If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your home you may immediately turn your mind to thoughts of undergoing a renovation. That can be a great option but it does require a large budget and a window of time where your house will be given over to trades. 

If that’s not on the horizon in the near future there are ways to give your home a brand new look without the cost and chaos of a renovation. 

1/ Replace Cabinet Fronts

One of the best kept secrets when it comes to kitchen updates is that it’s possible to update a kitchen without replacing your cabinets in their entirety. If the boxes are still in great condition you can save money by just replacing the fronts. This will give your kitchen the appearance of new cabinetry for a fraction of the cost.

Before you commit to this, do a thorough inspection of the entire cabinet system. Look at the structure and be sure that it’s in good condition. You don’t want to add new cabinet doors to a cabinet box that is crumbling, cracking or otherwise damaged. Be sure the rails slide well on any drawers and replace any boxes that have been subject to water damage.

2/ Removing Dated Window Coverings

It’s possible that your window coverings are keeping your home stuck in another decade. This simple switch can modernize the entire room. This is particularly true when referring to full length curtains since they take up so much visual space in your room.  

Currently we are embracing simplicity when it comes to window coverings. Functional blinds with a simple decorative panel are the standard today. It wasn’t too long ago that heavily detailed curtains with lots of trim and a decorative valance were in style. If you still have that in your home you’re definitely in need of an update because those are keeping your home stuck in the past. 

Curtains aren’t the only culprit when it comes to window coverings because even the style of blinds changes and yours may be dating your room unnecessarily. If you need help selecting window coverings check out my window treatments services. 

3/ Removing Dated Carpeting

How long has your carpeting been in your home? You may not even realize that it’s past its expiration date. The styles and colours change over time and while dark brown and orange shag looked brand new and exciting in the 70’s it can turn your otherwise beautiful home into a relic. 

Today we’re seeing a lot of natural fibres like wool and jute in simple neutral colours. These are easier to clean than synthetic fibres and they tend to look new for a very long time. Pattern is less popular in wall-to-wall carpeting but if you do love a bit of pattern you could consider a tone on tone pattern that will keep things feeling calm.

If you currently have old carpeting and are ready for a brand new look in your home, consider installing something besides carpeting. Opt for hardwood or luxury vinyl plank flooring and cover this with area carpets to define separate spaces.

If you are replacing old carpeting but want something other than carpet I can help. Read this post to learn about what’s trending in flooring right now. 

4/ Replace Dated Light Fixtures

Another obstacle to a modern home can be old light fixtures. Sometimes we get so accustomed to seeing something that we don’t realize how it truly looks in our space. 

Updating light fixtures is one of the least expensive ways to give your home an instant update. You might not be able to replace everything at once but consider starting with your main living spaces, including the front entry. You’ll not only update your space you may find you add a lot of brightness to a currently dull and dreary space.

5/ Replace Old Doors

Who pays attention to doors, right? It’s not so much that we’re fixating on the doors but rather that they’re part of an overall scheme. Sometimes we walk into a room and notice that something’s off although we can’t put our fingers on it. A slab door made from cheap wood could be dragging down the entire look of your home. 

Instead, consider the architecture of your home and decide what’s most suitable. If your home is traditional you may opt for a more detailed door with inset panels. A contemporary space looks better with doors that have less detailing. A simple shaker style door or a slab door look best in a modern home.

6/ Replace Dated Faucets

A bathroom or kitchen renovation can be costly and time consuming so it might not be in the cards but a simple change to the faucet can help to keep things looking fresh until you’re ready for the big project. 

The old bathroom faucets with the faceted crystal handle is a dead give away that you haven’t updated that space in a long time. And the best part is that this is a project that can be completed in a single afternoon. 

If you prefer a traditional look go for something with some added detail but as always, contemporary and modern spaces should go simple. A single handle either attached or separate from the faucet will look best. Spend some time on Pinterest looking at bathrooms to get an understanding of what style you prefer before shopping. The options can feel daunting when you’re shopping and you may end up calling it a day and going home if you haven’t given yourself an education first.

7/ Add Pattern to Your Walls

If you haven’t heard, wallpaper is the cool kid in town again. That’s mainly because you’re not stuck with the limited selection of florals and stripes of the past. There are unlimited ways to modernize your home with wallpaper and nothing is more transformative. Even if you don’t love a lot of pattern you can still give your space a facelift by opting for grasscloth or a more affordable alternative. 

A lot of established wallpaper companies sell only to the trade so you may need to engage your local designer in order to purchase. If that’s not a good option, there are a lot of new companies that service retail clients through online websites. Try to search for companies that are in your country so you can avoid the duties and taxes when ordering from other countries. 

8/ Add Millwork to Empty Spaces

There’s nothing that makes a home feel elevated quite like millwork. That can be custom built-ins, updated fireplace surrounds or wall panelling. All of these provide sophistication to an otherwise drab space. Just because your room started off as a plain box doesn’t mean it needs to stay like that. 

A lot of older homes have fireplaces with no built-ins attached. An easy way to instantly update a home like that is to hire a local millworker and incorporate some cabinetry for a more finished look. Another great millwork project is to beef up your baseboards, casings and crown moulding. This gives any room a look of importance and substance. Learn more about millwork in this post. 

8/ When In Doubt, Paint

There’s absolutely nothing that won’t benefit from a coat of paint. Walls, ceilings, baseboards, cabinets and even dated brick fireplaces can be given a new life with fresh paint.

Be sure to take your time with this because while it’s true that “it’s just paint” nobody wants to spend more time or effort than necessary. Your paint selections should always be made in conjunction with your surroundings. This isn’t a decision you make based on your neighbour’s home or a colour you like from the paint store. 

Instead, consider all of the fixed materials in and near the walls. These will give you the cues about what direction you should go. If you live in the Cranbrook area and would like to hire me for a colour consultation, you can contact me here. 

Now you’re ready to get started updating your home. No renovation required. 

Warm regards,

Adrienne