18 Easy Home Updates for Instant Impact
Updated: Jul. 22, 2019
We all want our homes to “show” better, whether we’re selling a house, moving into a new home or apartment, or staying in place for years.
Get rid of rugs—maybe
If you’re staying in your home, you probably want the softness and silencing effect of area rugs. But if you’re selling, remove them. They chop up the room in photographs and hide your nice flooring. There is an exception to this rule: In a large, open layout, rugs help to define the space. For example, a rug can make a seating area distinct from an adjoining dining area.
This crazy ice trick will fix furniture dents in your carpet.
Instant backsplash
An attractive kitchen backsplash can transform a kitchen. We recommend a peel-and-stick backsplash as an easy DIY solution. You just peel off the backing from the sheet of tile and stick it to the wall. The tiles are available in all types of materials, from natural stone to gel tile and cost $3 a sheet and up.
Upgrade light fixtures
In many homes, it’s the most powerful, effective thing you can do: Replace dated lights with more stylish fixtures, especially in “public” rooms like the living room and kitchen. It doesn’t have to be expensive, since home centres carry up-to-date fixtures starting at about $50. Nor is it difficult, even if you have no experience with electrical work. Make sure lights match in colour and brightness from room to room. The bulbs in recessed lights should be the same, and the bulbs in fixtures should all match as well.
Consider trying these kitchen upgrades that make your home look expensive.
Replace a doorbell button
If the first thing buyers notice as they approach a house is a stuck, broken or ugly doorbell button, it will affect their impression as they check out the rest of the house. Replacement is easy; there are just two low-voltage wires to connect.
Check out these clever home improvement ideas under $200.
Trim trees that block views or light
Natural light is something everyone craves, especially during the shorter days of the year. To let in as much light as possible, trim trees or shrubs that are creating shade. If the branches are within arm’s reach, use a lopper or reciprocating saw with a pruning blade. Use a pole saw if the sun-blocking limb is higher than that.
Save your back with these simple and smart updates to everyday yard tools.
Restore grout
If the grout lines in your tile are dingy and dark from grime, you can easily get the grout to look like new again with a grout restorer. Some are kits that come with two solutions—a tile-and-grout cleaner and a color sealer. Other products consist of just a colorant. Either way, clean the grout and wipe it dry, apply the colorant according to the manufacturer, then wipe off the excess. Products range from less than $15 to $30 and can be found at home centres.
Find out more bathroom cleaning tips and tricks.
Replace outlets and switches
Switches, outlets and cover plates get dirty, damaged and discoloured, giving your home a worn look. New ones give your home a remodeled feel. Replacing them is usually easy and inexpensive.
Check out these Marie Kondo-approved tips to help organize your kitchen.
Block the view, not the light
People like bright, sunlit spaces. So if you want to block the view of your neighbour’s backyard junk collection, go with translucent window film rather than opaque window coverings. Window film is also ideal for bathroom privacy.
Don’t miss this expert advice on how to declutter your home, room by room.
Replace cabinet hardware
Changing out old cabinet hardware for an updated style can drastically change the way the entire room looks. Updating the cabinet knobs and pulls will cost as little as $2 to $5 apiece, and each can be done in a matter of minutes. If the shape of the knob is up to date, but the colour or shade isn’t, give it a few coats of spray paint. During showings, potential home buyers first notice things at eye level, then they look up, and lastly, they check near the door. Keep that in mind when choosing the projects you want to prioritize.
Learn about the home renovations you’re likely to regret later.
Make spray paint your friend
All homeowners should get familiar with laying a nice coat of spray paint over all kinds of faded, rusty or outdated things around your home. The key to a good spray-paint job is a good cleaning with a degreaser followed by several very light coats of paint, starting with a primer. Spray-paint appliance handles, HVAC registers, bath fan covers and light fixtures to give them new life. If the material you’re painting is plastic, use a paint formulated for plastic.
Arm yourself with these painting tips professionals don’t want you to know.
Adjust cabinet doors
Make sure those cabinet doors are aligned properly. It will make a huge difference and it’s really easy. On euro hinges, there are two screws you can tighten and loosen to align the doors and make sure gaps between them are consistent.
Find out how often you need to replace everything in your home.
Fix doors
If you’ve lived in your home for a while, you’ve learned to tolerate your sticking, stubborn doors. But to other people, they’re a frustration and a turnoff. The good news is that you can solve most problems in less than an hour. The front entry is first priority. Buyers typically know within 10 seconds whether or not they’re interested.
Check out these brilliant design tips from Brian Gluckstein!
Cover up claw marks
Claw marks from pets need to be fixed. If the door is painted, it’s easy to fill the gouges with wood filler or patching compound and repaint. On a stained door, try gel stain. Lightly sand the area and then, using a dry brush, start with a light stain and darken it to match the old finish. Keep the brush on the drier side by wiping excess stain off on a clean rag. When you’re done, feather from the newly stained area with a clear spray finish into the surrounding area.
Get the most out of your property using these expert tips from realtors.
Replace torn screens
This is an easy DIY project that involves a special screen roller and just a few basic tools. You start by removing the old spline, the stringy rubber piece that holds the screen in the groove, then you’ll be able to take off the old screen. Place the new screen over the frame and use the screen roller to press in a new spline. After cutting away the excess screen, you’ll have it back in the opening in half an hour.
Lazy people will absolutely love these brilliant cleaning shortcuts!
Hide wall damage
If you’ve got dings or dents around your outlet, or made a mistake cutting tile or drywall around an outlet or switch, install a jumbo cover plate to hide those gaps or dents. In fact, consider replacing all your old, yellowed or dirty cover plates!
These are the home improvement projects you should never DIY.
Adiós, Good-Bye Cracks
Our favourite solution to cracks in plaster and drywall is an elastic spray-on coating that flexes along with wall movement. After filling the gaps with patching compound, you spray on two coats, then repaint.
You’ll wish you knew these home improvement hacks sooner!
Cover doorknob dings
Doorknobs are some of the main culprits when it comes to doing damage to your walls. If the accident has already happened, you can prevent further damage and cover up the dent with a bumper. And if your wall is still in good condition, you can keep it that way. You can find door bumpers online or at home centres for about $5.
Here are more quick home repairs you can do in 10 minutes!
Mask ceiling stains
If you have a water-stained ceiling, a stain-blocking primer is mandatory to prevent the stain from bleeding through a fresh coat of paint. These primers attempt to match aged ceilings, so you may be able to get away without repainting the ceiling.
Check out more decorating tips that will help you sell your home fast.
