Home remodeling can be a big step in improving both your living environment and the value of your home. A lot of people remodel their homes to compliment the home owner’s desires, wants, and needs, but it is also a great option for increasing the value of your home if you are planning on selling. Many studies today show that people would rather buy a house that needs minimal repairs and updates compared to buying a “fixer upper.” Remodeling your home can be an over whelming task if you are not sure where to start. I found some great tips to help point you in the right direction for the remodeling process.

A great place to start is deciding on a budget that you can both afford and be happy with the results. Having a budget will give you guidelines to help maintain costs. If you are remodeling multiple areas of the home, give yourself an allowance for each separate area. It has been my experience as both a designer and a consumer that unexpected costs often do arise and you must be prepared financially and emotionally for these possible setbacks.

Begin your remodeling plan by making a list of what currently does not please you about space as it is. Then make a list of features you would like to add and any changes you would like to make in its arrangement when you begin the remodeling.

Kitchens and bathrooms have the most dramatic impact on the overall appearance and impression of your home. The kitchen has become a major focal point for entertaining. The new trend people follow is spending more time in the kitchen entertaining than anywhere else in the home. There are so many elements involved when remodeling a kitchen. Due to the wiring and plumbing that usually need to be done, it may not be an ideal do it yourself project. The cabinetry and countertops are two very important areas of the kitchen. If new cabinetry isn’t within your budget, try updating them with some new distinctive and decorative cabinetry hardware. Choose a style and type of finish that complements not only your cabinets but the age of your home. Try to avoid trendy finishes that will scream “time warp” in a few years. Countertops are one product in which esthetics and practicality can coexist. Prices of granite and other natural stone materials continue to drop, while manufactured materials such as laminate and engineered stone are mimicking the real thing better than ever.  Take the time do research all available options and rule out which countertop will work best for you, and your home. Faucets can be a simple and effective upgrade that adds style and functionality. Stainless steel appliances are currently all the rage. It’s neutral and sleek while offering a commercial and sophisticated feel. Nothing brightens a kitchen more than great new lighting fixtures. Try putting accent pendant lighting over an island or a larger scale pendant over the dining room table. Under cabinet lighting is also another great option to add to the ambiance of the kitchen.

These are some helpful tips and guidelines to follow to make the process of remodeling your home a more enjoyable and a less stressful process.

To add on to the last post about remodeling your kitchen, I thought why not give some helpful advice on remodeling your bathroom as well! Like the kitchen, your remodeling ideas should start with a rough plan. Again, make a list of what displeases you and what you want to change or add. Evaluate how you use your bathroom and how you want it to accommodate your needs. In the morning, do you want to get in and out of the bathroom as quick as possible, or would you rather have a more relaxing bathroom and spend more of your time in there. It’s all about how you as the user, wishes the bathroom to be according to your needs and wants!

Bathrooms are a popular home remodeling project. It involves a lot of similar decisions to the kitchen. Remodeling a bathroom is a great way to add comfort and value to your home. Bathrooms have gained an important status within the household, and instead of just being a functional room they are now as interesting and decorative as the other rooms within a household. Evaluate your space, do some research online and in magazines, to help you develop your new bathroom design. Think about which fixtures you will want, and what style pleases you. Choosing brushed nickel bath fixtures and accessories will give your bathroom a fresh modern look. Bath fixtures and accessories are widely available in this popular finish. You’ll not only find faucets and shower heads in this nickel finish, but, lighting fixtures, knobs and drawer pulls for cabinetry, towel bars and racks, tissue holders and all the typical bathroom accessories that are needed to furnish a bath. Adding tile in the bathroom can also help increase value, and looks great! Building a decorative boarder around the shower, or putting in a backsplash can really help accentuate the room. For a bath that is looking out of touch with the times, and a little worn around the edges, a fresh coat of stain and new knobs and handles on your cabinetry in this brushed finish will give an even newer appearance. Sometimes selecting a darker stain is a good option, and the darker stains are very trendy these days, in both flooring and cabinetry. A newly stained vanity with fresh new hardware will often pass as a new fixture to friends and guests in your home. Remodeling a bathroom will increase the dollar value of your home, and this is one home improvement that will be a good investment. Aside from the pleasure your new bath will give you, if in the future you sell your home, having remodeled your bathroom will both increase your home’s value and its selling appeal.

Remodeling kitchens and bathrooms are collaborative efforts. Although you get inspirations from magazines, you do not get a kitchen or bathroom out of them. Depending on your space, needs, budget and taste, your kitchen or bathroom should be a reflection of a collaborative effort to ensure that you will have a great remodeling experience!