Old homes are some of the most beautiful you’ll come across. They typically have a unique architecture that reminds you of what houses looked like in decades past. Old homes tend to be more affordable and have better quality in their construction. If you’ve purchased one of these houses, you may wonder how to put your personal touches on it. Use one of these six tips for modernizing an old home.
1. Exterior
When you pull up your driveway, you and your guests will first see the home’s exterior. Old houses have a particular charm, and you can bring a modern flair by making a few changes to the outside.
First, you can look at the front door. It’s worth upgrading because you can’t miss it when you arrive. You can install a new front door or paint over the one you have now.
Another option for updating the exterior is the window shutters. If you replace or repaint the front door, do the same for your shutters to create harmony with the colors. Sometimes, a house’s shutters can look tacky in a modern lens. Updating them can be a practical way to modernize your home and give it more curb appeal.
2. Fixtures
The fixtures in your house can be a great place to start when looking for modernization for the interior. You may want to replace things like the door handles, cabinets, light switches, and more. You can make the aesthetics more modern and there are practical incentives. Old homes likely have dated electrical systems, so upgrading them will add value to your home. Newer lightswitches are less prone to fires, so updating is a good way to ensure your safety.
You can find the benefits of modernizing your kitchen by looking at your cabinets. Sometimes old houses can feel cramped, but you can mitigate that by adjusting the cabinets. You can replace them with smaller ones to create more space or expand them to construct more storage in the kitchen. Even changing the color can give a nice facelift to your kitchen and modernize your interior.
3. Paint
Speaking of colors, repainting your house is a terrific way to change your home’s feel. A simple coat of paint can bring your home into the 21st century with refreshing colors.
Start with the exterior of your home. Again, this part of your house accounts significantly for what century it looks like you live in. There are numerous choices for the color, and what you determine as the ideal choice may depend on the shape of your home, the area, the climate, and other factors.
A neutral color that looks good for a range of houses is off-white or cream. This color is warm and inviting while showing sophistication. You can still go the neutral route and pick a color that matches natural materials from the planet, such as clay or stone. Selecting one of these colors will help your house blend in with your environment. Options like these can modernize your home and give it a fresh look.
4. Kitchen
One area in your interior that could use an upgrade is the kitchen. Many old houses tend to have all-white cabinets, flooring, and appliances. White is a popular color for kitchens because it provides a calming presence. Flooring is an excellent place to start if you want to upgrade your kitchen.
There are many different options you can choose from. The floor you go with depends on your kitchen and the theme you want to show off. Some ways to modernize your flooring include:
Tile: Your kitchen may already have tile, but you don’t have to move away from it to get a contemporary look. Porcelain and ceramic are terrific options for a kitchen. When choosing your tile, use monochromatic or conservative patterning instead of contrasting patterns.
Hardwood: Hardwood floors are a classic choice for kitchens. They give off a warm feeling with their rich colors. Hardwood is versatile and can pair with the rest of your design plans for the house. Try to find a hardwood that can endure years of foot traffic without scratching or scuffing. Oak, hickory, and maple are strong options.
Vinyl: Vinyl flooring may seem like an unconventional choice, but it can be a practical one for your kitchen. Most vinyl floors are waterproof, making them easy to clean. You have various options to mimic any other type of flooring, too, like hardwood, stone, and marble.
5. Lighting
If you walk into an old home, one stark difference you may see compared to contemporary houses is the lighting. Some old structures don’t have a lot of natural light coming in. Finding ways to add natural light can add a modern element to your home and save money on your utility bill.
One way to improve the natural light in the house is with windows. Replacing the current windows with energy-efficient ones can add more daylight to your home without increasing the electricity bill. Or, you could find areas in your house to add windows for more light. North-facing windows are an excellent way to allow natural light with minimal unwanted heat from the sun.
6. Artwork
Adding artwork to your house is one of the best ways to modernize a home. You may have favorite paintings, drawings, or sentimental works of art you love. Hanging them up on the walls puts a personal touch on the house.
Art is one of the most beautiful ways to express yourself, and hanging up your favorite paintings adds a contemporary feeling to the home. A piece of art on the wall creates intimacy in an old house and can add excellent contrasts to your wall colors.
Modernizing Your Old Home
Some people choose to buy an old house – one that’s older than their grandparents. These homes come with nostalgia and charm that new places have difficulty replicating. If you move into a new house, you may want to add your personal touches to make it feel more intimate. Use one of these six tips for modernizing an old home.
Author Bio:
Jack Shaw is a lifelong writer who now specializes in the men’s lifestyle niche. His favorite topics to write about include cars, hiking and interior design.
