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.
Granite, Quartz, Marble, or Quartzite?
These are the top contenders when it comes to selecting the perfect countertop material for your kitchen or bathroom. Each one brings its own strengths, aesthetic appeal, and practical considerations—making the decision both exciting and a bit overwhelming.
Granite is a natural stone known for its durability and unique, one-of-a-kind patterns. Quartz, on the other hand, is an engineered surface that offers a wide range of color options and is prized for its low-maintenance qualities. Marble stands out for its timeless elegance and heat resistance, though it requires more upkeep. Quartzite closely resembles marble in appearance but offers greater durability and easier maintenance.
When making your selection, it’s important to consider factors such as heat and stain resistance, ease of maintenance, and of course, budget. Below, we break down the key differences, pros, and cons of each material to help you determine which surface best suits your lifestyle, design vision, and practical needs.
The kitchen pantry is often one of the most underutilized yet high-potential spaces in the home. While it can easily become a catch-all for clutter, a well-designed pantry is a true hidden gem—capable of transforming the functionality of your kitchen. From storing oversized serving pieces to housing everyday essentials, a thoughtfully planned pantry helps keep countertops clear and mealtime prep more efficient.
Whether you have a compact pull-out pantry, a spacious walk-in, or a dedicated butler’s pantry, innovative organization is key. A well-designed pantry not only maximizes storage but also supports the flow of your kitchen. Below, we’re sharing a few of our favorite design ideas and practical tips to help you better utilize your pantry space—and maybe even inspire your next kitchen upgrade.
Our showroom’s grand opening was the culmination of two years filled with vision, planning, and hard work—a dream brought to life through dedication and passion. Now, as we prepare to celebrate our second anniversary, we find ourselves reflecting on how quickly time has passed. It feels like only yesterday that we opened our doors and welcomed our very first clients into the space we’ve come to love so much.
Join us as we take a walk down memory lane and revisit the milestones, challenges, and moments that brought us to Uptown Shelby. This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of time—it’s a celebration of growth, community, and the relationships we’ve built along the way.
Walker WoodworkingThere is more to color than simply a large selection of hues. Color sends a message and can represent thought and emotion, especially in the world of design. Each year, Pantone announces its choice for the color of the year, a tradition that started in 1999, and designers everywhere eagerly await the news. Classic Blue was this year’s choice of color, a color that represents the future.
As we prepare to close the door on one decade and begin anew, many are filled with anticipation of what the coming year will bring. Blue has always been associated with stability, relaxation, and tranquility, as is seen in nature with the ocean and sky. We understand that hectic schedules and stressful office days generate a need for a place to unwind and completely relax. Here are a few ways to incorporate the color of the year into your home and give it that welcoming environment that will last throughout the coming decade and beyond.
Walker WoodworkingLight is one of nature’s most captivating elements, and its presence has the power to transform a space. In the world of interior design, natural light plays a vital role—not only by enhancing aesthetics but also by elevating the overall atmosphere of a room. It can create dramatic contrasts that bring depth and interest to a space, while also highlighting architectural and design features.
Natural light, when thoughtfully incorporated, makes interiors feel larger, warmer, and more welcoming. At Greenbrook Design, we embrace a design approach known as daylighting—the intentional use of natural light to shape how a space looks and feels throughout the day. It’s one of our favorite tools in the design process.
Here are just a few reasons why we love incorporating natural light into our projects…
Greenbrook Design
Greenbrook Design