The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic initially created a flurry of home improvement projects as everyone hunkered down for the initial round of quarantines in early 2020. Then weeks of sheltering in place slowly turned into months, with no end in sight.
If you’ve been cooped up in your home for the majority of the last year, chances are you’re thinking of another round of activity to spruce up your living space. From small style improvements to larger projects, here are several ideas that you can use to simultaneously increase your property’s value and make it a more desirable living space while you’re in it, as well.
Sweat the Small Stuff
Sometimes the best way to address the value and style of your space is to start small. Before you begin tearing out drywall or making enormously expensive trips to the home improvement store, start by addressing a few minor activities, like:
Going “smart” with your home: Upgrading “smart” aspects of your home is a great way to increase your quality of life in the here and now and boost your home’s sellability. There are many ways that you can reduce your energy consumption, such as sealing up doors and windows, installing aerators on your faucets, and setting up a programmable thermostat.
Overhauling the decor: The easiest way to spruce up the look of a space is by swapping out the decor. This can be as simple as changing out seasonal decorations or as dramatic as purchasing new plants, rugs, mirrors, and pictures.
Cleaning, organizing, and rearranging: Addressing runaway piles of papers and receipts, planning out your holiday lists, creating cleaning schedules, and generally decluttering before the end-of-the-year festivities are all excellent ways to naturally give your home a makeover — and they cost virtually nothing!
These small activities can revitalize your home, restore a sense of style, and even add value simply through staging and making your abode more appealing.
Mid-Sized Projects for a Mid-Sized Budget
If you’re looking for ways to up the ante without getting too stressed out, here are a few mid-sized home improvement options to consider:
Paint everything: Painting is the activity that just keeps on giving. A fresh coat of paint is an affordable option that doesn’t take too much work and provides tremendous results.
Improve home workspaces: With work, school, and personal life all taking place at home, it’s wise to set up a high-functioning home office for yourself, study spaces for the kids, and so on.
Redo some floors: From refinishing hardwood to laying some fresh vinyl, there are plenty of ways to provide a stunning new look for your home by simply redoing a floor or two.
Properly setting up your living spaces and providing that fresh feeling that comes from new paint and floors can reward you with both form and function at a low cost.
Going All In
If you’re looking for a serious investment that will improve both the usability and value of your home, here are a few ideas:
Divide rooms: With so many individuals existing in cramped, multigenerational living situations, it can be wise to reconfigure your home by adding a wall to divvy up more individual space.
Open up living areas: If you find that you have plenty of space, but you’re struggling with feeling cooped up, consider knocking down a wall to create larger spaces in your home — just make sure it isn’t load-bearing!
Add on to your home: Finally, if you need more space, you may want to add an entirely new room to the house.
All three of these ideas can help to ease your situation now, and you can recoup a good chunk of the change invested when you sell the house in the future.
Adding Style for Now and Value for the Future
Unless you’re living in a rented space, you always want to consider both style and value when conducting home improvement projects. Everything from updating energy efficiency to adding entirely new rooms can help you function today and provide you with greater home value in the future.
So, as you wait for the pandemic to end, refer to the above list and look for projects that can revolutionize your home experience, in both the short- and long-term.
