Everyone talks about spring as the season for home updates, but fall is also an ideal time to give your home a new look. That’s because, with temperatures dipping and more time spent indoors, you’ll appreciate having a cozy abode to come home to. If you’re looking to sell your house in spring’s peak real estate season, that’s another compelling reason to think about getting a headstart on home updates now. Real estate agents are talking about some of the updates that are likely to add value to homes at sale time, and they are easier to add than you might think. Here are some ideas to consider:
Reconsider your spaces
Do you remember when open floor plans were popular? It could be that your home has an open floor plan where the kitchen flows into the living room and the dining room. Maybe this flow works for you, but there’s another way that real estate agents are talking about that is a result of how people have adapted their lifestyles in the face of Covid-19. Homeowners are looking to turn big spaces into dedicated areas — and that means where there might have once been an open floor plan, we are seeing more divided areas. That open living room could have a study and work nook separated by a pony wall or created by a foldaway desk.
Living rooms are also doing double duty as transformable workout rooms. People are even getting creative, turning a hallway closet or pantry into an office with storage for a printer or scanner, and a workspace with a skylight or other overhead lighting added. You may not even need to hire a contractor to make these upgrades — it’s just about rethinking how you are using the spaces in your home. When it’s time to sell your house, the idea is to give buyers a feel for what’s possible, and even just arranging furniture can make a huge difference.
Bring in some green
While it might be getting too cold to enjoy your patio or backyard, that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the great outdoors — inside. We are talking about adding plants, and again it’s all about getting creative. The golden rule of plants is that you can never have too many. Large potted plants, hanging plants in the kitchen or bathrooms, or a small collection of plants as a centerpiece on a coffee or dining table can quickly add some light and air to any home. If you don’t have a green thumb, then on-trend air plants can give you the same look but with minimal maintenance. They are great for hanging either in clusters or as a living wall, which can be a nice addition to a bedroom or living room.
Go back to nature
Adding plants isn’t the only way to bring the outdoors indoors, the natural world is also making an appearance in home decor materials. Remember that cozy work nook we were talking about earlier? A nice addition can be an overhead pendant light with a bamboo shade. Or a jute rug under your desk. Other popular materials are linen for pillows or bamboo for furniture like side tables or reading chairs. The goal is to create a feeling of light and airiness that can bring some of the openness of the outdoors inside. It’s one of the upgrades that buyers will love.
Whether you are thinking about selling now, or in the future, making home upgrades that create an inviting space to relax or even to work in, can give your home a contemporary update. The added benefit is that when it comes time to sell, your home will be even more appealing to buyers who will appreciate having a little outdoor living inside.
Article contributed by HomeLight
