Most suggestions for home renovations stem from the need for something to look better. And while sure, aesthetics can go a long way, it’s the changes made that transform how you operate within your space that rarely make the home improvement magazines.
True renovations that improve your experience in a way you never knew needed improvement, from that clunky drawer that never shuts to the annoying pile-up in the corner where there isn’t a true designated space for anything, to the lighting that’s perpetually too dim making your night time tasks nearly impossible.
So, let’s go room by room and uncover the renovations that actually improve functionality.
Kitchen: Slight Changes That Alter How You Use The Space To Cook
The kitchen is often hailed as one of the most important spaces in the home, which means it’s where people sink a lot of money into renovations. Yet far too many people invest in the aesthetics and not the functionality.
It’s not about marble countertops and farmhouse sinks. It’s about making sure the things you actually use are in better shapes and forms to use. Pull-out shelves in your lower cabinets mean you won’t lose things in the back like old pieces of Tupperware collecting dust. A simple pot rack gets your pots and pans out of the cabinet and instead on the wall while keeping your most common items easily in view. Under cabinet lighting means prep time won’t be spent squinting.
And more importantly, something as simple as knife storage can make a huge difference. A magnetic knife strip or a knife block can get knives off your counter – hitting against each other dulling their edges – and on a wall that keeps everything together. It’s a ten-minute fix that makes every meal worthwhile.
If you’re ever in need of something mounted in the kitchen – floating shelves, pot racks, or even some decent hooks – a battery nail gun makes it so much less of an undertaking. No compressor needed, no cords trailing everywhere.
Living Room: Spaces to Make Them More Livable
Living rooms tend to be where everything ends up because that’s where people gather, yet rarely is it adapted to accommodate so much extensive traffic.
It’s always an issue of storage – or lack thereof. A floating shelf along one wall means books, photos, and all those items strewn across tables can now have a proper home. Instead of bulky entertainment centers, built-in storage around a TV allows for more space without support getting in the way.
Another big adjustment is lighting; most living rooms have an overhead fixture and maybe one or two lamps, but chances are, you either blast light throughout or have it far too dim. Track lighting and wall sconces allow for just enough light to read, to watch TV, or to gather on cool evenings for a little warmth – and it looks nicer.
Cable management may sound boring, but it is truly a great visual changer with minimal effort. Those cable covers that attach to the baseboard (or wall) take fifteen minutes to install and suddenly your living room doesn’t look like the back of a best buy.
Bedroom: Rest Easier, Organize Better
Bedrooms are tricky because they’re supposed to be relaxation havens but too many of them become catchalls for where things go to be out of sight of everyone else.
The biggest change is closet upgrades; once you change how people store their clothes – you’ll see your return like no other. Double-hanging rods instantly create double the hanging space. Shelf dividers keep piles from becoming sheer mountains of disaster; a few hooks along the inside door keep belts, bags, or even tomorrow’s outfit off the floor.
If your bedroom is small, under-bed storage is imperative; a rolling bin, or even drawers meant for under bed frames gives proper space for seasonal wear, extra linens, or what’s thrown in a corner because there’s no other real place for it, yet someone has way too many shoes.
Light filtering or blackout window treatments truly make a difference if you work nights or are just trying to keep things dark during the summer months; aside from room darkening abilities, they also help with temperature control which means better sleep and lower electric bills on A/Cs.
Bathroom: Small Renovations Create Maximum Impact
Bathrooms are small so every inch counts; good news is, small changes go a long way – much more than you’d think.
Switching your medicine cabinet is one of those stupidly easy accomplishments that can work wonders; instead of just having a mirror on the wall, swap out for a recessed medicine cabinet mirror that allows for more storage without consuming extra space. If you’re not interested in cutting into drywall there are plenty of surface-mounted ones as well.
Shower niches are essential for organization as are corner caddies so all those bottles don’t take up room on an edge of a tub; trust me – it will make cleaning so much easier when you’re not trying to move seven different products every time you want to reach all the corners of your tub without grabbing someone else’s shampoo.
Upgrading your showerhead is something everyone waits too long to do until they wonder why they cared in the first place. A decent adjustable showerhead costs about forty bucks and can be installed in ten minutes flat – suddenly everyone’s take on showers transforms from something obligatory to actually fun.
Home Office: Not Your Spare Bedroom Anymore
With more people working from home than ever, any spare bedroom or corner of the living room needs to actually be accounted for as functional workspace.
Desk height matters more than you’d like; if you’re typing on a laptop at the kitchen table, chances are you have horrible posture and it’s going to hurt your neck and back over time (and potentially get you in trouble at work). A real desk at the right height – or even a standing desk converter – makes sitting at a computer all day much more bearable.
Home office cable management puts living room solutions to shame; now you’ve got monitor cables and chargers all involved; cord organizers or a cable tray mounted underneath desks keeps them out of sight while still keeping productivity high.
Wall-mounted storage keeps surfaces clear; put up shelving or peg boards to hang supplies and books; anything else will create clutter you’ve got to avoid – clear desks = better focus.
Mudroom/Entryway: Contain The Chaos
This is where everything goes into your house – which also means this is where everything piles up if there’s no plan for it.
Hooks are an easy solution – install them all along one wall so everyone has access to hang up their own coats and bags without taking over any furniture space that leaves more clutter behind or leaves families scrambling every morning when they’re late searching for keys that are buried in bags instead of simply having designated spots for them here.
A bench with storage below does double duty; you have somewhere to sit while putting on boots during snowy months or it’s a great place to shove away shoes, bags or whatever else you don’t want in view right now because it’s taking up unnecessary visual space elsewhere in the house but isn’t ready for its forever home yet in the shed either. Buy one or DIY in less than one day.
Sorting mail can be a huge issue if debris lines countertops keeping things from being able to be used for food prep – have a wall-mounted sorter for incoming mail, bills and toss what needs to be tossed. It’s easier than it sounds.
Why This Is Important
None of these adjustments are sexy renovations that’ll get you on a home improvement show (or help your before-and-after go viral) – which is exactly the point.
They say the improvements that make this place truly feel like home occur when no one’s looking. They make day-to-day life slightly easier, less annoying and frustrating. More comfortable and cozier overall while doing less work for it on the daily.
And best yet – they’re all DIY improvements you can tackle in one weekend! You don’t need contractors or delayed schedules – merely figure out what’s not working and improve upon it.
Your home should work for you – not against you. Make these room-by-room improvements today!
About Author
Eyden Haze
Eyden Haze is a digital marketer, a web designer and technology fanatic from Sydney, Australia. With over 7 years of experience in web industry, he has helped his clients to launch their marketing campaigns successfully. He also likes to explore various online tools and share that knowledge by writing useful blog posts.