32 Home Improvement Ideas for Your Next Project

If you’re using an architect, make sure these are questions they’re also asking. If you’ve never attempted a big project before, you might feel some trepidation when it comes to gaining planning permission. With a good architect by your side, getting any project through planning can be a relatively painless process.

For example, the search term “modern farmhouse” has had a steady increase in search traffic over the last five years, according to Google Trends. Home-improvement shows have become massively popular in recent years, with millions of Americans tuning in to watch homes get renovated or flipped. As long as you’re renting the power washer, you might as well clean your driveway, patio, and any walkways. It’s surprising how a seemingly innocuous element such as a cabinet doorknob can make your kitchen look cheap or dated. Updating this hardware can give your kitchen a facelift, whether you redo your cabinets or not. The study found that primary bathrooms are the second most expensive room in a house to renovate.

• Handyman uses jackhammer, for installation, professional worker on the construction site.
• Invest in ADA-compliant accessories like toilet paper holders and towel bars that not only add to the look of your home but the safety of it as well.
• Judging by the popular shows on DIY Network and HGTV, it takes approximately 24 minutes to renovate a house.

One of the first home improvement shows to hit airwaves, “This Old House” began airing on PBS way back in 1979. Hosted by Bob Vila, Steve Thomas, and Kevin O’Connor, the series follows the remodel of a house — typically in the New England area — over the course of several episodes. The longer timeline allotted to each flip allows for an in-depth look at different aspects of the process and lends the show more of a how-to feel in comparison to many of its competitors. Decking is a great way to improve your garden, giving prospective buyers the perfect place to entertain guests.

Professional in overalls with tools on the background of the repair site. This guide covers what to look out for and what your options are if you believe it exists on your property. While unlikely to be the clinching factor in a house sale, small problems and defects can create an impression of a house being run down or not well cared for. Bigger issues should not be covered up as they will show on a survey and come back to haunt you later on. Improving your curb appeal is so valuable when it comes to feeling proud of your home, regardless of its age or condition.

Click Play to Learn How to Organize Your House Renovation

An herb garden is planted, and the custom wallpaper is hung. Amy Cutmore is Editor-in-Chief, Homes Audience, working across the Future Homes portfolio. She works on titles including Ideal Home, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc, Top Ten Reviews and Country Life.

Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. While there are still large segments of the population who have not yet recovered from the steep economic recession caused by the pandemic, sustained growth in home remodeling is expected. In the short term, many homeowners who deferred projects—both large and small—in 2020 are expected to complete those renovations once the pandemic is over. All of these factors have boosted the home improvement market and may become lasting trends that, in turn, fuel remodeling activity in the US for years to come.

Many new showerheads provide more options for control—multiple spray styles, pivoting angles, temperature settings—and they’re more efficient. Try replacing your showerhead with a newer model so you can achieve a spa-worthy bathing experience in the comfort of your home. Transform the mood of the kitchen with a bold new backsplash in ceramic or glass tile. Just make sure the wall is sound before you start the installation.

Power washers use high pressure streams of water to remove dirt and other materials from outdoor surfaces. You can rent a power washer for a couple of hours or buy one if you plan on doing it more than a few times a year. Use it to clean off your deck, patio and any other surface you’d like on or around your house. A simple update that goes a long way is replacing bathroom and kitchen fixtures, especially if you’re looking to sell in the near future.

Of all styles are hugely popular for transforming homes right now. Equally at home in a modern space as a period property, wall panelling hides a multitude of sins as well as adding interest to a featureless room. Choose the correct dimensions, and it can also be used to rebalance the proportions of an unusually shaped space. A HELOC operates like a revolving credit line, secured by the equity in your home. You borrow what you need as you go, but you’re borrowing with a variable interest rate, so costs can go up over time.

This task relates more to maintaining your home’s value than increasing it, but it’s essential. Without properly functioning gutters, which are designed to carry water away from your home, rain may seep inside or pool around the foundation, causing problems such as mold and mildew. Eventually, water damage can compromise the house’s structural integrity, leading to costly repair House & Home Improvement bills. Older homes, in particular, are likely to have hardwood floors lurking beneath carpet. If you’re not sure, pull up your carpet in an unnoticeable corner and check. If you do have wood floors, there’s a good chance you’ll have to refinish them to restore them to their original splendor, but it will be much less expensive than installing new flooring from scratch.