7 Budget & Time-Friendly Home Updates
Tackling home renovations, makeovers, and updates is a daunting task. It takes months to plan to get around to something, and then, by the time you do, you’re exhausted, you have no impetus to actually do it (You’ve survived this long, right?), and worse - your money might be drained. Fortunately, there is a multitude of little home projects that can make a HUGE difference - even on a budget AND a time-crunch. Let’s kick it off to some of our contracting and design specialists to see their take on quick weekend projects that make a difference on a dime.
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Drawer knobs & cabinet pulls: adjust, tighten, replace. Have an old dresser with a few broken knobs? Purchasing replacements is cheap - they’ll run you a couple bucks a pop - and screwing them in can happen in seconds. Tighten those in your kitchen and bath and make sure any with a beautiful brushed finish are vertical. They’ll look better like that - trust us!
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Update your storage options. Many homes suffer from a lack of adequate storage in pantries, garages, closets, laundry rooms and living spaces. When updating or installing new storage solutions, make sure it’s as elegant as it is functional. Sacrificing looks for money is not necessary - open shelving can be simple to install and economical compared to many other storage options. As an added bonus, it can be customized to fit your style with a range of available finishes, lengths, and strengths.
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Recaulking your tile and tub might not be your idea of a fun Saturday, but you’ll be super thankful when you don’t have to gut and replace your bathroom over some unsightly cracks. Caulk is really cheap, so you just have to put your back into it (and maybe watch a few Youtube videos first).
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Organize. This goes without being said, but before you update your storage and put everything in it’s place, you have to determine what needs to stay and go. Bonus: this step is FREE! Also figure out what sort of storage you’ll be needing. Open shelves with a few canvas boxes? Some acrylic containers for your shoe, lipstick, or belt collection? Check out our take on closet organization over here.
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Update your vanity. The bathroom vanity is one place where old homes generally flunk. Newer, modern styles offer more options for people with mobility issues, greater storage space, and a sleeker look. Plus, putting a tiny bit more money into a quality vanity will actually increase the value (and looks!) of your space. Surprise, surprise - vanity installations are really not that hard!
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Need to add lighting to a dark bathroom, kitchen, or office space? Try some LED light strips strategically placed on the underside of cabinets (or even on top to accent decorative mouldings). You can also add a touch of light and decorative interest by using lit brackets, which provide a subtle glow under breakfast bars and the like using artisan glass and diffused LED lights. Best of all, installation is easy-peasy and LED lights tend to be cost-effective compared to the decor touch and lumens they put out.
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Cabinet doors tend to loosen or settle over time, and newer models of cabinetry allow for simple adjustments without replacing or removing the doors at all! Use adjustment screws to move the door left/right, or closer/farther from the cabinet face, creating a uniform linear look. Sam Schwartz, expert in all things cabinetry, gives a few guidelines: “When you go to push on each non-hinged corner of the door, it should be touching the cabinet face. French door style cabinets should have 1/8" spacing between the doors for a closed appearance and optimum clearance, especially if they are prone to swelling due to air moisture. Aligning the rails and stiles on the doors to match those on the cabinets keeps all of the lines in your kitchen straight.” Always think linear when it comes to organized design!
For more information on Federal Brace’s quick and simple installations, storage options, and much more visit them online at www.federalbrace.com or contact their experienced team at customerservice@federalbrace.com.
