Renovate or Move? The Ultimate Guide for Home Improvement Ideas

Renovate or Move? The Ultimate Guide for Home Improvement Ideas

After being forced to stay at home for prolonged periods during COVID, many of us have grown tired of our spaces and naturally feel the desire for change.

If you find yourself wondering, “should I stay or move homes”?, it’s wise to first consider whether packing up and moving somewhere new is the right option, or whether refreshing or remodeling your space will satisfy your cravings for something new.

The thought of buying your dream home is always an alluring one. But unless you’re comfortably in the financial position to do so, it might turn out to be more of a nightmare!

With interest rates currently jumping, people aren’t buying as many homes. This might make it slightly easier for you to purchase, but it could make it much more challenging to sell your existing home.

Upgrade Your Space and Save Money for Your Family

If you decide you’re not feeling up to tackling the housing market in its present uncertain state or simply don’t have the budget to move, there are many small things you can do to refresh any room in your home.

If money is a little tight, don’t worry! Creating your ideal space doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of home improvement projects and small upgrades you can make for your home that won’t cost too much but will significantly impact any space.

Whether you’re bored of your home’s style and want to revamp its appearance, or your space no longer makes sense for your lifestyle, you can take simple steps to transform your existing space to make sense for your current needs and taste.

We’ve put together two lists of affordable home improvement ideas, one for reimagining aesthetics and one for functionality, to help you on your home improvement journey!

Home Improvement Projects to Revamp Your Home’s Aesthetic

You don't need a new home to live in a space that feels brand new. Add charm to any room with a simple home improvement project you can easily complete in a short few weeks or even just a weekend!

1 - Play with Color

Changing up the colors in your home is a great way to make your space feel totally different. With just a light lick of paint, you can transform the entrance to your home with a brand new paint color for your front door, reimagine your living room walls with a contrasting color scheme, or add an accent wall to your bedroom to highlight its focal point.

2 - Add a Touch of Nature to Your Home

Bringing a hint of the natural world into your designs is a cost-effective way to make your home feel complete. Head down to your local garden center and pick up some new plants, a window box for your street-facing windows, or some herbs to pot on your kitchen windowsill. Now that we’re truly in Spring, why not tend to your garden to help bring some new life to your home?

3 - Upgrade Finishes and Fixtures

Add a touch of pure luxury to your space by replacing old finishes, cabinet hardware, and light fixtures. It’s the finer details that tie any home together. You can make what you already have more beautiful by finding the perfect finishes for your space. Consider upgrading your door handles, bathroom faucets, light fixtures, or whatever needs a little sprucing up.

4 - Have Fun with Home Décor

Elevate your home with sophisticated home décor and accessories. Buying new art, rugs, accessories, and other statement pieces is a great way to make your space look and feel more luxurious. Thrift stores are an excellent place to go home décor shopping for unique finds at super affordable prices.

5 - Explore Texture

Playing with texture is a simple way to bring a new dimension to your home designs. Adding or removing carpets and rugs can completely change your experience of any room. Purchasing velvet curtains or soft furnishings is a super easy and inexpensive way to make your home feel more luxurious and comfortable.

6 - Revive Tired Wooden Surfaces

Wooden surfaces, floors, and furniture are timeless design choices thanks to their durability and beautiful appearance. However, over time, they can appear dull. Show them love and prolong their lifespan with a little touch of wood stain or varnish - you’d be surprised just how far a little effort goes when it comes to renovating and restoring old cabinet doors or wood floors!

Revolutionize the Functionality of Your Home

Functionality can greatly influence people’s desire to move or sell their home. With the right planning, you can transform how your current house functions, increasing its resale value and appeal to potential buyers if you choose to sell down the line.

1 - Experiment with a New Layout

Who doesn’t love rearranging a space? Get creative with the flow of your home by repositioning furniture to open up a space or create a little nook for more privacy. Let your inner child have some fun and rearrange your bedroom to see if it improves the experience of your home while costing you absolutely nothing!

