Flooring

Remodeling or renovating a home can get costly very quickly.

While not everyone has the budget to start tearing down bathrooms and replacing them with spas, every homeowner can benefit from knowing that no matter the budget there is always something that can be improved.

It’s usually the simple changes that can bring a whole new look to a room. Luckily for you the simple ones are usually the most affordable.

Light it up

Dark and dim rooms feel crowded. If you have rooms that suffer from poor lighting it may be time to simply upgrade the lighting.

A lighter room will make it feel larger and more open.

While you are at it you can replace your recessed lighting with pendant lighting for a more modern look that will bring a new perspective to a room.

LED lighting is another very affordable upgrade to your home that will make a room feel more clean and modern.

A fresh coat of paint

If your home has bad paint, outdated colors or maybe even just one color paint it might be a good idea to add a fresh coat of paint on your walls.

If you don’t want to paint an entire room you can add an accent wall. Make sure you use a neutral shade of your existing paint. Doing so will make your space feel brighter and cleaner.

As a last resort, you could even do as little as touching up dirty or faded trim around the house to bring a sharper and defined look to your home.

Affordable landscape upgrades

The outside of a home is often overlooked, but it is just as important as the inside because it is the first thing people see before they enter your home.

Luckily there are a number of extremely easy ways to update your yard.

• Put new dark colored mulch to your plant beds for a refreshed look.
• Add some potted plants by the front door.
• Make a path for high trafficked areas using stepping stones, wood or even concrete with a wood edge.
• Add decorative edging around your flower beds made of brick, stone or wood. Be sure to get creative by curving or waving the line to add dimension.
• If you have a larger budget you can create a garden bed island in your front yard made of varying sized plants and small trees. This will create a nice focal point to your front yard.

Kitchen on a budget

The kitchen is one the most trafficked and celebrated rooms in a home. It is where we eat together and talk.

If your kitchen has some extra floor space you can add an inexpensive island with bar stools for people to relax.

Giving your cabinets a new look can also be inexpensive if you paint them a nice accent color or even remove the cabinet doors altogether.

New fixtures like knobs, handles, and appliances can also refresh the look of your kitchen. If you want to go a step further you can even use sharp colored small appliances as decorative pieces to bring an energetic touch to your kitchen.

Something like a blue toaster or a red blender would do the trick!

Bathroom refresh

The bathroom is one of the first things to get renovated in a home because it often has one of the largest ROIs.

An easy way to refresh a bathroom is to simply regrout the tiles when they get grimy and recaulk around the sink and tub to add a fresh clean line. Doing both of these will make any bathroom look more sharp and clean.

If you want an updated look to your bathroom, adding a granite countertop could also be a nice improvement. Since the bathroom counter is usually small the investment in granite shouldn’t be too big.

When all else fails just updating the handles, faucets, and towel racks can even bring a refreshed look to a bathroom.

If there are any budget home improvement tips that you have done be sure to let us know in the comments below.

About the author: Blake A. is an Orange County resident who loves all things DIY and hanging out in the hot California sun. He talks about home remodeling tips and much more on his blog at Project Build Construction Group Inc. (https://www.pbcgroupinc.com).

With the variety of flooring options on the market, homeowners may have a difficult time deciding on how to upgrade the floors in their homes. When it comes to choosing the right flooring material, consider the location, the moisture in the room and in your geographical location and the overall look and feel you want for your home.

Carpet

Carpet is a go-to flooring choice for many homeowners due to its reasonable cost, easy installation and a wide variety of design options. Carpet can be installed in a home in less than a day, and it needs less cleaning than other floor types. Professionals typically recommend vacuuming carpets at least once a week and steam cleaning once a year. Carpets generally last between 10 to 15 years. They work well in bedrooms and upstairs hallways as well as living rooms and family rooms. Homeowners can expect to pay between $3 and $5 per square foot.

Hardwood

Hardwood is a timeless flooring option, and tops the wish lists of many buyers. It can be purchased finished or unfinished. Finished flooring comes in a variety of stain colors. Unfinished flooring can be stained to your specific preference. It can be used in every room in your home except those below grade or where there are high levels of humidity. If it is cared for properly, it can last as long as your house. The cleaning for hardwood floors is more rigorous than that of carpet. Hardwood floors must be kept clean of dirt and debris, and spills must be cleaned promptly. Homeowners can expect to pay between $5 and $17 per square foot.

Engineered hardwood

Engineered hardwood is a layered hardwood product. The top layer is constructed of a thin sheet of hardwood. The bottom layers are comprised of plywood, fiberboard or additional layers of hardwood. The additional layers offer better moisture protection than that of hardwood, which means it is less susceptible to warping and buckling. Homeowners should look for high-quality engineered hardwood with a top layer that is thick enough to be sanded and refinished in the future. The cost of an engineered hardwood floor is comparable to that of hardwood with homeowners paying between $8 and $12 a square foot.

Laminate

Laminate flooring can be purchased as planks or tiles, and homeowners can choose styles that mimic wood or tile. The top layer is coated with a scratch and water-resistant coating, which means it can be installed in kitchens. If  laminate is to be used in basements, it must be installed over a moisture barrier and all the edges must be glued and caulked to help prevent water damage. Laminate is usually not recommended for bathrooms. Homeowners can expect to pay between $1 and $5 per square foot, making it an affordable flooring option for those who want the look of wood or tile without the cost or maintenance.

Stone tile

Stone floors are extremely durable and once installed will most likely outlive your home. They can be used indoors and outdoors, giving you the ability to create flow from the interior of your home to your outdoor lounging areas. Stone tiles are available in marble, granite, limestone, travertine and slate. Manufacturers recommend sealing stone tiles to prevent water damage. Homeowners can expect to pay around $10 or more per square foot for stone tile.

Ceramic tile

Ceramic tile is a less expensive option when compared to stone. Homeowners can expect to pay between $7 and $9 per square foot, but tile can range from $2 per square foot to more than $40. Ceramic tile can be used in bathrooms and kitchens, and it comes in a wide-variety of styles and colors that can be mixed and matched to create custom designs.

When it comes to choosing the perfect flooring for your home, consider the cost, level of maintenance, durability and expected lifespan. If you plan to live in your home a while, it may be better to go with a more expensive option. If you plan to sell your home in the near future, choose an option that appeals to the majority of buyers.

About the author: Greg Geilman is a realtor and President and CEO of South Bay Residential in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Follow him on Twitter at @ggeilman.