We’ve all read the home improvement columns about the best renovation projects for adding value to your property. Hey, we’ve even written a few of them. From extending the layout of your kitchen for a cool £45’000 all the way to introducing a mansard conversion in your loft (yours for £100’000), these suggestions can increase the asking price of your property significantly.
But for the majority of homeowners, such projects are costly, time-consuming and, ultimately, out of reach. Should you be looking for budget ways to improve the aesthetic of your property, however, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 10 small furnishing updates that make a big difference to the look of your home.
Doorknobs & Handles
At first glance, replacing the doorknobs and handles might seem like an unnecessary change. However, they can have a huge impact on the overall appearance of your home’s interior.
You’d be surprised at how diverse the range of doorknobs and handles available on the market are. For instance, if you want to create a vintage look in your home, you should consider buying doorknobs originally designed for period properties, such as a Mortice doorknob, for your home.
Should you be after a more modern aesthetic, chrome lever door handles on rose represent a sleek and contemporary style that would be more fitting for your property.
Read: 6 surefire ways to make your house feel more sophisticated
Taps & Faucets
Similarly, the taps and faucets in your property might not take up much room, but they make an almighty impact visually.
If you want to introduce an element of luxury into your bathroom without the usual costs associated with such sophistication, then you can evoke opulence even in the smallest of details. In fact, nothing speaks of a subtle yet sophisticated design quite like new faucets and taps of brushed nickel or polished chrome.
Go further and replace your old drawer pulls with colourful ceramic knobs to give the whole bathroom a sleeker feel. Or, why not go for an art deco style tap to complement a pink sink?
Read: 7 luxury alternatives to your traditional bathroom fixtures
Curtains & Blinds
If you have old curtains in your home – you know, those heavy, dusty ones that can bring down the whole atmosphere of a room – then you can quickly freshen things up dramatically by replacing the curtains with something more modern.
Consider more lightweight, subtly coloured curtains or do away with cumbersome material altogether, and replace your drapes with designer blinds, which bring a sense of gentle bloom and airiness to a room. We particularly love Venetian or vertical blinds for a modern look.
Retractable Awning
If you love spending your summer days outdoors (hey, who doesn’t?), then you might have considered retractable awning. This practical addition can turn your patio into a pleasant spot where you can spend your summer days in the shade or sun, depending on how you’re feeling and the level of your tan.
Open Plan Shelving
Speaking of small additions that make a big difference, if you want to make your living space appear larger than it is whilst keeping things organised, you should consider introducing open plan shelving.
This type of shelving provides you with an opportunity to show off any fancy plates, bowls or crockery you might have, but it also serves a strategic function, separating the room into different sections without being as oppressive as a wall.
You could also consider adding a little greenery to your open plan shelving. Placing plants and cut flowers on open plan shelves can liven up the space and emphasise that fresh, natural feel synonymous with great ambience. Speaking of which…
Plants
Plants are excellent additions to any home, as they create an aesthetically pleasing environment and can even help with indoor air quality. In addition, many plants also have restorative properties that can go some way to brightening up a dull day and lifting your mood.
Indeed, studies suggest that having foliage and greenery around is great for emotional wellbeing and stress reduction. Gardening is often cited as an alleviator of depression, so it makes perfect sense to bring all that positive energy indoors. Talk about small changes that make a difference to the aesthetic of your home!
Pocket Doors
Replacing the doors of your home can be a costly investment and we’re here today to consider smaller changes and additions. So, have you considered installing pocket doors? These are essentially sliding doors that disappear neatly into the walls.
A glass pocket door can serve to divide certain rooms in your house without obstructing the view. In addition, pocket doors can effectively open up space in narrow hallways.
Rugs
Another detail that you can use to completely transform the look of your home is by adding a new rug. A rug can make a bold statement, act as a focal point and can also set the tone for the overall decor of the room.
If you are looking for a way to add softness to your living room, consider placing a shag rug in the middle of the room. If you are feeling adventurous, choosing a bold pattern can give any room a creative, contemporary feel and make a bold statment. Or, consider a rug in a material like seagrass to give an au natural vibe to your home.
Here at IDEAL, we’re fans of hand-knotted rugs which can be softer, thicker and more durable than their mass-produced counterparts, and can become a talking point in your room’s design, too.
Read: 5 IDEAL flooring ideas for your living room
Lighting Fixtures
Speaking of light, you could consider installing interesting lighting fixtures, too, which have boundless possibilities…
If you want to add a touch of luxury to your home, a chandelier is a gorgeous and elaborate fixture that screams opulence. Or, if you want to add an element of frivolity to any room, neon signs can be fun and quirky.
Alternatively, have you considered LED strip lights? Easy and cheap to install, as AD explains, these “slender strip of miniature bulbs that can be adhered to any surface like tape”. However, “the key to using strip lighting is to not go overboard”.
Indeed, you can use them to illuminate spaces creatively and tastefully; think inside bookshelves, to highlight architectural features, and even behind picture frames and mirrors.
Mirrors
Speaking of mirrors, if the overall aesthetic of your home is hampered by a dull and dingy complexion, then consider hanging more mirrors about the house. When positioned strategically on the opposite walls to windows, close to reflective surfaces or facing your super king TV bed to create a diverting, trippy effect, mirrors can enhance a sense of spaciousness and light in a room.
Incredibly, natural light, whether free flowing or reflected, can have a major impact on your property’s value, too; in a recent survey, homeowners revealed that they would pay upwards of £20’000 more than the asking price for somewhere flooded with plenty of natural light.
The Bottom Line
Transforming the appearance of your home needn’t mean huge renovation projects. With these 10 small additions, you can make a big difference to how your home looks.