Easy, Do-it-Yourself Upgrades to Make Your Home More Functional
The age-old argument of form versus function need not apply while upgrading your home. There are easy, do-it-yourself ways to improve your living spaces while making your home more beautiful and functional. Whether your home is a small apartment or a large estate there are many simple, low-cost projects that can have a big impact.
Unlike the cookie-cutter homes of yesteryear, today people want their interior spaces to be customized. Upgrades such as custom walk-in clothes closets and slab granite countertops are nice, but pricey and frequently require professional installation. What if you live in an older home that has no overhead lighting in the bedroom? Or you’ve got a small living room that has room for extra seating or a coffee table, but not both?
Under Cabinet—Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind
There are many products that may be installed under your cabinets to make your kitchen more functional while using previously wasted space. If you like to be entertained while preparing food, but have no counter space to spare, try an under cabinet television, radio or combination of the two. Under cabinet lighting brightens up any kitchen space and can shed light on nooks and crannies that had been neglected in the dark.
Install an under cabinet spice rack to free up valuable counter real estate. The racks hold 14 to 24 jars of herbs and spices without sacrificing cabinet, counter or drawer space.
Feeny 4 Tier Spice Rack 13 3/4″ Wide White
I love the fact that I can find my spices much more quickly now! I use lots of them – and often. Only the fact that it wasn’t five/six rows long and that the bottom shelf is a bit deeper than I would have liked, kept it from being a 5. I have it on my pantry shelf door. One that was more shelves would have accommodated almost all of my spices.
Up a Wall
If you need to add extra space to your place, look up. The walls are an often overlooked area when adding storage to your home. Add shelving to the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, linen and clothing closets to increase space for the things we accumulate.
The least expensive way to add shelving is to purchase pre-made wire shelves from your local retailer. But wire shelves are not very attractive and the spaces between the wires often allow for products—and messes—to spill through. The Shelfanator is a solid white wood-look shelf cover specifically designed to fit right over wire shelving. The Shelfanator cover locks in place and creates a flat, even and sturdy surface on top of sometimes clumsy wire shelves and gives them a custom look. The covers are water and stain resistant and significantly brighten up the areas where wire shelving is typically used—laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and closets. Installation takes just a few minutes. The product can be purchased at www.Shelfanator.com.
Shed Some Light in Tight Spaces
The addition of a comfortable chair and wall-mounted lighting can easily create a book nook in an unused corner. Adding wall-mounted lighting to both sides of a bed provides light that is adjustable based on the reader’s — or sleeper’s — preference. Lighting mounted on the wall is stylish, clean, uncluttered and does not take up precious table space needed for alarm clocks and books.
Install dimmer switches to control the light level in a living room, bedroom or dining area. Dimmer switches add ambience and changing the light instantly changes the way a room looks.
The Garage—Not Just for the Car Anymore
Purchase an epoxy coating kit from your local hardware retailer and follow the simple instructions to transform your dingy garage floor in just a few hours. Not only does a fresh epoxy coat look nice and add value, but it hides stains and is easy to clean. It even increases the usable floor space in the garage by brightening the space and eliminating formerly cobwebbed and dirt covered spaces.
Stuff to Put More Stuff
The next time you’re in the market for a chair or coffee table, purchase a piece of furniture that does double duty. There are coffee tables with tops that lift up to create a workspace and have shelves and drawers to store the remote controls. Storage ottomans have hidden space inside to store books and blankets, but when the top is on they add extra seating or can act as a footrest or table. Sofa beds offer a comfortable seating option and the bed inside pulls out when guests stay overnight.
The next time you have a free afternoon, take time to upgrade and customize your space. The payoff is clean, uncluttered rooms that are comfortable and functional.
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