Your house
is there to protect you. It keeps you warm and cool, it shelters you
from the elements, and it puts up with all your constant changes and
mood swings. That is certain to have an effect on any physical thing,
dead or alive. So, isn’t it time you paid your house back for everything
it does for you?
So, whether you want to spruce up your home to bring back that old charm, or are thinking of selling it, see herewith our tips to make that old house feel brand new!
When floors get you down
Parquet IndusParquet by Timberplan
Hardwood floors
can be one of the most stunning elements in a house, but even they can
show the strains of wear and tear after a while. So, why not treat them
to a good staining?
Staining hardwood floors can be achieved in one of two ways: with a coloured finish, such as a browned lacquer, or floor paint. In this case, the colour stays in the finish on top of the wood.
Or else you can opt for a stain or wood dye, which is a liquid (usually water or solvent based) that contains a pigment which soaks into the wood. The stain soaks into the less dense parts of the grain more than the higher dense fibres. This means it works with the wood, exaggerating the patterns in the grain.
Staining hardwood floors can be achieved in one of two ways: with a coloured finish, such as a browned lacquer, or floor paint. In this case, the colour stays in the finish on top of the wood.
Or else you can opt for a stain or wood dye, which is a liquid (usually water or solvent based) that contains a pigment which soaks into the wood. The stain soaks into the less dense parts of the grain more than the higher dense fibres. This means it works with the wood, exaggerating the patterns in the grain.
Does your carpet still cut it?
It’s obvious why so many people love carpets or rugs:
that soft, squishy, feeling underfoot. There are few things as comfy
as walking barefoot on a fluffy carpet – and, likewise, there are few
things as uncomfortable as treading on an old, dirty, and just plain
creepy carpet.
If a good old carpet cleaning treatment is not enough to rid you of that old carpet’s stains, then it’s time to consider some new underfoot fluffiness. Luckily, today’s carpet manufacturers spoil us with choices for every room, style, design, colour, pattern, and size imaginable.
homify hint: That old carpet can harm your health: allergens and dirt can contribute to respiratory problems, so invest in a decent professional cleaning service, or a brand new carpet.
If a good old carpet cleaning treatment is not enough to rid you of that old carpet’s stains, then it’s time to consider some new underfoot fluffiness. Luckily, today’s carpet manufacturers spoil us with choices for every room, style, design, colour, pattern, and size imaginable.
homify hint: That old carpet can harm your health: allergens and dirt can contribute to respiratory problems, so invest in a decent professional cleaning service, or a brand new carpet.
How are those doors doing?
Switching
to a new front door instantly gives your home’s facade a facelift, but
it also makes a big difference when you replace old interior doors with
new ones. And one of the best things of door installations is that you
can pick the order (i.e. doing the bathroom
door first, and then the bedroom door later). However, most people opt
for a new front door first, and then proceed with the back- or interior
doors later.
To save you some costs, select a door that won’t require a new opening, or the widening of an existing opening. And remember that it takes a lot more work (and money) to enlarge an opening than to reduce it.
To save you some costs, select a door that won’t require a new opening, or the widening of an existing opening. And remember that it takes a lot more work (and money) to enlarge an opening than to reduce it.
New power to you
You may not realise it, but those power outlets in your home are quite overworked. Charging your cell phone, providing power to your television, ensuring your coffee machine keeps going… who can blame a power outlet for weakening or checking out after some time?
But it’s not just power outlets that feel the strain of time: light switches and plates, alarms, thermostats, and smoke detectors can all do with a facelift every now and again. But you can be sure that replacing those old and weary-looking elements with shiny new ones will make a significant change to how you (and others) view your home.
Be sure to call in a professional electrician before you start playing with any wires!
If your walls don’t wow you anymore
We’re quick to notice when those paintings or mirrors
are looking a bit dull, but what about the wall that supports them? A
wall also needs to look good, seeing as it forms such a major part of a
house.
The second you notice a hole or a crack in the wall, get right on it. And be sure to check the corners too, seeing as they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of time. Consult a professional to give you expert advice or, if you’re up for it, attempt a DIY project to make those walls wow-worthy again.
And even if a wall is still in good condition, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference…
The second you notice a hole or a crack in the wall, get right on it. And be sure to check the corners too, seeing as they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of time. Consult a professional to give you expert advice or, if you’re up for it, attempt a DIY project to make those walls wow-worthy again.
And even if a wall is still in good condition, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference…
Perfect with paint
Speaking
of paint, they’re not just for walls, you know! Finessing outdated
furniture, enhancing that front door, refinishing time-worn hardwood
floors… a good dose of paint (in the right colour) can perform
miracles!
homify hint: Don’t like that reddish tone of your brick wall? By all means, paint it. Thanks to its rough surface, brick adds a striking pattern and unique visual factor to any space, so changing its colour won’t take away all of its magic. Feel free to paint your brick wall to match your style and colour.
We don’t ever get tired of brick, which is why we want to show you: Brick walls with added WOW!
homify hint: Don’t like that reddish tone of your brick wall? By all means, paint it. Thanks to its rough surface, brick adds a striking pattern and unique visual factor to any space, so changing its colour won’t take away all of its magic. Feel free to paint your brick wall to match your style and colour.
We don’t ever get tired of brick, which is why we want to show you: Brick walls with added WOW!
What other hints do you have for updating an old house? Feel free to share with us in the comment section…