The practice of house flipping has quickly become a popular way for people to make money by fixing up lackluster properties. However, if you are just looking for your dream home, you can take some pointers from home flippers by investing in a fixer-upper and transforming it to be the house of your dreams. By using the help of architects and many other professionals, you can turn any home in your ideal location into a home that you’ll never want to leave.
When it comes to turning a lackluster home into the home of your dreams, there are some things to keep in mind, and some things to consider that can make the process a lot easier.
1. Update the Kitchen
Your kitchen is one of the most used spaces in your home, and because of this, you’re going to want to update it to be a place that you enjoy. While what you do will be largely dependent on the kitchen your fixer-upper currently has, there are some universal things that you should keep in mind.
Starting from the ground up, you’ll want to choose a tile that complements the design you’re creating but it should also be durable and easy to clean. Because kitchens get a lot of foot traffic, you don’t want a tile that is going to wear down in the next couple of years or one that will stain easily and be hard to clean.
If you like the current cabinets, but they do show a bit of wear, you can always have them refaced so that you don’t have to worry about outright replacing them. However, if you do choose to replace your cabinets, it can give you the freedom to rearrange a lot more things and completely overhaul the layout. You can also take advantage of different designs and larger or smaller cabinets that allow you to control the amount of storage you have more readily.
Appliances are another thing to consider when updating your kitchen to be the kitchen of your dreams. Consider modern efficient models with energy-saving capabilities. Modern appliances also tend to have a sleeker appearance, which can make them more appealing to modern homeowners. Some appliances may also come with smart technology, such as the Samsung Family Hub which features smart device integration and Alexa.
Additionally, if your current kitchen doesn’t feature an eat-in space, you may want to consider adding one. The addition of island seating, for instance, could be a great inclusion, and it can allow you to serve smaller, more intimate meals without having to move everything to a larger dining space. Similarly, islands can be great for more than just dining. They can also be used to house a sink, burner, or extra counter space, depending on what you want.
2. Remodel the Bathrooms
Bathroom remodeling is another must when it comes to transforming your fixer-upper into your dream home. These rooms are another of the most used and it’s important that they are both easy to clean and comfortable. If you have the ability, you may consider expanding them to provide more interior space, especially if you have to share the bathroom with someone in the morning.
Some of the most key things to consider are replacing the old tub or shower with an updated version of your choosing and expanding the vanity to provide more space. If you’re unable to expand the bathroom, you may consider adding a standing shower to conserve space without sacrificing comfort. Standing showers can be a really sleek modern option, and there are many different luxury types available to consider. When it comes to counter space, you may find that adding a second sink is best if you share the room in the mornings, and expanding the vanity counter space can also improve storage for things that you need easy access to.
Outdated bathrooms will also require you to have to replace the tiles, both on the floor and wall — if the walls are tiled. Like the kitchen, you’ll want to choose tiles that match your design, but also ones that won’t wear quickly and are easy to clean. If you really want to take your bathroom to the next level, you may even consider installing heating underneath your new flooring so that you’ll never have to worry about the floor being cold when getting out of the shower. Overhead heating can also be a beneficial addition if you live in an area with extremely cold winters.
3. Improve Bedrooms and Living Spaces
Once the kitchen and bathroom designs are laid out, you can start considering the bedrooms and your main living room. When it comes to making your bedrooms everything that you’ve always wanted, you’ll need to consider your must-haves. For example, if the bedroom that you’re currently working in isn’t as large as you would like, you can work with your contractor to see how you could expand it. If you’d like a private patio extension connected to your bedroom, you can also see about having doors installed and creating your own custom construction private get-away space. Other things such as an expanded closet, skylights, and personalized touches can then be added to the design as desired. The most important thing is to try and make the space as quiet and as comfortable as possible so that it’s easy to fall asleep.
For a living space, the options are just as varied depending on how many people are in your household, if you like entertaining, and what your personal tastes are. You’ll want to ensure that the space is open and inviting, but intimate enough for cozy relaxation. If your kitchen and living room share a wall, you might consider removing it to create an open-concept design that allows you to more easily navigate from one room to another without the spaces feeling too closed off. Open concepts like this can also make your home feel bigger, no matter what size it is.
