When you buy a house, you’re signing up for the long run. Ideally, your new home will take you through multiple seasons and years. That means that it will also make its way through more than one trend cycle, when it comes to design and decor. What looked great in 1985 probably looks a little stale now.
It’s on you to not only keep your house functional and safe, but also up-to-date. Whether you bought an old home, or it’s been a few years since you signed the mortgage on a new one, you should think every few years about whether your home is still modern. You don’t have to go all-in on a remodel, either. A little goes a long way. Here are five easy ways from ABODO Pittsburgh to modernize your home.
It’s on you to not only keep your house functional and safe, but also up-to-date. Whether you bought an old home, or it’s been a few years since you signed the mortgage on a new one, you should think every few years about whether your home is still modern. You don’t have to go all-in on a remodel, either. A little goes a long way. Here are five easy ways from ABODO Pittsburgh to modernize your home.
1. Rethink Your Entryway
Your entryway is your home’s first point of contact with visitors. How long has it been since you’ve thought about it? Maybe your front door needs a new paint job. Maybe your welcome mat is looking a bit stale. Easy fixes — but while you’re at it, take this opportunity to rethink the entry entirely. A new door is a relatively easy way to change things up and introduce new design elements to your home. Pick a color and material that complements the rest of your home — or that contrasts sharply with it. Even something as small as a new doorknob can freshen things up. Also consider new lighting fixtures. It’s amazing what a difference subtle lighting makes.
2. Reconsider Your Landscaping
If you have a yard, you’ve probably gotten used to things looking a certain way. But a landscaping project can really change the way visitors to your home interact with your outdoor spaces. Consider a flower bed or bushes to add depth and variety to a conventional green rectangle. Or, to save water, consider a rock yard, in which colorful stones and succulents are arranged in eye-catching patterns. This is a great option for small city yards. It’s eye-catching and good for the environment, but not so good for tossing a football around.
3. Reface Cabinets
If your kitchen cabinets are looking a bit grimy — or their finish just isn’t what it used to be — you don’t have to completely replace them to get the look you want. Instead, simply reface them with veneer panels and hardware that incorporate modern design elements, like clean lines and geometric shapes. As other options to resuscitate old cabinets, consider stripping and restaining or repainting them, or deface them completely and try out open cabinetry.
4. Lose the Carpet
Does anything age worse than carpeting? Spills, pet accidents, mud, and dirt all take their toll. And that’s ignoring how quickly carpeting trends come and go. If you’ve got wall-to-wall shag in your living room, or (gasp) teal pile in your guest room, it might be time to think about something new. In older homes especially, carpet is often laid atop wood floors. If that’s the case, why not rip it up and restore the wood underneath?
5. Open Up the Floor Plan
Open floor plans are the mark of a modern home, but it’s not easy to upgrade your home into one. Your budget might not allow you to take down that pesky wall that blocks natural light from reaching your dining room, but you can recreate the feeling of a more open space by painting your walls and ceiling white or a light color, hanging a mirror (or a few), and swapping large furniture for smaller pieces. Opting to remove cabinet doors in the kitchen will also help make the space feel a bit larger.
