Concentrate on Curb Appeal

After a year when most of us have felt somewhat trapped in our homes, this spring is a perfect time to concentrate on a fresh look that will once again welcome friends and family. Concentrate on simple changes to brighten your home’s streetscape. Add larger, bolder house numbers so there’s no mistaking the address. Hang a whimsical plaque by the entry door. Add a bright new welcome mat. Plant blooming shrubs as soon as you can. If you have a front porch, add a porch swing or a café table and a pair of chairs. Then spend time talking to neighbors!

Let the Light Shine

Replace dowdy kitchen and bathroom ceiling lights with great new fixtures that include long-lasting, adjustable light LED bulbs. You’ll be surprised at the difference it can make. Modern lighting not only boosts functionality, but brightens spirits. Remember that finishes don’t necessarily have to match other fixtures and hardware in the room, so indulge yourself with a lighting fixture that you love.

Change Out Dated Hardware

While you’re making small changes, consider replacing older cabinet pulls, drawer handles and towel bars with shiny new models that are stylish and efficient. Consider replacing metal pulls with colorful glass or ceramic; or choose something slightly frivolous. Opt for a farmhouse look with hand-forged black iron handles; use large hooks rather than bars for bath towels. Don’t forget to add some colorful art.

Try Out a New Furniture Arrangement

If you feel like you’ve spent too much time in front of the television over the past several months, reorient your living room furniture toward an outside view. Move your bed, so you’ll see the sun first thing in the morning. Place a game table in front of a large den window to get the best of both indoor and outdoor worlds. Use your imagination; move furniture from one room to another to boost function and create new interest. Experiment.

Update your Bath

Looking for COVID relief? Pamper yourself with personal luxury in your bath. Change out a standard shower head for a large rain head with a sidebar that has a handheld, flexible massage head as well. Replace an older vent fan with a new model that features mood-changing light options. Update the floor with practical and durable new tile, but first install radiant electric mats, so your feet won’t ever be cold again. Add a heated towel rack and a non-fogging mirror as practical luxuries.

Add Color to your Life

Paint is an inexpensive way to refresh any room in your home, and there are few rules that will limit your options. Paint an accent wall that is immediately visible as you walk in the door. Choose a dramatic hue for a tiny powder room; but be sure lighting adds sparkle to the space. Revitalize children’s rooms with new color and bedding. After virtual schooling and missing time with friends, they’ll be all in for a fresh look!

Create an Outdoor Room

Spring is the perfect time to add a deck or backyard gazebo, plumb a gas line for a built-in barbecue, create a sports court or consider a putting green or horseshoe pit for outdoor fun. Take the idea of an outdoor room to a higher level by tiling the floor and adding a ceiling fan to a covered patio, or think about add screening for the ultimate summer retreat.

Remember that small changes can have a big effect. Also remember that our team at Custom Home Design stands ready to help with ideas and plans for comprehensive home remodeling and building needs in South Central Wisconsin.

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Sources

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/color/paint/2021-color-of-the-year/
https://customhomesofmadison.com/blog/