We’ve spent WAY more time than usual in our homes over these past few months in quarantine.
Have you also been feeling lately that your home is antiquated, tired, and worn-out? Maybe you have been thinking about giving your space a fresh look, while maintaining the original details you love, or even undertaking a complete overhaul.
Even if a complete renovation may be your dream, as House Match Management says, sometimes it may not be realistic. Renovations are an investment of both time and money, and aren’t always necessary when trying to update your space.
Instead of a complete overhaul to your space, modernize your home with these top tips to bring your house to life and avoid an outdated feel.
1. Perform a Deep Clean
A solid, deep cleaning is the first step you can take to modernizing and freshening up your space. Dirt and clutter have a way of making houses look outdated and unkempt, while adding unnecessary stress to your life. A clean space is a clear mind.
Clean your house, declutter it, and dispose of all the items that are not useful. Go through your home room by room and donate old clothing, unnecessary knick knacks, excess furniture, and other items that no longer serve you. Deep cleaning and decluttering can enhance the beauty of your home by making it look fresher and more appealing—not to mention it can make you feel more comfortable in your space.
2. Repaint Your House
One of the easiest ways to modernize your outdated home is to repaint it. Faded paint gives your house a rundown and forgotten look. Over time, certain colors may become off-trend and can date your home, as well.
Modernize your home easily with these painting tips:
- Focus on both the interior and exterior. Exterior paint displays your house to the world. What do you want it to say? A clean curb appeal goes a long way. Indoor painting can impact your mood from room to room, depending on the colors used. For example, blue is said to be calming and focusing, while yellow brings energy and cheerfulness. Think about the power of color and speak with a designer when selecting colors for both the inside and outside.
- Lighter colors reflect more natural light, making your rooms feel more light, airy, and clean. Painting your rooms with more neutral colors creates a base for your decor and furniture to stand out and shine. If you’re feeling adventurous, try an accent wall, where one wall is painted in a brighter or darker color than the rest. This adds drama and modern interest to the space.
- Don’t forget the trims and borders! Painting crown molding and floor trim ties up the room for a complete and finished look.
- Modernize older furniture with paint. Try glossy black on an old desk, or metallic gold chair legs for a touch of pizazz.
3. Update the Light Fixtures
Poorly-lit rooms and old light fixtures can make your home look dark, cramped, and outdated. Examine old light switches for faded and yellowing colors or paint flecks and stains. Strategically updating your lighting can completely transform your space by making it feel brighter, larger, and arier.
For the easiest switch, replace your light switches so they’re fade- and paint fleck-free. Then, talk to a designer about changing up your light fixtures. More modern ceiling lights, floor lamps, and table lamps can go a long way in updating the style, look, and feel of your space.
4. Replace Window Treatments
Windows impact the interior and exterior looks of your homes. It is easy to overlook window treatments, even though an outdated window translates to an outdated home. There are many ways to update the treatments to suit your style, taste, and needs. Blinds, shutters, and drapes all work together to control light and privacy in your home, but they also have a huge impact on the style of the space. Easily update your window treatments with these tips:
- Replace outdated metal blinds with modern fabric and wooden blinds.
- Make use of brightly colored drapery panels to add pep and drama to your room. Fun patterns can also stand out in your space. Don’t be afraid to take a risk as they are easy to switch up according to your tastes and the seasons.
- Blend the curtain panels with the color of your walls for a more subdued and neutral look.
- Install energy-saving windows and curtains to save on electricity costs. Thicker drapes can keep heat inside and the cold out, while those with reflective panels can keep the sunshine out during warmer months.
- Replace old windows and sidings for a more permanent update.
5. Paint the Doors
Outdated doors can strip a beautiful house of its charm and allure. Modern doors add a lot of curb appeal to your home both on the interior and exterior. You can update your outdated doors by replacing them with more modern models, or by highlighting the fantastic classic features on your old doors.
Highlight features on your doors without replacing them with these hints:
- Paint the interior of your door with a neutral shade such as a classic, cool grey.
- Highlight the features and character of your door by painting the exterior with bold color and using glossy paint on the cornices to make them stand out.
6 Update Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops
Bring your kitchen into this century by updating your cabinets and countertops. Tile and laminate countertops are outdated and you should consider replacing them with more modern and sustainable materials like stainless steel, soapstone, engineered stones, marble, granite, and quartz. These countertops are also much more likely to stand up to the everyday wear and tear of kitchen life.
Next, take a look at your cabinets. Many wooden cabinets may appear outdated. If you’re looking for a more permanent fix, consider updating with modern materials such as laminate and thermofoil. If you’re not looking for a complete kitchen overhaul, start with handles and knobs. Accentuate your kitchen style with more updated and sleek knobs. It is an affordable way to make a quick update and add extra pizazz to your kitchen.
7. Modernize the Bathroom
Things that can make your bathroom look outdated are dirt, old bathtubs, old-fashioned bathroom bulbs, light fixtures, worn knobs or faucets, an old vanity, shower curtains, floors, and old cabinets. First, start with cleaning your bathroom. Fixing cracked or yellowing grout and sealant around your bathroom and tiles, give it a good scrub-down, and commit to keeping it clean.
Next, look to paint. Painting the walls and ceilings of your bathroom will give your home a modern look. Try darker colors or even fun patterned wallpaper. Hang a fresh, mold-free shower curtain and place a clean bath mat on the floor. These are small, easy touches that go a long way. For larger updates, consider new faucets, replacing worn and broken tile, and old light fixtures.
8. Landscape the Front Yard
Modernizing your home starts with how your house looks on the exterior. Landscaping has a positive impact on the curb appeal of your home and can be a fresh and easy way to update the look and feel of your home. Start with potted plants on the front porch bursting with blooms or greenery.
For a more extensive update, seek advice from professionals who will help you choose beautiful local plants that can thrive well in your environment and implement a design that compliments your home.
9. Create More Space
Modern homes are spacious and have simple furniture while outdated homes have big and bulky furniture which can crowd the rooms and eliminate free flowing space.
To modernize your home with furniture:
- Replace bulky old furniture with simple and smaller pieces with sleek, clean lines.
- Rearrange furniture in your home to create more space. Try the bed or couch against a different wall, switch out the rugs, and move chairs across from the sofa. Play with your space to see what works, and to get a fresher feel without purchasing anything.
- Declutter the room by removing old furniture or appliances that you no longer use. Donate extraneous items to free up extra space.
What are Next Steps to Update, Refresh & Modernize My Home?
Reach out to for our assistance to speak with one of our luxury interior designers. We will work with your personal design style to update the look and feel of your home from the inside out. Contact us with any questions and thank you for reading.
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