Just like shoes and cars, home remodeling experiences trends and fashions and 2006 was a big one for cocooning. If a man’s home is his castle, then a family’s home is their sanctuary. The abundance of home makeover reality shows on TV has set off a remodeling bug and more people than ever are joining the ranks of DIY interior designers. What have been the big trends for 2006?
The spa lifestyle is one that appeals to men and women and bathrooms have turned into fully-equipped day spas, complete with two-person Jacuzzis, throne-like toilets, double basins and extravagant décor. Lighting has evolved to be ambient instead of merely functional, floors feature natural materials and the most popular accessories are candles and oils. Bathroom remodeling is a significant investment but it turns a utility room into a haven.
There is also a great move towards sustainability and environmentally friendly materials. Recycled timbers can be transformed into highly attractive floors and details and plantation products such as bamboo and cork are not only produced with sustainability in mind but they are also practical and versatile.
Home theaters were huge in 2006. It seems everyone wants to be entertained at home. From sound-insulated walls to installing the latest in high-tech gadgetry, home remodeling brings the blockbusters to you. What used to be open plan living has set aside a whole room to be sealed off from the rest of the house. Bring on the popcorn!
And just when you thought you could throw away your pots and pans, everyone’s now cooking at home more too. Again, TV shows bombarding us with the delights of home cuisine are bringing about a return to the gourmet kitchen. Big stoves, walk-in refrigerators, stainless steel counter tops and in-kitchen mealtimes mean home remodeling in a big way.
It’s anyone’s guess what the home remodeling trends will be for 2007 but the main clues are climate change, celebrity copycatting and a new home-and-hearth mentality.
By: James Wills
Posts Tagged ‘Bathroom Remodeling’
Favorite Home Remodelling Trends for 2006
May 17th, 2010A Few Home Improvement Ideas to Increase Your Home’s Value
November 19th, 2009
Would you like to increase the market value of your home? A few home improvement projects will offer a return when you sell your home, but many home improvement projects will not provide much of a return on your home improvement investment. Pick your home improvement projects wisely and if you do take out a loan to complete your project, do your homework first and be sure that you have a good chance to recover the cost of the project when you decide to sell your home.
Kitchen remodeling is a great way to add value to your home. Upgrading your appliances, replacing door and cabinet handles and painting walls can add new life to your kitchen plus add value to your home. Kitchens sell a home, so remodeling a kitchen should be a first choice for a home improvement project. Sometimes doing it yourself can save money, but consider hiring a professional for the large jobs. The top five kitchen remodeling projects which are recommended by Realtors are painting, cabinet refacing, new counter tops, new floors and a modern cook top range.
A bathroom remodel is second only to kitchen remodeling in terms of getting the most return on your home improvement investment. A bathroom remodel can often mean making the most of your current space, by upgrading fixtures, flooring and lighting. A few inexpensive ways to make your existing bathroom more beautiful and appealing include upgrading your cabinets, counter tops, sinks, tile or your tub and shower. However, if you do decide to add a new bathroom, it is going to increase the value of your home.
Kitchens and bathroom remodeling are both excellent choices when you want to increase the value of your home. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects are the best at recouping their cost and adding to the resale value of your house. The average return on a bathroom or kitchen remodel is 100-105%.
Increasing the curb appeal of your home is one of the simplest and inexpensive ways to increase the value of your home. Applying a fresh coat of paint can make the inside of your home appear more appealing to potential buyers, which could mean a quicker sale. Neutral colors are a good choice when you are preparing your house to sell. Neutral colors will blend in good with a variety of other colors and can make a room look more open and appear larger.
Your roof is one of the first impressions people have of a home. With proper maintenance, a high quality roof should last a very long time. A new roof won’t add a lot of value to your home, but it will help prevent the types of repairs that can result from water leaking in from your roof.
If your carpeting or vinyl flooring is beginning to show signs of wear this can adversely affect the appearance of the whole room and detract from the value. So replace the carpeting in rooms where the wear is severe to help increase your homes value. Often, a good carpet cleaning is all that is needed.
Naturally, you can only make the home improvements that your budget will allow. But many of these suggestions that I have discussed are not very expensive . All of them however will enhance the appearance and add value to most homes.
Remember that with any home improvement project moderation is the key. Don’t go overboard. Focus on improving two or three areas in your home which need the most work.
Copyright (c) 2008 Smoky Mountain Painting
By: Tony Evans