The main things to consider changing in a living space are the wall color and the flooring. However, if your fixer-upper has hardwood floors, you may benefit more from wood flooring refinishing than installing a brand new one. Hardwood can last for a long time, and refinishing an old hardwood floor is a great way to save some money without having to sacrifice style.
For wall colors, accent walls are something to consider, and they can really make a living space pop, especially if all the other colors are neutral or muted. While the colors you choose can vary depending on what you like best, warm colors are often popular in living rooms. They are energizing and stimulating, and they promote emotions such as joy and passion. Cooler colors, on the other hand, tend to promote calmness and relaxation, making them more popular for bathrooms and bedrooms.
4. Consider Extras and Luxuries
One of the last things to consider when it comes to the interior of your home involves thinking about added luxuries and extras. Things like residential lifts, integrated smart technology, built-in projectors, and security systems are all things to consider when putting the finishing touches on the inside of your dream home. A residential lift can be perfect for multi-story homes so that you don’t have to worry about constantly walking up and down the stairs, while integrated smart technology can give you seamless control over things like the thermostat, lighting, and shades, all from your smartphone. Additionally, built-in projectors can turn any night into a movie night, and with a high-end security system, you’ll never have to worry about having your evening interrupted by anyone up to no good.
While these details may seem frivolous, when it comes to making the most of your dream home, a little touch of luxury can go a long way.
5. Transform the Exterior
Moving outside of your home, you’re not going to want to forget about the exterior of your home, and depending on the style of the home you are fixing, you may need to do a little or a lot of work. For example, sometimes replacing the old front door with a new designer door can make a world of difference when coupled with new siding or stucco re-coloring. However, if the home needs a lot more work or you just don’t like the style, you may want to enlist the help of an architect to help transform the exterior.
For example, if you like contemporary residential architecture, but the home you have doesn’t capture that aesthetic, you can work with your architect and contractor to decide on what can be done to overhaul the exterior and make it more in line with what you want. This can involve replacing the windows, replacing the siding, and constructing new finishes that can help convey your desired style.
6. Invest in Your Landscaping
Lastly, once you’re home is looking the way that you want it to, you’ll want to make sure that the landscaping is capable of complimenting it effectively. Curb appeal is a huge deal, and it can not just give your neighbors something to be envious of, but it can also give you a great outdoor space to enjoy. If you’re not sure what would look best in your yard, you can work with professional landscape yard services to come up with the perfect layout and design.
Arborists can also help you pick out shade trees for your yard, or diagnose the ones you currently have. It’s important to have all of the trees on your property inspected to ensure that they aren’t dying or diseased. If they are, they could risk weakening and falling during a storm which could cause significant damage to your dream home.
If you’re planning on adding flowers to your landscaping, you should work with your landscapers to find native options that can flourish in your home’s environment. Native plants and flowers are often better than exotic plants as they are already adjusted to the local ecosystem and they can help attract bees, butterflies, and birds. They are also usually easier to maintain as the natural rain and sun that you get is often enough for them to thrive without constant care and maintenance.
Along with this, you should consider adding hardscaping such as paved walkways and paved patios for gatherings. This can help make navigating your lawn easier, and a paved patio can give you a great outdoor area to relax or entertain guests. You can even add things like a built-in free pit, retractable awning, and grill area to really help the area come to life.
Additionally, if your home isn’t fenced in, you may consider installing a privacy fence around the perimeter to block off your area from passersby. A fence contractor can help you pick out the best fence for your yard, and some can even be integrated with smart technology. A fenced-in yard is great for privacy, but it can also be nice if you have a dog or children who would enjoy a safe, closed-off place to run around and play.
A Home You Can Love Forever
Although house flipping is popular, there’s nothing stopping you from taking a fixer-upper and turning it into a home where you can enjoy yourself. While it can take some hard work, ultimately, creating your dream home this way is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re able to customize your home fully and get everything that you’ve always wanted.
If you’re thinking about transforming a fixer-upper into your dream home, keep these ideas in mind so that you can start to build a plan to turn even the most lackluster dwelling into a place you’ll never want to leave.