When it comes to home renovations, there’s a lot that you need to consider. First, of course, is the amount of money you’re going to spend. The next is the time it’s going to take and the disruption it’ll cause to your life. But most importantly, it’s whether or not it will make the neighbours feel jealous about your brand new lifestyle.
Are you considering upgrading your home? Here are some ideas that will get the whole street talking.
Upgrading Your Driveway And Pressure Washing It Once A Year
Standard concrete driveways are okay, but they’re a little uninspiring. When you own a magnificent home, you want a drive that goes with it.
Driveways add to the charm of your property more than you might think. They’re not just practical, providing space to park your cars, but something that can actively improve your home’s appearance.
Where possible, try to use slab paving, as this is the most attractive. And pressure washing it at least once per year to make it look brand new for longer.
Pavers rarely crack (unlike concrete), so they’re probably the best option if you live in a place where seasonal variation is quite extreme.
Update Your Privacy Fencing
You love your neighbours (or hopefully you do), but you don’t always want them peering out and watching what you’re doing in your back garden. It makes you feel self-conscious.
If you feel this way, then try updating your privacy fencing.
In general, there are a couple of ways that you can do this.
The first is to use a professional solution. These fences are usually about eight foot high, but they’re also very attractive, especially when dressed with pot plants. Usually, they’re made of solid treated wood or composite and come with attachments for creating vertical gardens. This way, they look less like blots on the domestic landscape and more welcoming and friendly. Place them next to your decking or outdoor seating areas.
The other option is to plant fast-growing leylandii and other species that create a dense barrier of foliage between you and your neighbours. The nice thing about these is that they grow over time, so the immediate impact isn’t obvious. It usually takes about 24 months for these evergreen species to provide the shielding you need.
Make Your Porch Bigger
You might not have the largest home on the street, but if you have the biggest porch, it’ll certainly appear the grandest.
You can make your porch bigger in several ways, but the best approach is to get a professional building company to do it for you. Where possible, try to frame your front door with columns. Use Greco-Roman style to increase the immediate impact of the front of your home and make it stand out on the street.
Upgrade Your Satellite TV
Do you have satellite TV? If not, then why not? These services allow you to watch a far wider spectrum of media than you can through the regular terrestrial channels.
To get satellite TV, first, arrange a free site survey to provide a location for the antenna and then just hire somebody to fit it. The cost is usually minimal, but the impact on your lifestyle can be extraordinary.
Sound-Proof Your Walls
The main reason people move out of the city and go live in the country is to escape the constant noise of traffic. After a couple of years, it can really start to affect your wellbeing. You long for some peace and quiet and to escape the rat-race.
Fortunately, though, you don’t actually need to completely change your lifestyle to create a pleasant environment. If you live in an inner-city area, simply sound-proofing your walls is often enough to keep any unwanted acoustics from bothering you.
The benefits of this type of modification are considerable. Not only do you feel more relaxed in the evenings, but you also get better sleep.
Carpeting Your Floors
Carpets have a bit of a bad rap at the moment. They tend to accumulate dirt and allergens, and they’re hard to clean. But they do have a clear advantage over hard flooring: their ability to insulate sound.
Remember, with so many people at home, a lot of individuals are doing at-home workouts, dropping heavy weights on the floor and generally clattering about. Putting down carpets in a shared property or a flat helps to drown out the noise, allowing you to concentrate on whatever it is that you need to do.
Environmentally Friendly Renovations
If you want to adopt a “holier than thou” approach to home improvement, then introducing environmentally friendly renovations is certainly the way to do it. You can show your neighbours that you’re a better person than they are (without ever admitting it, of course), by using sustainable materials.
Today, there are hundreds of companies offering building and decorating solutions that have minimal impact on the environment and keep your carbon footprint low. Innovations range from the type of materials that you use in construction to the machinery that contractors use.
If you’re painting, for instance, you can opt for low-VOC options that limit the amount of off-gassing you get.
Refreshing Your Home’s Exterior With New Paint
Speaking of paint, refreshing the paintwork at the front of your property is probably the cheapest and easiest way to make it look refreshed and attractive again. Over time, paintwork around windows and doors can start peeling and cracking, especially if you live in an area that cycles through all the seasons.
Refreshing it with new paint is surprisingly easy. You just use a paint stripper or a sanding tool to remove the old paint and create a receptive surface for the new. And then you apply a base layer, adding successive topcoats to get the satin, matte or gloss finish you want.
Property upgrades that make the neighbours jealous not only add value, but they also create a deep sense of personal satisfaction. It’s nice knowing that you have the most attractive residence on the street. It’s worth paying for.
Love,
