analysis: 12 Signs Your House Is Ready for an Upgrade

Where to make home upgrades

Notes:

• If it’s cooking and entertaining, you’re going to want to funnel the resources straight into the kitchen or dining room. If it’s self-care, relaxation and peace of mind, spend time enhancing the bedroom and bathroom.
• From there, you can scan the space for wear and tear to decide what deserves your attention the most.
• Here are some quick things to look out for in each room that might indicate something is worthy of your effort, whether that be slapping on a fresh coat of paint or completing a total overhaul of the kitchen cabinetry:
  • —   upgrading your kitchen view below
  • —   refreshing the living room view below
  • —   changing out the bedroom view below
  • —   making your home office more productive view below
• QUESTION?
  5 Builder Upgrades I Love 9 Years Later

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Kitchen

Why an upgrade:

• 1. You’ve outgrown your storage space:

  If you feel like you don’t have enough room for all your cooking and entertaining items, you might want to consider a remodel or refresh to open up some space. Adding storage doesn’t have to mean a total demo, either. You may be able to make room for larger cabinets or a new pantry without a huge spend.

• 2. The cabinets are shabby:

  Give your kitchen cabinets a thorough once-over. If the wood is warping, the hardware is damaged, the finish is lacking or the interiors are old and worn out, it’s time to upgrade to some quality cabinets. New cabinets also help enhance organization by adding more room and reconfiguring shelves and drawers to suit your specific needs.

• 3. Your appliances and lights are energy hogs:

  One of the biggest indicators of a house in need of upgrades is your energy bill. If your appliances are more than 10 years old and you haven’t yet upgraded to LEDs, you may be missing out on some serious savings — both in terms of finances and energy. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), energy efficient upgrades use as much as 90 percent less energy than their old counterparts.

• QUESTION?
  32 Easy Kitchen Upgrades

• plantation shutter blindsring pull handlescaged counter lighting

     some kitchen updates to consider      

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Living Room

Why an upgrade:

• 4. Your upholstery is stained:

  If you have kids or pets, stained furniture and carpeting just comes with the territory. But that doesn’t mean upgrading your furniture or curtains would be a futile endeavor. It just means you have to be strategic about how you upgrade. Consider covering pieces with washable slipcovers or investing in a stain guard treatment to keep your furniture in tip-top shape.

• 5. Your carpet has seen better days:

  Nothing adds a fresh, clean feel to a space quite like some brand-new carpet! The fact is that carpet is a whole lot more susceptible to foul odors and stubborn stains than hard-surface floors, which is just one reason why they tend to need to be replaced a lot more often. Inspect your carpeting for odors, stains and tears to determine whether it might be time to get some fresh new flooring.

• 6. You need more sprawl space:

  Feeling cramped during family movie night or when you’re entertaining guests? It may be time to reconfigure your layout. If you’re working with old, bulky furniture, try to bring in more sleek, streamlined pieces to open up some more space. You may also want to consider adding a sectional or oversized sofa to the mix.

• QUESTION?
  Five ways to upgrade your living room

• modern glass coffee tableinterior firewood storagemedia console

     some living room upgrades to consider      

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Bedroom

Why an upgrade:

• 7. You don’t have blackout curtains:

  If there’s one bedroom update you need to make immediately, it’s the addition of room-darkening curtains. This seemingly small enhancement is affordable yet hugely impactful. It helps you create an ideal sleep space — and that’s key, because we all need a little more rest — while also helping to regulate the temperature in your room and creating a comfortable, welcoming vibe.

• 8. You haven’t added any smart devices:

  Smart devices can help you optimize your nightstand space and enhance the functionality of the room with a voice-activated sound machine, alarm clock, radio and much more. You can even pair it with your smart lights so you don’t have to get out of bed or reach over to adjust the lighting in your space.

• 9. Your bedding is old:

  Better quality sleep translates to a better quality of life, plain and simple. If you’re not sleeping well, consider investing in some luxurious new bedding that will help you sink into a sweeter state of slumber. If you find that the heat, cold or allergies keep you up at night, switch to a temperature-regulating, hypoallergenic bedding.

• QUESTION?
  10 Easy Ways to Make Your Bedroom Look More Luxurious

• blackout curtainssitting benchremote ceiling fan

     some bedroom updates to consider      

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Home Office

Why an upgrade:

• 10. Your desk chair is uncomfortable:

  The chair you sit in for most of the day could be seriously impacting your overall health and well-being. Improper back and neck support can lead to lingering pain and even more serious conditions like sciatica. The great thing is, upgrading your office chair is relatively easy and affordable, yet it makes a big difference!

• 11. The color scheme is uninspiring:

  According to the principles of color psychology, the walls in your home office should be painted green, blue or red, depending on your goals. If you need to be creative and innovative, green is a good choice. For a boost in energy and brain power, red will do the trick. Blue is the go-to for communication and efficiency.

• 12.Your lighting is lacking:

  Just as a little light upgrade can drastically improve your energy bill, it too can improve your productivity and quality of work, especially if you spend time using your hands or reading (not on a screen). Something as small as a new desk lamp could help you create a workspace that supports enhanced productivity.

• QUESTION?

  And then when that project’s done, you find yet another space in need of some love. Before you know it, you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of costly updates. But prioritizing is important, and if you know what to look for, you’ll be able to make meaningful upgrades that drastically improve your home and your life!

• And then when that project’s done, you find yet another space in need of some love. Before you know it, you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of costly updates. But prioritizing is important, and if you know what to look for, you’ll be able to make meaningful upgrades that drastically improve your home and your life!

• ergonomic desk chairstanding deskdesk shade lamp

     some home office upgrades to consider      

• What comments can you share about
  some of the upgrades you made in your home