Yes, you love your home. You’ve been in love with it for the past 10 years—but maybe it’s time to do a little makeover and some home improvement projects? Some painting, gardening or carpentry that can be accomplished over the weekend. Just a couple of simple projects can enhance your home and make it more comfortable for your family.
Home Improvement: Start Small, Think Big
Most renovations and remodeling projects are generally best left to a skilled home contractor. 
But if you’re thinking of taking that next big step, sometimes just moving things around a bit in the meantime can let you look at your space through fresh eyes.
Help yourself picture what’s possible on a bigger scale—say, getting rid of that rickety, rotting deck over the carport and adding on a more family-friendly computer room in its place. Or just a place for the kids to play the latest video games and hang out with their friends.
Start small, and let some fresh ideas take hold. Sometimes a few DIY projects can help you spend quality time with the family while deciding together what larger improvements would be best.
Home Improvement Projects on a Small Scale
If you’re worried about what to do in your home improvement project, watch some TV shows about interior design and general home improvement—there are entire channels devoted to this now, and sometimes it’s hard not to get hooked! Browse through the many magazines featuring improvement projects, sure to show ideas about what and how to add beauty and functionality to your home.
Here are some typical smaller scale things you can do to perk up your home:
- Paint a room or even just one feature wall
- Improve back yard landscaping to make way for that new deck
- Clean and de-clutter your kitchen to prepare for an open-concept renovation
- Rearrange furniture in your living room to maximize natural light
- Create a “focus wall” in your living room, to display family pictures and interesting art
You’d be surprised how clearly you start to see the possibilities, even just by moving around a few end tables and an armchair or two.
Wouldn’t that comfy loveseat be great tucked into a brand new bay window? What about having a skylight put in? Consider giving the house you love a new lease on life—explore the amazing potential for home improvement at the hands of tried-and-true professionals.
Get the whole family puttering alongside you and talking about their wish list for the house. Mulling it over is always the first stage to making good things materialize, so indulge your imaginations.
Home Improvement Suggestions
On the purely pragmatic side, consider these other home improvement suggestions:
- Waterproofing your basement
- Cleaning your eaves and gutters
- Creating a built-in display cabinet in the hallway
- Installing a microwave oven shelf in the kitchen to free up some counter space
- Building a wooden swing for the gazebo
- Rearranging the kids’ playroom and getting rid of what they’ve outgrown
- Creating a mini container garden to grow herbs
Is Home Improvement Worth It?
No matter how small a scale you start with, the answer is absolutely! There are always benefits in doing simple home improvement projects. Maintaining a well-looked-after house never hurts its value, so your efforts pay off. Strengthen family ties in the process, and your home improves in more ways than one.
Greg Nelson
Greg Nelson is the owner of Nelson Construction & Renovations Inc. He is a Florida State Certified Building Contractor, creating artistry in all areas of design and construction projects. He is a musician, and artist. A husband and father, Greg appreciates all the wonderful elements of family life.
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