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Last Updated on December 13, 2023
In this market, most new homebuyers are happy to be able to afford the oldest homes on the block, but older properties often come with more than their share of quirks. You might have cast iron pipes or aluminum wiring — or, perhaps worst of all, your home might look woefully outdated and tragically uncool.
Fortunately, the look of a home is relatively easy to change. Even if you don’t currently have the budget for massive renovations or updates, you can give your older home a more modern appearance with these small and simple changes.
Paint Window Frames Black
Almost all new construction homes and plenty of lavishly updated older homes have one thing in common: black window frames. Fortunately, this look is much easier to achieve than you might expect — and you won’t need to save up to replace all your windows, either.
You can use exterior spray paint to change the color of your window frames to a chic and modern black. Before you start, you might prep your windows by covering the glass in paper and applying a light sanding to your frames, to ensure the paint will stick. You might also take this opportunity to fill any cracks around your windows with caulk to improve your home’s energy efficiency. It might take a few coats to achieve full coverage, and once the paint is dry, you should seal it with an outdoor paint sealer. In all, this project shouldn’t take more than a weekend or two, and it can radically change the look of your home’s exterior.
Swap Out Old Light Fixtures
Lighting is much more important to the look and feel of a home than many homeowners expect. As soon as possible, you should swap out any old and ugly light fixtures for options that better suit your personal interior style. This certainly means the builder-grade boob lights, but it also includes brass chandeliers, fluorescent bulbs in drop ceilings and the like. If you are on a budget, you might pay attention to light fixtures you can find at thrift stores and estate sales, which can be funky and unique.
While you are at it, you might consider updating your ceiling fans. While ceiling fans are some of the most efficient and long-lived fixtures in the home, older styles of fans can severely date your space. You can purchase a modern black ceiling fan from Hunter Fan at an affordable price and enjoy energy savings while elevating the style of your home.
Add New Hardware Everywhere
Perhaps the most well-known trick for changing the look and feel of a home is changing out the hardware. Cabinet and drawer pulls, doorknobs and other hardware components are easily exchanged for newer, hipper alternatives, which you can find online or, again, at thrift stores or estate sales. It only takes a few minutes to change all the hardware in your kitchen, and you will be amazed at how fresh and new the space becomes after this simple swap.
Cover up Old Wallpaper
Wallpaper is definitely in right now — but probably not the wallpaper that is hung around your old and outdated home. Experts fervently recommend removing old wallpaper before painting or hanging new wallpaper, but this is generally only to ensure that your new walls are as close to perfect as possible. If you are more interested in covering up your old wallpaper fast and don’t mind a few bumps or wrinkles, you can apply peel-and-stick on top of old wallpaper. You can even paint on top of wallpaper — though this will make removing the old stuff even more difficult if you plan to do that later in your home renovation journey.
Layer With Modern Rugs
Flooring is difficult and expensive to change, so if you are unhappy with your home’s floors, you might need to wait a few months or years to save up enough budget to install new floors. Until then, you can hide your outdated flooring with layered rugs. Layering rugs is a popular technique among home designers looking to achieve a modern look that integrates multiple colors, patterns and textures into a space. Any flooring can be elevated with a rug, even carpets. If you are investing in new rugs, you might opt for washable rug systems, which make it easier to remove stains and dirt regularly to keep your floors looking fresh.
You should feel proud of your ability to own your home — even if it is a fixer-upper. With a few quick and easy tweaks, you can give your older house a facelift that brings you the happiness and pride you deserve.
