updated can help maintain and even increase home value. You can keep your home up-to-date just by painting your walls a new bold color, or you could take an old room that’s not being used and renovate it into something brand new. Whether you’re looking to sell your home now or in the future, here are a few suggestions on how to improve the value of your home.
An Exterior Facelift
You can add a lot of value to your home simply by enhancing your home’s curb appeal. After all, there’s nothing like a first impression! One tip to assess your home’s exterior is to take a black and white photo and take a look at what stands out. Are there damaged shutters that need to be repaired? Could the lawn use a little extra landscaping? Even little changes, such as hanging up a larger house number, can revive and refresh the look of your home.
Color Is Key
As mentioned above, a fresh coat of paint or finding a new color is an easy way to add value to your home. Neutral colors appeal to the majority; think earthy tones such as soft grays (e.g., Benjamin Moore’s Metropolitan AF-690), terra-cottas (e.g., Sherwin Williams’ Cavern Clay SW 7701), and blues (e.g., Behr’s Blueprint S470-5). However, don’t be afraid to be mix it up and feature bold colors as well, as they have been fast trending these past few years. Pantone’s color of the year is Living Coral, while PPG named Night Watch, a deep green, their paint color for 2019.
Photo: Jay Greene Photography
Captivating Kitchens
Kitchens are one of the most popular rooms in the home and updated kitchens are often a key selling point when your house in on the market! Upgrading this space in your home is a wise way to increase home value; even just a minor kitchen remodel is a smart investment, recouping up to 81% of remodeling costs in the added home value, as reported by a recent report from Remodeling magazine.
Furthermore, Zillow identified five top design trends for 2019, and many of these can be integrated into a kitchen remodel. Updating with smart faucets and smart appliances, metal and concrete to create an industrial feel, and replacing rustic elements with more modern counterparts all fall into these trends.
Photos: Jay Greene Photography
Bathroom Updates
Today’s bathrooms are no longer simply functional spaces. Homeowners also want these spaces to be comfortable and calming. You can increase home value by updating the bath area, adding heated floors, or getting an all-in-one toilet. Additionally, you can upgrade bathrooms with new faucets, updated vanities, and wall-mounted lights to create a more luxurious feel. Remodeling magazine’s recent report indicated that even just updating flooring and fixtures leads to a 70% return on investment.
Photos: Jay Greene Photography
Think Smarter
For techies and beginners alike, smart homes appeal to those who enjoy seeing form and function unite. Smart home solutions come in all shapes and sizes and can integrate with one another, all controlled through a smart home hub or a smartphone app. Examples include smart thermostats, security cameras, door locks, lighting, retractable screens, and thermostats. Zillow identified smart home technology as a top design trend to look for this year. As this trend is steadily growing, integrating smart home solutions into your home is a smart way to add value.
Reinventing Old Rooms
A new paint color or additional accents are simple ways to revive an old room into a modern space. And if there are rooms in your home that seem to be forgotten or untouched, you can also consider refinishing them into something new. You could also refinish your basement, transform your pantry into a wine cellar, or remodel a rarely used guest room into a home theater.
Photo: Jay Greene Photography
Creating More Space
While expanding your home’s square footage isn’t always practical or possible, there are a few ways you can create a more spacious feel in your home to increase your home’s value. Try adding large mirrors in smaller spaces or exchanging bulky draperies for blinds or shutters that allow in more natural light. If you have a spacious backyard, you could also try building a deck or creating a small patio space for outside entertaining.
Not every suggestion on this list is necessary to increase the value of your home. In fact, upgrading every part of your home right before you sell is not very practical. But updating your space over time helps create a more comfortable living space for you while contributing to your home’s value. So, whether you are looking to sell now or in the far future, WPL Interior Design is here to guide you through the design process. Contact us today to see how we can help!
