Remodeling covers everything from swapping a light fixture to taking out a wall. The word stretches a long way, and so does the price, which is why two people describing “a small remodel” can mean jobs ten thousand dollars apart.
At the large end, remodeling changes the shape of the building: a single-storey house becomes two storeys, a garage becomes a bedroom, a wall comes out and two rooms become one. Work on that scale needs drawings, permits and an engineer or architect signing off on anything structural. At the small end it is a weekend and a few hundred dollars. Most jobs sit somewhere in between.
The same thinking works outdoors. A tired back yard becomes usable again with a deck, a patio, some grading so the water runs away from the house instead of toward it, and lighting that lets you stay out after dark. Outdoor work is often the cheapest square footage you will ever add.
Plenty of this you can do yourself, and we will say so when that is true. Painting a room, changing hardware, putting up shelves – go ahead. Where it is worth calling someone is anything structural, anything electrical, anything that involves gas or a load-bearing wall, and anything you would have to redo if it went wrong.
Refreshing a home on almost no budget
If a renovation is out of reach this year, a deep clean and a tidy-up still change how a place feels, and they cost nothing but a weekend. New bedspreads, towels, a shower curtain and window treatments do more than people expect. Cushions and a couple of framed pieces on the wall finish the job.
Start with the colour, then the materials
Decide the colours first, for the whole room and not one wall at a time, and think about how that room will sit next to the ones around it. Only then pick materials, because the budget decides this part. Choosing well matters more than spending more – a half-finished remodel looks worse than one that was never started.
Space is usually a layout problem
Rooms that feel small are often badly arranged rather than genuinely small. Before you knock anything down, move the furniture. We have walked into plenty of Louisville homes where the owner wanted an addition and what they needed was a different layout.
So, whether you are looking to renovate your entire home, or multiple aspects within your home, these innovative, yet easily executable ideas will ensure that your home is stylish and suits your needs and requirements.
- Lower your living room: A recent home renovation trend is to make sunken areas for sofas in living rooms. It tends to give a more intimate feel to the space and also makes the living room seem much larger than it is. If you have an entire room or space that you want to change, try this trick for a unique home remodeling solution.
- Use the area under the stairs: If you are remodeling a home that includes a staircase, don’t make the mistake of leaving the large space under the stairs unused. Add some shelves to display your bookshelves or music collection, or fine wine fanatics can make an elegant wine rack and create their cozy nook. You can even transform a small room inspired by your childhood fantasy of living like Harry Potter and make your charming secret reading nook.
- Maximize Space with Baseboard Drawers: We often leave the space under the bed and cabinets untouched. However, this is letting valuable storage areas go to waste! Instead of leaving this space empty, you can add low baseboard drawers, where you can store extra knick-knacks lying around the house and make the house look tidier. This is especially helpful in mobile home renovation, as you must maximize the smaller amount of space you’re working with.
- Add or Upgrade the Kitchen Island: A kitchen island provides you with more counter space, additional storage area, and extra seating options. One great way to enhance the kitchen design is by doubling it as a minibar, with racks above the counter with proper shelving for drinking glasses and storage space below to keep your alcohol. Be sure to also add additional electrical outlets to the island during your kitchen remodel, to ensure full functionality. Patterns too make up the backsplash and add texture to the room. Depending on the condition of the cabinetry, you might investigate painting or staining your kitchen cabinets for an immediate and relatively inexpensive kitchen renovation idea.
- Add a coat of paint: It was true in your parents’ day, and it’s still true today: the simple home renovation project that gives you the biggest bang for your buck is a coat of paint. The colors you choose can transform your home. If you’re not selling your home anytime soon, skip what’s popular and choose a look you love, perhaps a deep red dining room or a striped accent wall. Or, if you’re tired of color, opt for a warm neutral. Preparation matters, and if you do it right, prep work can take longer than painting. Always buy good brushes.
- Organize your closet: We all dream of closets full of drawers, shelves, and cubbies. Start by looking for shelves and drawers you already have that would work as closet organizers. You can buy kits at home supply stores that you can install yourself or pieces that don’t require installation. Don’t overlook simple tools that add an extra closet rod or hanging shoe bags. Unless you have a huge closet, you’ll find hanging space more useful than lots of drawers and cubbies. A shelving unit or set of drawers can make a big difference.
- Upgrade kitchen and bath hardware: Changing door and drawer knobs and handles can drastically improve the look of your kitchen. Use these pieces to make a statement in your modern, traditional, whimsical kitchen: there are many options. While most hardware pieces are standard size, there are variations, so be sure to check the size before you buy. Shop online. The selection of hardware is larger and prices are lower.
- Fix up your front entrance: Painting the front door, installing a new mailbox and house numbers, and planting fresh flowers in pots can greatly improve the look of your home, and for a minimum of money and effort. Doing just one or all of these projects can make a big difference. Shop online for mailboxes and numbers, where you’re likely to find more options.
- Install moldings: With the right molding, you can completely transform a room, and it’s not that expensive or difficult to install. In addition to installing moldings in the floor area and along the ceiling, you can use moldings to create custom designs on walls and around mirrors and light fixtures.
- Change faucets and showerheads: Even if you have no plumbing experience, you can change a faucet by following simple step-by-step instructions. Be sure to turn off the water in your home before you begin. Changing a showerhead is even easier, and a basic shower massage unit is surprisingly inexpensive. Make sure the new faucet is the same size as the old one.
- Add shelving and organizers: The way you store items makes a significant difference in your overall storage space. Instead of spending thousands on a custom system, you can create your own with off-the-shelf shelves, garbage cans, and hooks. A couple of plastic shelves and outdoor storage containers can provide plenty of storage. Add a piece of pegboard for hanging tools or sports equipment on the wall. Don’t forget the floors. Keep items that are not waterproof off the floor.
- Replace light fixtures: Replacing a crystal chandelier with an abstract metal fixture, or vice versa, can improve the look of a room. Changing a chandelier is not difficult, as long as you are careful and turn off the electricity while you work. Instead of changing the entire fixture, another option is to simply replace the cover.
Need some other answers? Drop us a message.
¡Contáctanos si tienes alguna pregunta!
Related services
CAZUN Construction works across Louisville and Southern Indiana. If any of this is a job you would rather hand over, we give free estimates – call (502) 996-1474.
