Have you ever had the feeling that something could be done in the house to make it look better? Maybe during that boring meeting where everyone else seems to be jazzed about refurbishing their house? Or maybe it’s because you’re the one with the paint-craving fingers and a penchant for DIY projects. If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you’re in luck! 

Your home may be one of your most important assets, so it’s important to keep it in good repair.  It’s where you spend most of your time and it reflects who you are. So, what better way to make sure that your home reflects who you are than by making it look as beautiful as possible.

If you’re looking to freshen up your kitchen or redecorate your entire home this season, but have no idea where to start, this list of house refurbs should help get you inspired. From fixing leaky faucets to updating your lighting system and painting the walls — these small projects are perfect for adding life back into your space today. Here are some great ways to get started refurbishing your home. 

 

1. Updating your lighting system

If the lighting in your home is outdated and dark, you’ll be able to tell from the way you walk and feel in your home. If you’ve been able to complete one of the following tasks, your home will benefit from a fresh lighting upgrade, whether it be fixtures, boxes, or lights.

New fixtures should be installed in all rooms of your home to brighten the place up. This includes lighting the toilet, the light above the sink, and the lights above the house. 

Are you using the right kinds of lights in your home? If not, you’re probably missing out in ways that matter, such as reduced energy bills and improved indoor air quality. It’s possible to retrofit lights with different dimming capabilities, and colour temperatures, and even have them come on when someone enters a room. If you have the knowledge and equipment, you can also replace existing lights with LED lights.

2. Repair faucets

If your faucets need repair, you may be hesitant to tackle them because you’ve been putting off the project. faucets are a big home maintenance task, and it may be better to hire a professional to do it than try to do it yourself. 

But if you’re not ready to hire a professional yet, you can still repair some faucets on your own. Identify and repair any breakage in the faucet. A leaky faucet is a quick way to turn your house into a mess. If you notice any ripples or chunks coming out of the faucet, it may be a sign of a leak. You’ll need to buy new faucet stems and fixtures, and then cut and stain the old pieces to match your design.

3. Painting the walls

Painting a room from scratch is a challenging task, but does have its rewards. If you’re looking to brighten up a space, or simply paint a room that’s been a bit drab, this is a great project. You can choose from a variety of different themes and colour schemes, which will give your room a fresh, new look.

4. Add some character with wall hangings

Do you have a vintage living room or kitchen that could use some character? What about a few accents from your favourite art gallery or museum? If so, why not wall hangings? You can choose from a wide array of designs, fabrics, and sizes to create a wall-hanging masterpiece that will instantly make your kitchen feel less monotonous and more like a fun, homey ambient space. Another great way to add character to your kitchen walls is by installing a couple of colourful coasters. They can be used as bathroom accessories, indoor plants, or even nightstands!

5. Upgrade your security system

Do you have an alarm system? Are you using it correctly? Are you keeping your doors and window shutters closed? If you’re not aware of the security risks associated with a lack of an alarm system, you could be putting your home at risk. Thankfully there are a few simple steps you can take to improve your chances of avoiding a security issue. 

Check your security system. If you’re not using it, change the sensor and control components. If not on a schedule, change the batteries regularly. 

Add an up-to-date indoor and outdoor security camera to record your property. This will help you detect any suspicious activity and aid in the uncovering of any security breaches. Get a passcode for all of your doors and windows, and use that passcode whenever you’re outside. This will make it much easier to remember than a long sequence of letters and numbers.

6. Go with a rustic look if that’s your thing

If you’re not a big fan of puttering around in a muddy work shirt, you’re in luck! Working in a lumber yard can be fun, but sweaty. So if you want to avoid that, and still get your hands on some great furniture, renovation is the way to go! You can use your lumber-yarded furniture to go for a rugged, old-world look if you want. You can also use rescued/reclaimed lumber to create a more organic feel in your house. If you’d rather keep things modern, you can always find plenty of beautiful pieces of reclaimed wood at an antique store.

