subject: How To Stay On Budget When Making Home Renovations [print this page] If you've ever heard the old adage "measure twice and cut once," then you're well on your way to learning the correct way of making home improvements. That isn't all there is to know, however. So find out what you don't know in the article below.
Windows
Use window coverings, such as curtains to complete your home decor look and make your windows look beautiful. You should choose curtains that are three times wider than your window and allow for enough window coverage. If you are looking to let more light in your home choose curtains that are sheer.
If you enjoy the outdoors and bright lights, perhaps it is time to replace your windows with larger windows that provide more natural sunlight. The warmth and brightness of the suns rays will give that room a much more lively and refreshing feel, and you may even save on your lighting bill.
Try installing some flower boxes outside your home. Try installing them in your windows or on the front porch railings. They are a relatively cheap home improvement project too. You have to buy soil and regularly maintain the flowers though. If these aren't for you, try buying gardens in pots and placing them on your porch or front steps.
Windows And Doors
Devote some time into weather-stripping your home. Even though your house might be insulated, there are probably small crevices around windows and doors through which air will leak. That means your house will lose cool air during the summer and warm air during the winter, leading to a higher energy bill when you run heating and cooling appliances. Weather-stripping your doors and windows will keep that from happening.
Hunt down drafts in your house around your windows and doors, and seal them with insulation or weather-stripping to make your home more energy-efficient. On a breezy day, hold a lit candle or a stick of burning incense around the edges of your doors and windows -- with the drapes tied back away from the edges -- to easily spot drafty areas as the flame moves or the smoke wafts.
Doors
Give your kitchen cabinets a brand new look with paint. This is a very inexpensive way of updating your kitchen cabinets. Remove the doors and thoroughly clean all surfaces with denatured alcohol to get rid of dirt and grease. Apply a coat of primer: this should take about an hour to dry. Use a latex or oil paint, and choose a gloss finish, as this stands up well to scrubbing. If the paint you are using is roughly the same shade as the original, you may be able to get away with one coat of paint over the primer. Your cabinets will look brand new again!
When moving towards improving your home remember the small things like doors. A cheap improvement that can increase your home value a great deal is six panel doors. They create an executive look and make your living space look larger than it really is. It is hard to believe such a small change can make such a big difference, but it really can.
Millions of homeowners decide every day to make some type of improvement to their homes, and many of them end up with poor results. Pay attention to the tips provided to you in this article so that you're always making the best possible home improvement decisions when it's time to spruce up your house.
