KS Woodwork Blog

Projects You Can Start Today

You’ve
seen it on TV - a home redecorated in one day or less and
the outcome is incredible. A rather mundane house is turned
into a beautiful home with just a few tools and some supplies
from your local home supply store.

The big
question you have, of course, is “Can I do it?”
And the answer is a resounding YES!

There
are hundreds of simple, inexpensive, and quick home improvement
projects you can do that will increase the value of your home
and turn it into a truly enjoyable space.

One general
tip you may want to consider before starting any project is
to use home design software to plan your improvements. The
software will allow you to make changes to your rooms digitally
before ever spending a dime on materials or doing any physical
work. Punch! Professional Home Design Suite - Platinum
(see special offer below) is an industry leader in this type
of software. It is cost effective and helpful whether your
project is a complicated renovation or a simple redesign or
landscaping project.

Let’s
look at 5 projects you can start today.

Idea
1: Redecorate With Paint

There
is no easier or cheaper way to redecorate than to paint! Not
only can painting a room dramatically change its appearance,
you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do a good job.
All you have to do is follow three simple rules:

1. Clean
Those Walls:

All artists understand the need for a good surface, and painting
a room, though not necessarily an artistic endeavor, is no
different. It is best to clean the walls with soap and water
and then rinse with clear water. Once the wall is dried completely,
you are ready to start!

2. Good
Paint is the Best Paint:

Although you don’t have to buy the most expensive brand out
there, good paint is worth the price. It won’t show brush
strokes and you can often get by with a single coat.

3. Start
From the Top Down:

Start with your ceilings, move to your walls, then to your
windows and doors, and last but not least, paint those baseboards.
It’s the way the professionals do it!

Once you
are done, you will hardly recognize the place.

Idea
2: Just Add Fabric

This
idea is a bit more expensive than paint, but far cheaper than
wallpaper - not to mention it can be removed easily when you
decide you want a new look. What am I talking about? Covering
your walls with fabric!

All you
will need is enough fabric to cover the walls, liquid fabric
starch, a sponge paint roller and paint pan, and a large sponge!
Prepare your walls as if you were going to paint. Now, pour
the liquid starch into the paint pan, and roll it onto the
wall. Put the fabric up on the wall, using the sponge to apply
starch and get rid of any bubbles. Once it is dry, you can
trim off the ends at the ceiling, floor, doors, and windows.

Talk about
a dramatic change! And when you want to change the look, just
peel the fabric off and wash the walls!

Idea
3: Add Lighting For Beauty

Nothing
transforms a house like light. Choosing the right lighting
for your home is a great way to create a warm and inviting
atmosphere. Although adding lighting to a room is not difficult
to do, you will need a plan that considers the variety of
activities that will occur there.

“Task
lighting” allows you to complete a task, such as reading,
without getting blinded, but also without needing to strain
your eyes to get the job done! Reading requires task lighting
that comes from behind the reader’s shoulder or reflects off
the ceiling or wall.

“Ambient lighting” is the general lighting that
provides overall illumination to the areas in use.

Knowing
the way you use the room will guide you to choices that change
your home from drab to dynamic.

Idea
4: Give Your Kitchen a Facelift

The
kitchen is not only the heart of the home but one of the most
important rooms when it comes to resale value. If your kitchen
is humdrum but you simply don’t have enough money for a total
remodel, consider giving it a facelift - a cabinet re-facing,
that is!

Just what
is cabinet re-facing? It is simply changing the appearance
of the cabinet doors while leaving the cabinets and the layout
the same.

Cabinet
re-facing can be accomplished in a number of ways:

Just a
little bit of time, a quick trip to the home supply store,
and some elbow grease, and you will have the look and feel
of a brand new kitchen.

Idea
5: Replace Your Old Flooring The Easy Way

Floors
are often overlooked when it comes time to remodel, but new
flooring is a great way to add just the right touch to your
bathroom, kitchen, living room, or dining room. And now, with
glueless laminate flooring, the job can be done in one weekend!

The most
popular laminate designs are made to resemble hard wood flooring,
however, you can also find those that look like stone or marble.
Whatever your choice, you will be able to put the new floor
down over your old floor - no need for scraping off old vinyl
flooring, removing hardwood flooring, or covering concrete.
Just about any flat hard surface can be the base for laminate!

No matter
what your décor or your lifestyle, you can find a laminate
floor to fit your needs.

Choosing
the best modeling and redecorating projects will not only
increase the long-term value of your home, they will also
provide satisfaction and pleasure for you, the smart homeowner.