Life, Styled
Home improvement spending is surging as homeowners take advantage of low-interest rates to tackle overdue projects. However, homeowners aren’t spending their remodeling dollars recklessly. They’re investing in projects that save energy, add value, and make their homes more comfortable, functional, and livable.
Whether you plan to sell in the coming months or are simply ready for an upgrade, you’re probably wondering which home improvements will pay off in 2021. Let this information from Greenbrook Design guide you as you prepare to remodel your home.
The Top Home Improvements For 2021
Today’s trending home improvements reflect many of the changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, with outdoor living, home office, and kitchen and bath renovations topping homeowners’ to-do lists. These include projects like:
- Landscaping.
- Fence installation.
- Deck/porch/patio remodel or addition.
- Interior painting
- Flooring installation.
- Lighting installation.
- Minor kitchen and bathroom remodel.
- Home office additions.
- Energy-efficient improvements.
Of course, popularity isn’t the only factor when deciding to undertake a renovation. You also want to know what a home improvement project costs and if there’s any way to save a little cash along the way. Read on to get the lowdown on the leading home improvement projects.
What To Know About These Top Home Improvement Projects (Part 1)
When you want to revamp your home but don’t know where to start, Greenbrook Design is here to help. Here’s what to expect from these trending home improvements.
Outdoor living renovations
Spending more time outdoors is great for the body and mind — not to mention your sanity while cooped up at home. These are the projects with the biggest impact on your outdoor enjoyment.
Totally DIY-able: Landscaping
From building raised garden beds to installing drought-tolerant lawns, homeowners are getting their hands dirty in the backyard this year. Not only do landscaping projects improve curb appeal, but they’re great for getting close to nature, too. Test your green thumb with fun, affordable landscaping projects like creating a pollinator garden, installing landscape plants, or building a DIY water feature.
What To Know About These Top Home Improvement Projects (Part 2)
DIY potential: Building a deck or patio
Decks are enjoying a moment in the spotlight as homeowners lean into the outdoor living trend. According to CNBC, wood decks give a 66% return on your investment, which runs around $5,000 to $7,500 for a professionally installed deck. Composite decks, increasingly popular due to rising lumber prices, are close behind at 63%. While building a traditional deck isn’t a project to DIY, handy homeowners can construct a floating deck or create a patio out of pavers, flagstone, or gravel.
Don’t DIY: Installing a fence.
Fencing is another major backyard project homeowners are undertaking this year. The average price to install a fence is $4,500, but this varies significantly based on the property size, fence material, and geographical location. If you want to be sure you’re getting a good price on a fence company (because you’ll need one), shop around and tell your fencing contractor about underground utility lines in advance.
Kitchen and Bath Remodels
Minor kitchen and bath remodels are a safe investment for homeowners, but think twice before splurging on a major overhaul. Buyers value modern kitchens and bathrooms, but custom remodels rarely pay off. Instead, focus on mid-range projects with mass appeal. Three projects where you can’t go wrong include:
Totally DIY-able: New light fixtures
Changing out light fixtures is one of the easiest — and most impactful — projects in a kitchen or bathroom. As long as you have a few basic tools, including wire strippers, a screwdriver, and a ladder, you can quickly swap a light fixture for a new style. Just be sure to shut off the electricity first!
DIY potential: A kitchen island
Kitchen islands add prep space, seating, and define a kitchen in an open floor plan. The price of installing an island depends on the type of island and whether you need to remove a wall. A traditional island with plumbing and wiring costs around $5,000, while a basic island or rolling cart is much more affordable. Prefer to DIY? Islands made with stock cabinets and countertops are simple to build yourself. If you’re adding a sink or cooktop to your island, hire a licensed professional.
Don’t DIY: Eco-friendly appliances
ENERGY STAR appliances use less energy and water than conventional appliances, making them the go-to choice of budget-minded and eco-conscious consumers alike. Expect to pay $4,000 to $6,500 for a mid-range kitchen appliance package with slightly higher prices for gas appliances. Luckily, most stores offer delivery and installation (including free local delivery from Home Depot and Lowe’s), so there’s no need to do the heavy lifting yourself.
Living and Home Office Renovations (Part 1)
When it comes to your home’s value, kitchens, bathrooms, and curb appeal are the money makers. However, there are lots of other home improvements that are worthwhile to undertake. While they may be less flashy than a brand-new deck, these home improvements are still a smart investment.
Totally DIY-able: click-together flooring
Click-together luxury vinyl tile and engineered hardwood are a DIY-friendly alternative to traditional flooring. Because click-together planks are installed as a floating floor you don’t need to attach planks to a subfloor. Homeowners who install their own click-together flooring only have to pay for materials, which range from $2 to $10 per square foot, depending on quality.
DIY potential: Interior painting
Painting sounds like a project that’s easy to DIY. In reality, getting professional-quality results from a DIY paint job takes more time and patience than most homeowners are willing to spend. That’s not to say it’s a no-go, however. If your walls are in good condition, you’re repainting a minor room like a bedroom or office, and there’s no chance your home contains lead paint, DIY painting is doable. Otherwise, shell out the $300 to $1,000 for a professional’s touch.
Greenbrook DesignColor matters. It is a part of how we tell our story, especially within our homes. In the last few years, homeowners have ventured off the traditional path of neutrals, such as white, gray, and beige, to bring in pops of bold hues like red, green, and even blue. As the demand for brighter colors increases, both manufacturers and designers have risen to the occasion by creating and incorporating a more diverse color palette for their clients. Traditional products, such as tile, furniture, flooring, cabinets, and even glass, come in a wider selection of bold colors, which provide homeowners with the opportunity to blend a variety of bold colors and neutral colors together in a stunning final design. Although color is a fun element in the world of interiors, it can be challenging to determine the right amount and the various ways it can be incorporated into the home to create the perfect balance for everyone to enjoy.
Walker WoodworkingHome is a reflection of you, and one of the best ways to do that is through color. Color is more than a collection of tints and shades; it has more impact on our mood than anything else and can influence the look of our home more than we realize. Color psychology has been studied for decades, with recent findings revealing just how powerful color truly is in the home. Size and style can change by simply selecting different colors for your furniture, accent pieces, or wall color. As color plays such a vital role in the atmosphere and presentation of the home, it can feel a little overwhelming or even intimidating to make color choices. We have compiled a list of 15 simple ways you can add color to your home.
There are many elements that contribute to creating a welcoming home, including color, patterns, decorative pieces, and furniture. All of this comes together to paint an inviting space where guests leave feeling like family. Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start or what pieces work best together to create the perfect look. Let’s talk about five ways to create a welcoming atmosphere in your home.
Walker Woodworking Does your home need some renovations to bring it back up to speed for your specific lifestyle? Are you ready to transform certain areas into a more functional and purposeful space? Our experienced design team has assisted hundreds of clients in creating new areas that function exactly as they need. How can we help you prioritize your needs through design? Let us help you find the areas of priority in your home!
Greenbrook DesignAt the heart of any design work is the chance to tell a story—the story of those who live there. Our home is at the core of who we are. It is our grounding, the place we can truly let our hair down and be ourselves. It’s where memories are not just made, but remembered and passed down to the next generation. Homes are meant to be special—a symbol to all who enter of what truly matters to us. That’s why the design choices we make should be influenced by who we are, where we came from, and how our unique experiences shape us. Across the world, people’s design choices are deeply rooted in culture. But in today’s ever-connected world, we’re also seeing a beautiful blending of cultures—where traditional elements mix with modern influences, and regional styles merge to reflect global inspirations.
Greenbrook Design
Greenbrook Design