An outdated home can really get you down. Some people might like the retro look, but even they don’t necessarily want their home to be lacking in modern conveniences. When your home is out of date, one option could be to knock it down and build a new one. But that’s a lot of work when it could be possible to modernize the home you have instead. Modernizing an older home can take some work, but it also allows you to keep what you like and update anything that’s not working for you.
Your home can be modernized both inside and out. Start by looking at the exterior and determining what you’d like to change to give it more of a contemporary look. Then you can think about how you want to update the interior too.
Look Into Siding
If you think the exterior of your home needs a new look, one of the best options to consider is siding or cladding. This is a way to change the exterior of your home quickly and have a dramatic impact. Siding can be made in different materials and deliver lots of different looks. You could go for timber siding, vinyl siding, or even metal siding. If you’re not sure which option to pick, mixing materials and styles is also a fantastic way to create a contemporary look and completely revamp your home. Siding is great for protecting your home exterior too.
Get New Windows and Doors
The windows and doors are obviously features that will stand out from any home. When they start to get old, they might not just look outdated. You might also find that they’re deteriorating and not providing the security or insulation you want from them. If you think it’s time for new windows, a full service window replacement will take care of it for you. If you like the current window style, you could replace them with a similar style. But you’ll also get the benefit of double-glazing or other modern options that improve performance. Doors can be fully replaced too, helping to make your home more secure and improving insulation.
Inspect Your Roof
Even a good roof might only last a certain amount of time before it needs to be replaced. Some roofs may last only around 20 years, although they can last a lot longer with the right materials, installation, and maintenance. To determine the integrity of your roof, have it inspected by a professional roofer. They can provide their opinion on whether you’re due for a replacement. Even if you’re not, you might want to consider a new roof for aesthetic reasons or to improve the insulation of your home. A modern roof could help to keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Upgrade Your Driveway
Another key exterior feature you might want to think about is your driveway. If you have one, it will stand out to you and anyone who might pass by your home. There are some great ways to modernize your driveway, especially if you think it currently looks a bit boring. You can choose from a range of materials, from asphalt or block paving to brick or gravel. Combining different materials or exploring patterns you can create are great options for designing a modern driveway that will really stand out. Take a look at trends not just for driveway surfaces but other features like lighting too.
Consider Your HVAC
Inside, you might want to start with practical things before turning your attention to aesthetics. One of the most important features of a modern home is the HVAC system. You need efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation if you want your home to be comfortable and healthy. If you currently have an outdated system, it’s definitely worth thinking about your options for upgrading it. You might even want to consider eco-friendly options and renewable energy. Look for energy-efficient appliances and perhaps think about solar energy, heat pumps or other possibilities for improving the energy efficiency of your home’s climate control.
Think of Simple Ways to Update
Before you do anything drastic, you might find it useful to start with the basics. Sometimes all you need to make a big difference is a coat of paint. By repainting all the rooms in your home, you could immediately update it. It’s easy to create a fresh new look, and you could also choose to keep some of the older features that you like. You can use paint in different ways and there’s no need to stick to painting walls. Even all of your kitchen cabinets could get a modern refresh with a coat of paint. So before you start making big and expensive changes, consider whether a lick of paint could do the job.
Another simple way to make some big changes is to change door handles and drawer pulls. This type of hardware around the house can have a bigger effect on the overall look and feel than you might think. When you swap them out for something more modern, you can quickly see how they make a difference.
Take a Look at the Flooring
Some floors are pretty timeless. Hardwood floors look great in any decade or even century, although older floors can require some maintenance. But there are some types of flooring that can quickly start to look outdated. Linoleum floors are easily some of the worst culprits for this, and you’ll likely want to rip out any old ones and replace them with something else. Flooring doesn’t always need to be swapped out for something else. Sometimes all you need is a new finish to make your floors like new again.
Modernize the Lighting
Lighting often has a huge impact on the overall feel of a home. It can help your home feel warmer or cooler, brighter, cozier, and more. Outdated lighting fixtures can look drab or gaudy, and they might not take newer bulb options. When you upgrade your lighting, you can explore more modern options. There are discreet lighting options like spotlights, which can give you powerful but energy-efficient lighting. Or if you want to make more of a feature of your lighting, other modern lighting fixtures can add a little more style. Of course, to be on-trend, you often have to look to the past and at the trends that have come back around.
Hang Some New Window Treatments
If you’re happy with your windows, you might want to turn your attention to window treatments. Windows, blinds and even shutters all affect how modern your home looks. You might think that some options are automatically older-looking and some are more contemporary. But the truth is that any type of window treatment can look modern if you pick the right design. There are contemporary styles for curtains, blinds, and shutters. Blinds can sometimes be the best choice if you want a practical and modern design, but curtains and shutters also offer some great options.
Focus on the Kitchen and Bathroom
Want to make the most of your budget for modernizing your home? Your kitchen and bathroom are often the two areas where you need to place your focus. These rooms both contain fixtures that can quickly start to look out of date if you’re not careful. And if someone else installed your kitchen or bathroom maybe 10, 20 or more years ago, it could look horribly outdated now. Replacing these fixtures might be pricier than a coat of paint, but it’s worth it for a more modern look.
If you’re not happy with your home, find ways to modernize it and bring more of a contemporary feel to both its exterior and interior.
