In my ideal world, I would have a new home filled with old-home charm. Apparently, a knock-down is not in my family's budget, and neither are the high-quality building materials that I would want to use. The solution? Finding ways to make an old home feel new.
One of the most important elements in our search was neighborhood. I passed up my picture-perfect Colonial loaded with details for an enchanting neighborhood. So far, I don't regret it! While I might still be mourning the loss of two levels of hardwoods and the gorgeous floor plan, our new neighbors have welcomed us with friendly smiles. That said, here are a few of my favorite ways to give new life to an old home:
1. Clean or replace carpets.
Make the space feel fresh with new carpet. It will instantly add a brand-new feeling to your home.
2. Make it cohesive.
A lot can be lost through the years—an update here and an update there can leave your house in a state of mismatched chaos. Determine whether you want room-by-room finishes to be the same throughout the house. The cohesive pattern will help your home feel polished, thus giving it new life.
3. Install new doors.
If you really want to go all out, replace your doors with Shaker-style doors or six-panel ones. A front door can also add a lot of curb appeal.
4. Update outlets, light switches, and plates
My husband and I have found that this is something that made a significant difference in all three of the older homes we've lived in. Some may have yellowed, been painted over, or have had various shapes and styles. Update your house by switching all of the light switches and plates. We completed our entire house for under $100 (and with only one minor electric shock). Note: If you're not experienced in doing this, hire a licensed electrician or find a great online video source and watch a few tutorials. It's relatively simple, yet tedious work. We also updated yellowed alarms, thermostats, and smoke detectors.
5. Repair walls.
When we purchased our home, it was apparent that years of poor quality DIY patching had taken place. We had our painter fix the blemishes and fill all 240 nail holes. Yes, 240. Now when the light shines on them, it looks like new drywall.
6. Add light...
Whether it's adding curtains, replacing light bulbs, or removing screens, adding light in your home is an easy way to breathe new life into each room.
7. ...and paint.
A current and cohesive paint palette brings your home into the present and makes it feel fresh.
8. Remove dated fixtures.
Updating lights and hardware are easy ways to make your home feel like new.
9. Refinish hardwoods.
Choose an appropriate stain and give your hardwoods new life. I remember being astonished at how inexpensive it was to do the living room in our previous home.
Tell us: Do you prefer an older home or a new home?
This story originally appeared on JulieBlanner.com. Julie Blanner is the voice behind Coordinately Yours, a stylish lifestyle blog filled with do-it-yourself inspiration for effortless entertaining, home design, and thoughtful gift giving.
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