People begin home improvement projects for a variety of reasons, including the desire to increase the resale value of their home and the need to update their living environment. No matter what your motivation, this article will provide you with a wealth of helpful information, as you begin your chosen project.
Put your used paint brushes and rollers in plastic and in the fridge! If you are going to continue using the same paint in the near future there is no reason to wash out your brushes and rollers. Just seal them in a plastic bag and put them in the refrigerator. They will be usable for weeks!
Even though your kitchen floor looks level to the naked eye, be sure to use a level when installing kitchen cabinets. Start from the highest point on your kitchen floor and set a benchmark line across the length of the wall that the cabinets will be installed to be sure that your counters will be level once installed.
When choosing colors for your room, decorate ‘vertically.’ Choose darker shades for the floor, medium colors on the walls and a lighter color on the ceiling. Don’t be tempted to use darker colors one one side of a room and lighter colors on the other side. This will make the room appear out of balance, as well as, visually unappealing.
If you have decided to re-do your hardwood floors, then think of them like you would re-do fingernails. You would want to take off the old finish, apply a base coat, stain, and then apply the top coat, If you prefer the look of the natural wood color, then you can skip the staining step. With a little effort, your floors will be beautiful.
Try to avoid using oil based paints for your walls. Painting your walls with oil paint creates a look that is reminiscent of cheap apartment complexes. Choose a nice matte color that is easy to paint over. Oil based paints usually require the application of several layers of primer before you can paint over them properly. Using simple matte wall paint can cut down the cost of supplies and annoyance when painting your walls.
If you have the space and it is allowed under city ordinances, consider adding an extension to your home. The extra space can be used as an office, den or family room. Consider putting a skylight in your addition. These add ons will increase the value of your home considerably.
Improve the look of your kitchen with a natural stone counter-top. Stone counter-tops come in a range of patterns and colors, and are possibly the most durable surface that you can choose. Sold in slabs, they are waterproof and heat resistant, and resist scratches and stains. There are a number of popular natural stone counter-tops to choose from, including marble, slate, granite and soapstone. While they tend to be quite expensive, it is worth the investment, as they last a very long time, and add value to your house.
Regardless of why you decide to take on a home improvement project, it can be difficult to know where to begin. These tips are meant to give you a starting point and provide a reference as you begin working around your house. Be creative and enjoy the process; the results of your hard work will definitely be worth it in the end.