Ok, you might not have had a new home on your resolution list. But perhaps you have other ideas that have to do with more subtle changes. Maybe you want to alter the mood in your home. Or you might be tired of one specific room and want to overhaul it.
You’re not alone. Many people are finding that those post-war home purchases, while perfectly functional, are becoming comparatively drab in the modern scheme of things. People crave more pizzazz, more sustainability, and often other features too.[1]
Think broadly about your needs and wants
If you have an overall feeling that something needs to change but aren’t sure where to start, try exploring some general ideas about refurbishment. Whether you want a front porch glass enclosure, new attic space, or even just a cleaner living room, focusing on what you want and doing it right are critical.
Perhaps something will spark an idea that will inspire you to make just the right renovation in your home.
Consider the materials your home uses
You might start by taking a look at the materials in your home and thinking about what you should replace or upgrade to give your home a newer, fresher look. You might also find that some of the materials your home uses are draining heat from poor insulation and driving up your energy bills.
Not everything can be replaced, of course. Knocking down all your walls would be tantamount to destroying your home entirely. But perhaps you could do with a new porch enclosure. Or new frames around your windows. Maybe you’d like to redo your flooring with a more solid and sustainable material. If something jumps out at you that really seems to need replacing, make a note of it and see what your budget allows for.
Think expansion and addition
You might feel frustrated in your current space because some of your rooms might be limited in size or free space. It could be that you’ve spent many years accumulating stuff and now your living room gives you more of a claustrophobic feeling than a relaxing one.
There are different ways you can deal with this, including the following:
- If you have the means (financial and/or physical) to add a new addition, this could bring some much-needed new life to your home. Provided you have the space for it. Is there room for a deck with a sun room? Any possibility of building vertically?
- Think about knocking down a wall to combine two rooms into one. Being able to walk freely from the dining room to the kitchen and feel the space all around you can be remarkably freeing. It might take time and money to find the right contractor, but think carefully about your budget and look into financing options. You might be able to get a nice plan that allows for payment in installments.
Don’t rule out a big purge
We know this prospect can be scary. You’ve spent your adult life carefully collecting stuff that has personal meaning for you, and you feel like your life itself has been built directly in step with your belongings. Letting go of them would mean losing a major part of your history, right?
Digitize and economize space
Not necessarily. Think about the way the young generations approach physical belongings: what were our sacred photo albums are entirely digital for them. We had walls of books, they have kindles. Many of the physical items that we hold dear can actually be digitized. It might take time, but keeping digital photos as keepsakes can be both rewarding and a means of protecting your memories.
Dig through your clothing and trinkets
Take a look at your wardrobe. Do you really need that many clothes? Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t worn something in 20 years, then unless it was your grandmother’s favorite item you should consider getting rid of it.
It also might be painful to filter through the souvenirs, trinkets, and other assorted memorabilia that you’ve collected through the years. But you might actually find it incredibly refreshing in the end. Again, pretty much everything can be digitized in the form of a photo or video. You might find in the end that what you needed was not necessarily a new space at all but a cleansing of an existing one.
Try a bit of both
If you’re not sure where to start, perhaps try a bit of both these ideas: think about how you might expand and reduce. In the end, you might end up with a big, beautiful empty space that you don’t feel the need to fill with anything other than your own presence. And this might end up being the perfect solution. So give it time, consider your budget, and brainstorm with the rest of the family about what everyone wants. You are sure to find a solution that suits everyone.
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