When it comes to home improvement it's nice to know that where you're putting your effort is not just going to make your house look beautiful and more enjoyable to live in but also increase its value. We put together a list of six home improvement tutorials and home decor tips that will increase the value of your home without costing you a small fortune.

1. Strategic lighting (indoor and outdoor) 

Don't underestimate the power of great layered lighting inside and outside of your home. There are three kinds of lighting that should be present in your space: ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting is the overall lighting source in a space (lamps and chandeliers), task lighting is used to enhance the functionality in a specific area (under cabinet lighting, reading lamps), and accent lighting is used to highlight points of interest (in cabinet lighting or spot lights over art).

By mixing the three types of lighting in varying heights and locations throughout your home you create a more luxurious and professionally designed ambiance which elevates the experience that both you and buyers will feel inside your home. Proper lighting can make your space feel larger, more inviting, make it stand out, and cast a more flattering glow on both you and the design of your home. Quick tip: make sure that you use the same bulbs within each space of your home so that each environment holds a consistent feel.

Additionally, it's important not to forget your outdoor space because it is an extension of your home. When you're able to turn on the lights in your backyard or front yard it visually extends the sense of home subconsciously making it feel larger. In terms of resale value, backyards have been a more common must-have for buyers in recent years. Putting a little effort into your backyard space will go a long way in enhancing your own lifestyle within your home, but also in appealing to more buyers if you decide to sell.

This lighting tutorial from Nick Lewis, an interior designer, is worth a watch:

2. High curtains

How you hang your curtains makes a huge difference in the overall feeling of a space. Curtains hung at the proper height will make your windows look larger, your ceilings look taller, and will create a more luxurious and polished feeling within your home.

Typically you should hang your curtain rod halfway to 2/3rd of the way up between your window frame and ceiling, although there are a few exceptions which you’ll see in the provided tutorial. There are three kinds of curtain lengths, the kiss (skimming the floor), puddle (piling onto the floor), break puddle (between the kiss and the puddle length), and float (hanging just a hair above the floor). Each length will create a different effect in your space, and each length works better for different areas of your home. 

Adjusting your curtains to match the appropriate feeling for each room in your home will enhance your everyday experience living there and increase the value of your home in a buyer's eyes. 

Check out Posh Pennies in-depth curtain tutorial for some valuable tips and how to's before you gets started:

3. Create A Spa Like Shower

Buyers and homeowners love having a shower space that they can escape to that feels like a relaxing spa. After a long day there's nothing like unwinding and a luxurious bathroom but a complete renovation can be very costly. Simply updating your shower fixture can make your bathroom of pure more high-end and luxurious without having to get the entire room.

A basic showerhead is a simple small “bulb” but there are many more aesthetically appealing options depending on the type of shower that you enjoy. If you typically have quick showers in the morning and just need something that gets the job done effectively then you'll want a showerhead with more pressure. If you enjoy a relaxing experience then you can opt for a standard rainfall showerhead to increase the calming factor of your showers. Additionally, you can consider shower heads that have removable handles or adjustable settings for pets and babies.

This is a great summation of aesthetically appealing shower fixture options:

4. Organization systems

When a buyer walks through your house they are analyzing the lifestyle that it showcases and envisioning how they could live there. If your home appears well organized with lots of storage solutions it automatically makes them feel like that's how they'll be able to be when they live there. Organizing your home elevates your living experience and the value of your home in a buyer's eyes.

Take some time to plan out what items make the most sense in each area. For example, it may make the most sense to locate your drinking cups near the fridge, and put the cleaning supplies below the kitchen sink. You can pick up a lot of organizational systems for really affordable prices at the dollar store, Marshalls, HomeSense, and Walmart. It’s also helpful to store your Tupperware with the lids on to keep things a bit more tidy and functional as you access them on a daily basis.

We highly recommend taking a peek at Alexandra Beuter kitchen organization tutorial for ideas, tips and tricks. The video below will play at the final kitchen tour if you don't want to see the entire process of her cleaning.

5. Remove popcorn ceilings 

Popcorn ceilings became popular from the 1930s to the 1990s as a way to hide ceiling imperfections and reduce sound transfer. Today buyers feel they make a home appear outdated and worry about what they might be hiding.

If you'd like to have a smooth ceiling, you can consider removing your popcorn ceilings yourself just keep in mind that you need to have it checked for asbestos before you start. (The mixture used for popcorn ceilings sometimes included asbestos; when left untouched it poses no health risk on your ceiling but once scraped into the air it can become a hazard.) You can use a HomeKit to test for asbestos or you can have a professional come in and do it for you. Once you're in the all-clear you can begin the process on your own.

Here's a good tutorial on how you could remove popcorn ceilings yourself:

6. Refinish hardwood floors *be sure you know what you’re doing

Sparkling, pristine hardwood floor makes a home look well cared for which is nice for you and even more appealing for buyers. Sometimes all you need is a little clean and polish to get there and other times you might need a complete refinish. Keep in mind that you can only refinish solid hardwood, engineered hardwood needs to be refinished by professionals as it requires expert knowledge to prevent costly, complicated damage.

You can test whether your solid hardwood needs a polish verse of refinishing by dropping a little bit of water onto it. If the water beads and soaks in slowly over a few minutes then you just need to clean and polish however if the water soaks in immediately then it's time for refinish.

If you just need to clean and polish here's a tips and tricks video:

If your solid hardwood is ready for a refinish take a look at this hardwood refinishing tutorial:

They're always ways to increase the value of your home without costing you an arm and a leg. If you’d like some more tips and tricks we’re happy to provide free, customized recommendations based on your home, your competition, and the current market. We’re here to help plan the steps to your next real estate goal, whether that’s a few years or a few weeks away.

Call us anytime.