7. Use fabrics and decorators to create a comfortable atmosphere.

If your walls are feeling a little bare, or you want to spruce them up, a fabric wall hanging or two would be a nice change of pace. If you have old curtains or a cosy throw blanket you want to use, a lazy susan or tea cosy would be ideal to rest your feet on while you admire your handiwork. 

And don’t forget the heat lamps! If you haven’t tried them out yet, they’re so relaxing, and they work well to help you unwind at the end of a long day.

8. Put your own touch on existing pieces

Most of the time, when we “renovate,” we’re adding new things. But, in many cases, it’s simpler to take something old and make a change to it that will benefit us. 

Some pieces in your home deserve a little love, so why not give them that? If you have an old bedroom set that you no longer use, try adding some character to the bedroom frame. If you have a dining room table that you never use and is gathering dust in the basement, dust it off and give it a new life by converting it into a coffee table.

If you want to add a vintage touch to your kitchen cabinets, try sanding them down, and then painting them a sunset colour. 

9. Make all the furniture match

When it comes to updating a room in your home, traditional meets modern, or even just adding some style to an otherwise plain piece of furniture. Try changing the hardware and other details on an old table or chair. 

If you keep your furniture the same colour as your house, it can feel a little stale, so try pairing your chairs with a table. If you have a love seat that you use only on special occasions, try changing the fabric and adding a decorative pillow. If you have an old sofa that you don’t use anymore and is just gathering dust, dust it off, then add a blanket wrap. Your old sofa just might be the perfect accessory for your living room.

10. Try some more affordable customization

If you’re feeling a little daring, or you want to try customization that costs less but still delivers a good result, try painting the wooden drawers in your bureau, or the doors on your kitchen cabinets. It might be worth the extra money to get something different on the doors, and you’d have a much more personalized cabinet door painting experience.

You can choose to add a fun accent piece like a chair or sofa, or you can pick a theme and use neutral pieces together. You can also create different seating themes to suit different occasions such as relaxing on the patio with a beverage or having company over for dinner.

11. Experiment with light sources and colours

If you love to create light-controlled environments, you can try adding lightboxes to your home to illuminate specific areas of the room. Or you can use different sources of light to change the mood in your home. 

If you want a cosy atmosphere, you can use pendant light fixtures, while if you want a brighter lighting scheme, you can use light bulbs. If you want to try something different, you can even go with a watercolour style theme, which is always easy on the eyes.

12. Repainting kitchen cabinets

If you are looking to completely update the colour scheme in your kitchen, a bold, splash of colour is the perfect thing to go with the new cabinet doors. If you are not a kitchen expert, or if you are unsure how to go about this, hiring a professional to do the job is the best option. 

13. Refurbing windows

Ready to update the design and style of your windows? You can choose from a wide array of options, including installing French doors, adding a sliding glass enclosure, or taking the entire window frame and doors and putting them in a different colour.  Whether you are looking to update the size or style of your windows, there is a window frame that will fit the bill. 

14. Replace old flooring

If you have an old wooden floor that you want to finish but don’t know how to do it, or if you just don’t want to spend the money on a new floor, the solution is to reforge the old floor. 

What is reforge? Reforge is the process of sanding and refinishing an old floor with a new, different type of wood. When sanded and refinished, the old wood will be released from the sponge and turned into wood fibre. This fibre can be used as a substitute for new, expensive flooring. 

15. Go for a fresh colour palette

If your living room is all brown, brighten up the place with colourful wall art. Simple prints that don’t take up too much space are best for a living room because you can move them from room to room as needed. Place your print in a prominent place so it’s visible from all angles, and make sure it would complement any décor. You can also go for a monochrome look if you want to keep things simple.

 

Final Words

Now that you’ve got some great ideas for refurbishing your home, all you have to do is pick one or two, and get to work! You can’t just wing it, though, so be sure to involve your family and friends in the process to get their input and help you choose the best options for your home. 

A renovation doesn’t have to be a huge investment in time and money, either way, you’re going to enjoy renovating your home more if you involve your loved ones!