Home Improvements Living Rooms

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• Home Improvements Living Rooms

Home Improvements Living Rooms

Home Improvements: Living Rooms

If you wish to improve the beauty of your home and add to your home's value at the same time, your living room might be a good place to start. You may spend most of your family time here, talking, watching television, reading, or just relaxing. You most likely entertain guests here, so the "look" of your living room is the principle impression other people will have of your house. And, if you are selling your home, prospective buyers will most likely examine your living room more than any other room (with the possible exception of your kitchen).

What can you do to improve your living room? The first place to look may be the floor. If your living room floor is covered by old wall-to-wall carpeting or scuffed-up vinyl, it's time for a facelift. If you can afford to install hardwood, you will immediately improve the quality and value of this living space, and guests (or potential buyers) will come away with a much better impression of your home.

There are many different kinds of wood flooring, so this is a project that will take some research. Solid wood strips (1.5 inches to 2.25 inches wide) or planks (at least 3 inches wide) can be finished or unfinished; if you opt for the latter, the floors will need to be sanded (with a drum sander) and stained. Another option is engineered wood: a thin layer of finished hardwood on top, with plyboard laid cross-ways underneath. Engineered wood floors can actually be stronger than solid wood. Finally, if you are on a tight budget, you can consider laminate flooring, which simulates real wood and can also be attractive.

You can also select ceramic tile flooring for your living room, if ceramic tiles would match the style of the rest of your house. Be aware that tiles can seem "cold," making your living room uninviting; be sure to select warm colors with some texture to the tiles. Or, limit the placement of tiles to certain areas -- around a fireplace, for instance -- and use hardwood for the rest of your floor.

In improving your living room, the next place to look is the walls. If your walls haven't been painted in several years, a fresh coat of paint will brighten up your living room considerably. But be subtle: too much bold coloring can make the room irritating or disturbing. Look at how much natural light comes into your living room, and what the style of the room is. Neutral colors are usually best; a palette of white or cream, light gray, or light brown will present a calm and elegant appearance.

However, the selective use of additional colors may add sparkle to your living room, especially if you have lots of natural light coming in. A light green color can be very effective -- perhaps mixed with white or yellow paint at your paint store, to lighten the shade even more. This color might work if you add several potted plants to the room. Likewise, orange will add zest, but consider painting only one of the walls orange, and not too bold. Red or yellow paint can also be used selectively, along one wall only, or outlining the fireplace for instance. In any event, if you add such colors to one or more walls, the ceilings should remain white or off-white.

If you live in an older home, it may be worthwhile to replace your windows. Newer windows are more energy efficient than older, single-pane windows, and replacing can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year in energy bills. Wooden frame windows are still classic, but newer vinyl windows can look just as good and are much easier to maintain -- these windows can even rotate on a pivot, so it is easy to clean them, inside and out. Generally, they are double paned, with a pocket of gas between the frames, providing insulation. And most vinyl windows have built-in screens which slide up and down on a track.

Of course, you'll need to think about window treatments as well. Traditional drapes work in most circumstances, but these can look heavy as well; blinds can look more contemporary, and blinds are made of a variety of woods or other natural materials such as bamboo. Blinds are not difficult to install yourself, and can be a simple way to make your living room look fresher.

Finally, you will need to think about your furniture. Adding new pieces, or replacing your living room furniture entirely, can be as cheap or expensive as you wish. First, think about how you actually use your living room. Is it primarily for entertaining guests, or for relaxing with family? Do you eat, or read, or watch television in your living room? If you find that your family has a quick meal together while hovering around the kitchen table, then family members retreat to their respective bedrooms for private activities, that may be because there is no comfortable space for the whole family to gather and interact. It may be worth consulting with an interior designer, to determine exactly how you wish to use your improved living room, and how to achieve that objective. Not only will you improve your home’s appearance and value, but perhaps your family’s lifestyle as well.

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