Giving your home a winter makeover
During the winter, many of us spend more time than we
would like inside. On a cold winter’s day, there is nothing better than
battening down the hatches, turning the heating up and staying inside to keep
the cold at bay. That said, being stuck indoors can make us pick up on the
little faults with our house. A dated kitchen, a colour scheme we are no longer
fond of or a stubborn carpet stain can become more annoying than ever. We may
also become painfully aware of any energy inefficiencies since turning up the
heating gets more expensive every year as the energy companies put their prices
up. So why not use the time to your advantage and take on some little jobs to
improve your home environment?
Small Jobs
It’s amazing how much difference a small change can make.
The best approach to take if you are on a tight budget is to tackle one room at
a time. It’s surprising how much you can do for very little money, or even for
free. Take the kitchen as an example. If your kitchen is looking dated, the
first thing to do is pinpoint what you would like to improve. If your units are
not to your taste, do you need to completely remove them or are they sound but
not perfect?
The best approach to take if you are on a tight budget is to tackle one room at
a time. It’s surprising how much you can do for very little money, or even for
free. Take the kitchen as an example. If your kitchen is looking dated, the
first thing to do is pinpoint what you would like to improve. If your units are
not to your taste, do you need to completely remove them or are they sound but
not perfect?
At the moment, aged dressers and cupboards are incredibly
fashionable. If you have wooden cupboard doors, you might be able to just
remove them, sand them down and paint them a light colour. Then with some
sandpaper, a bit of elbow grease and another layer of paint, you can go about
ageing your cupboard doors to create a whole new look. This can be matched by a
new lick of paint on the walls or some floor tiles picked up second-hand or in
the sales. New cupboard handles can also go a long way to changing the look
without even a tin of paint in sight.
fashionable. If you have wooden cupboard doors, you might be able to just
remove them, sand them down and paint them a light colour. Then with some
sandpaper, a bit of elbow grease and another layer of paint, you can go about
ageing your cupboard doors to create a whole new look. This can be matched by a
new lick of paint on the walls or some floor tiles picked up second-hand or in
the sales. New cupboard handles can also go a long way to changing the look
without even a tin of paint in sight.
Medium-Sized Jobs
If your kitchen or bathroom really can’t be rescued, it
can be surprising how cheaply you can put in a new one. Small home improvement
loans will easily cover the cost of purchasing and installing a new cheap
bathroom suite. Alternatively, why not consider buying second-hand? You may be
surprised to hear that there are often nearly new bathroom suites available on
online auction sites for well under £100.
can be surprising how cheaply you can put in a new one. Small home improvement
loans will easily cover the cost of purchasing and installing a new cheap
bathroom suite. Alternatively, why not consider buying second-hand? You may be
surprised to hear that there are often nearly new bathroom suites available on
online auction sites for well under £100.
The main expense will end up being the cost of a plumber
to fit it. Many people do up their bathroom and kitchen to sell a house. On
moving in, the new residents find that the suite is not to their taste, so they
employ a builder to take it out. Most builders will recognise if the suite is
perfectly functional and be willing to sell it or even give it away to someone
willing to collect it. Don’t forget, though, that even if you pick up a suite
for a bargain price, installing it will be a messy job, and you’ll need to
re-tile and redecorate once it’s in, which is further time and expense.
to fit it. Many people do up their bathroom and kitchen to sell a house. On
moving in, the new residents find that the suite is not to their taste, so they
employ a builder to take it out. Most builders will recognise if the suite is
perfectly functional and be willing to sell it or even give it away to someone
willing to collect it. Don’t forget, though, that even if you pick up a suite
for a bargain price, installing it will be a messy job, and you’ll need to
re-tile and redecorate once it’s in, which is further time and expense.
Big Jobs
Whether you are preparing your house to sell in the
spring, getting ready for a new arrival or just upgrading for your own use, you
might want to use the winter months to get the indoors looking just perfect.
This can be a costly exercise, but secured loans such as the ones on offer from
Evolution Money are
available for this sort of job, particularly if it will add value to your
house. Conservatories and extensions are always more pleasant to do during the
summer months, but with that comes an inflated cost. You may find that builders
will work for slightly less during the winter if they are struggling to find
work.
spring, getting ready for a new arrival or just upgrading for your own use, you
might want to use the winter months to get the indoors looking just perfect.
This can be a costly exercise, but secured loans such as the ones on offer from
Evolution Money are
available for this sort of job, particularly if it will add value to your
house. Conservatories and extensions are always more pleasant to do during the
summer months, but with that comes an inflated cost. You may find that builders
will work for slightly less during the winter if they are struggling to find
work.
Another interesting idea that is becoming more popular at
the moment is the garden office. If you are struggling for space at home but
can’t commit to an extension, home offices can be constructed away from your
home and then lifted into place using a crane. They are often constructed from
shipping containers, or if you are going for a more upmarket look, you could
consider a wooden log-cabin-like building. Each has windows right across one
side to allow the maximum amount of light in, creating the perfect environment
for working. These structures can be lifted into place and hooked up to the
electrical system within a day, so your new office will be up and running
straight away with minimal hassle and fuss.
the moment is the garden office. If you are struggling for space at home but
can’t commit to an extension, home offices can be constructed away from your
home and then lifted into place using a crane. They are often constructed from
shipping containers, or if you are going for a more upmarket look, you could
consider a wooden log-cabin-like building. Each has windows right across one
side to allow the maximum amount of light in, creating the perfect environment
for working. These structures can be lifted into place and hooked up to the
electrical system within a day, so your new office will be up and running
straight away with minimal hassle and fuss.
Please note: This is a collaborative post