2 - Replace Old Appliances

This is perhaps one of the more expensive home improvement projects on our list. However, the impact of new home appliances must not be underestimated. Investing in new kitchen appliances, such as a new fridge or dishwasher, can make your daily life much easier and save you money in the long run too, thanks to their energy efficiency.

3 - Introduce Home Technology

These days, most modern homes have technology integrated into basic systems. From turning on your central heating from your phone before you get home, to asking your Google Nest to remind you when to turn off the oven, incorporating these slick devices into your home can enhance your experience of your space.

4 - Add New Storage Options

If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, you’ve inevitably accumulated plenty of stuff over the years. While we always recommend a fairly regular cleanout, there are certain things you can’t get rid of. At this point, adding some extra storage with sophisticated new shelving or integrated storage cabinets can have a massive effect on the value of your home while looking sleek too.

Should I move or stay in my home? 

Remodeling your home can significantly improve its value and enhance the experience of your home for your family. From replacing old bathroom tile, to increasing your home's curb appeal with sophisticated window treatments, there are endless ways to elevate any home.

Whatever you choose to do, it’s always wise to get the help of a professional interior designer when you’re designing a whole room, a new house, or reimagining an existing space in need of some attention.

Our fantastic team of friendly designers would be more than happy to help you with your remodeling project and open the door to your dream home.

Schedule a discovery call today to begin your journey.

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"Design Lifestyles went above and beyond on our Kitchen remodel! We are still in awe that this is OUR beautiful new kitchen that looks just like it came right out of a dreamy magazine! The attention to detail was perfect! They combined functionality with beauty and we couldn’t be more happy with it! The best part...they made it extremely easy with their presentations, visual elevations and management. All we had to do was ok things and they took care of the rest! Thank you Design Lifestyles for being the best of the best and turning our kitchen into something magical!"

Lindsie Amyx

"I had a wonderful experience working with Design Lifestyles, and I love how they have transformed my home! Kim and Lauren are extremely talented and really good at discerning and respecting a client’s likes, dislikes and personal style.

I love how they presented me with options.   I could choose furnishings and materials, without being overwhelmed with too many choices.  It was fun, and it felt good to participate in the process of creating a pretty, cozy home for my family. Their attention to detail is amazing.  Every color, fabric, pattern and accessory is coordinated and intentional, without being too “matchy,” if that makes sense. I also have to say, Kim has a calm, reassuring demeanor that really helps in the midst of a remodel.

Kim and Lauren are kind, talented ladies, and they are a joy to work with.  Stephanie and Kelly are lovely to work with as well! Thank you, Design Lifestyles team! I hope I get to work with you again on future projects!"

Luisa A.

"My husband and I interviewed three design firms to remodel our kitchen and master bath. We wanted both projects to run simultaneously & we had a general idea of what we wanted. After spending an hour with Kim and Lauren Bailey, our decision was made. Kim and Lauren give professionalism a new definition and yet working with them was relaxed and actually fun. We were presented with a budget & timeline for each project. The budget covered each expense and KBI was very conscious of our budget, making sure we stayed on track. The contractors recommended by KBI were simply the best.

Kim and Lauren were with us every step of the remodel and their eye to detail was unsurpassed.  We are thrilled with the results. Our kitchen and master bath are simply beautiful. The results far exceeded our expectations.

We highly recommend Design Lifestyles."

Gayle Lind

"Design Lifestyles is an excellent organization to help with your remodeling and/or updating project.  My home is just as I envisioned.  Somehow they "read" my mind and delivered just what I wanted within budget.  

My friends love my home's new look.  I keep hearing words like "cozy", "fresh", "quality".  I couldn't have asked for a finer job.  Every time I walk in my house, I wonder if I have the correct address!

Thank you Kim, Lauren, staff, and contractors."

Connie Seelhorst

"We loved working with Kim and the entire team at Design Lifestyles! They showed us options and ideas for our space that we had never imagined! The best part of the experience was how great they are to work with. Made the entire process fun and easy!"

Tim Urban
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