Whether it’s a new home or one you’ve lived in forever, you want it to be the best it can be. In the ever-changing world of design, it’s ultimately up to you how much or little effort you want to put into your home. Being comfortable and happy in our homes is immeasurably essential for our well-being. After all, we spend much of our lives at home – particularly those of us still working there. Maybe it’s time to work to make your home the most authentic expression of yourself – you won’t regret it.
As a society, we can’t help but seek what’s new and improved. Upgrading our phones every time Apple releases a new model is exhibit A. When making material and design choices for your home, try not to be too much of a Scrooge. Many of us are too quick to opt for the cheaper options to cut corners and keep costs down, but more often than not, this leads to a lower quality finish and a higher frequency of repairs and replacements. Getting multiple quotes and doing extensive research into products and brands can be a drag, but it’s guaranteed to be worth it in the long run.
We can do many things to jazz up the place with minimal spending and effort. If you’re a fan of DIY (and up for a bit of trial and error), this will keep your costs as low as possible. Generally, the most significant cost in home renovations is the labour cost. YouTube can be a great tool to help bring your Pinterest board to life. Bonus points if you’ve got a handy friend or someone with some experience. DIY projects are always best with the company – it helps pass the time, and four eyes are better than 2 for spotting issues. If you’re looking for some basic ways to get busy, look no further.
Feature Walls: this one might not be new, but it’s certainly timeless. A feature wall is an ideal way to bring a bit of individuality to a room. Even just a simple pop of colour can change things up. If you’re feeling particularly bold, you could always dabble into wallpaper. These days there are so many quirky options to choose from, and you could easily update this regularly for a very minimal cost.
Upcycle your Furniture: Much like a lick of contrasting colour in a feature wall makes all the difference, updating the colour of your furniture can revamp your room. This might mean a bold statement colour or a bit of coloured varnish. Or better yet, why not stain your kitchen floor with some black Japan? There’s nothing quite so stylish as black floorboards.
Vinyl Wrap: If you have not heard of this genius invention, it allows you to cover surfaces such as kitchen benches and bathroom walls creating a whole new look. You get the gist if you remember protecting your school workbooks with a printed sticker at the beginning of each year. This product is excellent for changing the colour of your benchtops from a block of simple wood to a marble effect or your blank bathroom walls to delicate tiling. Simple to apply and easy to remove, this is even ideal for those of us who rent.
There are many places you can go for inspiration and advice. It’s always a good idea to start by building a visual of your plans; this might be from Pinterest or another internet site, in your latest copy of home designs Melbourne or your favourite home store catalogue. If you’re better at visualising when you can see things in person, exploring somewhere like IKEA or Wollert display homes can help. Once you know what you want, it’ll be time to find the ideal tradies to bring your vision to life.
If you’re not so much a DIY person, or your aspirations are simply a little outside your skills’ scope, hiring professionals is no shame. That being said, this only takes some of the work out of the equation. You still need to know what you want done and how you’d like it to be achieved before you dive in.
When we think of improving our homes, we often overlook the outside. We must remember that this will always be what we (and our visitors) see first. There are many ways to ensure your house’s exterior matches the inside’s prestige.
External Building Maintenance might seem obvious, but it’s not as commonplace as expected. It’s recommended that you repaint or treat the exterior of your house at least every 5-10 years. It’s easy to underestimate the difference this will make, especially since it’s such a huge task that it can be pretty costly, but once done, you’ll wonder why it took you so long.
Garden Maintenance: most of us are good at keeping our grass cut and our hedges trimmed, but installing garden beds and outdoor furniture can lift the quality and aesthetics of your humble garden. Why not invest in a new BBQ and host the next family gathering?
Decking: another area that’s easy to overlook and often hard to notice disrepair until after the fact. Whether your ‘go-to’ is a Danish oil or the best decking oil for Merbau, treat your decking every 1-3 years to ensure it’s at its best. Between treatments, it’s essential to ensure you regularly remove debris and thoroughly clean it. Suppose you have something special such as grey timber decking. In that case, it pays to look after it like you would for your internal floorboards and use a quality timber floor cleaner. Keeping your deck clean and well-treated will not only enhance the appearance of your garden, but it will also protect your decking from any damage such as rot.
What we love about a home really comes down to personal taste. Having the best place is all about giving it the best of care.
