6 Tips to Upgrade an Outdated Home

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A dilemma can often arise while designing an old, shabby house. On the one hand, your house may have vintage features that give it personality even without any furniture or décor in the rooms. Conversely, modernizing and tailoring your living space according to your recent home design may ruin its overall appeal.

However, the less easily interchangeable structural components of homes constructed in the late 17 to 1800s can feel just as confining as the carpeted bathrooms and popcorn ceilings of more recent decades. Of course, it can be stressful when you want to make significant modern changes to an old home. Nonetheless, harsh weather and other elements can wreak havoc on your property, necessitating upgrades and remodeling. 

And this is especially the case for people with old homes in Asheville, North Carolina. This city sees around 45.6 inches of precipitation every year. Such inclement weather can affect the structural integrity of your old, vintage Asheville home, requiring urgent repairs and fixes. Given this reason, we’ll discuss a few tips to upgrade your outdated house.

• Consider Replacing Your Old, Tainted Windows

Asheville residents know how challenging it is to let natural light into their living spaces, particularly given the city’s 10 inches of snowfall and 45.6 inches of rainfall annually. Likewise, your windows may faint or deposit rust onto their frames due to moisture accumulation from the severe weather conditions. Such issues ultimately deprive your Asheville home of much-needed natural light.

Sure, you can climb a ladder and replace your windows yourself. But we recommend contacting a local window replacement company instead. These professionals have the relevant skills, tools, and expertise to replace your windows properly. When searching for a window replacement expert in your local area, look up Asheville Window Replacement Company near me to hire the most reliable experts in the city.

• Give Your House a Fresh Coat of Paint

Paint is the best option to update an old house, especially if you only have a few thousand dollars. It offers the best value since it significantly alters the appearance of your property while being less expensive than other significant upgrades. However, paint shouldn’t only be reserved for your walls and ceilings. It can be used on other surfaces as well. So, for a fresh look, think about refinishing these additional components:

• Door fittings
• Light fixtures
• Fireplace
• Tiles
• Built-in furniture and shelving
• Trims and baseboards
• Doors

• Replace Faucets and Minor Fixtures

Your house may seem outdated if it has old registers, grilles, cabinet hardware, outlets, switch plates, and light switches. So, changing these items can drastically improve the appearance of your property at a low cost. 

Another item that is simple to replace is light fixtures. Has your thermostat ever been updated? A brand-new programmable thermostat will look stylish and save you money on utility costs. Similarly, your bathroom faucets may also look dated if you live in an old home, plus they also likely have developed rust over time. So, changing these for new, contemporary ones is a cost-effective way to upgrade your home. What’s best is that such replacements can be done via a DIY approach. All you will need is a wrench and some elbow grease to replace rusty faucets with new, shiny ones.

• Streamline Your Interior Design

Your old home will likely have undergone two or three renovations or remodels in the past. As your home becomes older, that number will probably increase to 4 or 5. However, if the remodels and renovation only involved patchwork or quick fixes, your old home interior design might look disjointed. So, now is the time to streamline it.

For instance, if you have removed the rag rug from your bedroom, remove it from your living room and all other areas. Or, if you are replacing trims and baseboards, ensure that you do it for all parts of your home. 

That said, modernizing your window treatments is an easy place to start the design streamlining process. So, if you have dark, heavy valances or outdated window blinds, consider replacing them with modern Roman shades. 

• Focus on Your Home’s Exterior

When renovating your house, you might be tempted to concentrate only on the interior. But, there are significant benefits to considering the exterior as well. Certain structural problems might need fixing, depending on when your home was constructed and the applicable building codes and safety requirements. 

So, ask yourself, is it time to make roof repairs? Is your foundation still solid? Does your grass look untrimmed or uneven?

It would be annoying to remodel the interior of your house only to have a leaky roof or other structural issue compel you to start your renovation project all over again. Renovating the outside of your home can considerably increase its curb appeal and draws in more homebuyers if you intend to sell it at some point. 

• Go for Energy Efficient Products and Appliances

One of the most effective ways to upgrade your outdated home is by opting for energy-efficient products and appliances. Did you know that approximately 70% of household products and appliances now come in environmentally-friendly versions? It means you have various options to choose from when making your home eco-friendlier. You can reduce your carbon footprint and update your home by replacing your outdated items with energy-efficient alternatives.

So, say goodbye to those old, energy-guzzling tantalum bulbs and hello to the future of illumination. CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) or LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs are excellent alternatives. Not only are they energy-star-rated, but they also have a longer lifespan compared to conventional bulbs.

But lighting is just the beginning. Energy-efficient appliances are also available in abundance. You can now purchase dishwashers, washing machines, etc., specifically designed to reduce energy consumption while modernizing your home. 

Conclusion

Your home is one of the most important investments you can make. So, as your home gets older, take the necessary precautions to maintain its structural integrity, market value, and aesthetic appeal. Fortunately, you only have to follow the tips above, and your home will look new, up-to-date, and fresh in no time. But some upgrades require the skills and expertise of professionals, such as window replacements. So, ditch the DIY route for such projects and only let the experts tackle them.